The all new buyers/sellers waiting room (9) the one where we start to wonder if we'll move by Christmas..

[NeverGoingToMove]

Huge apologies if I have missed this thread, I have searched high and low but don't think another was started after number 8 ended in May.

After a seriously stressful encounter with building control, I think we are almost ready to exchange. After going on the market last July, I'm hoping we'll move before our year anniversary!

How is everyone else doing?

@unicornpower welcome back! Sorry to hear its so crap for you. Have any of the agents got a sale chaser to try and get a full picture? It's so frustrating to feel like you're the only one pushing!

@NeverGoingToMove ours does but honestly it’s draining, I’m not sure about the others tbh but it’s like getting blood out of a stone, the bottom chain is about a month ahead of us so they really should be ready now but again, no answers! Our chaser just sends emails and she simply will not pick up the phone so she just doesn’t get replies to anything. Very horrible it has to be so drawn out!

have any of you got direct comms with the rest of the chain? We have our vendors number and going to offer our number to our buyers when they revisit. Agent advised not to, but frankly I think it will make things easier in terms of getting a straight answer. Our agent has not been great at coming back to us on stuff - seems to have a habit of ‘sitting on’ things. I am thinking ahead to discussing dates/timescales etc and/or being able to say ‘do you know where things are at with x?’

No but we wish we did have.

Last time we sold we did and it made things ten times easier. We were able to swap back information between each other and we helped moved things along. And we even supported one another and had a few rants about the process but things were far more transparent and we knew what was going on much more when we could speak to those above and below us in the chain.

This time we have great communication with our sellers agent who literally tells us everything that is going on with our purchase, she is brilliant. But we really do wish we had swapped numbers with our buyers because the communication between our solicitor and theirs has been absolutely diabolical and there are certain matters that could have been dealt with weeks ago if only we had been able to speak to them. Instead we have to go through our agent, who then contacts the solicitors, then back to the agent and back to us and it feels like chinese whispers and we only receive half of the information. It has (and continues to be) really, really stressful and frustrating.

If you get chance to I absolutely would.

Our EA has been brilliant. Small family firm and very personal service.The person dealing with our sale emailed us at 10.20 last night.
My DH had rung yesterday to ask about timings on moving day, next week! She’d then got in touch with our buyers who said no rush on moving day to get the keys. This has taken the pressure off us and we were so relieved.
My DH is in touch with our buyers directly too.
They are in rented and not moving in on completion day.
Good luck everyone! So long since we moved and this was a new build then so it was quite smooth.

@Timwith2noses we haven't this time but being in the middle of the chain we have access to both EAs involved. Tbh we had direct contact with our seller when we got this house and we didn't really like it once the sale was going through. Plus they sometimes would message after they moved out saying a parcel was coming and could we deal with it. Also doesn't mean thing will move faster as it could be the person lying about things rather than the EA or solicitor. I have a friend with no agent involved and her seller is always saying things that turn out not to be the case about the chain. It amazes me when EAs or solicitors are rubbish as they surely want to get paid as soon a possible and ensure the chain doesn't fold. I think especially at the moment as the market is so quiet here.

That being said our EA is really good, checks in every week and chases if things need doing. We've had no issues because of this and our solicitor keeping us updated. I always make sure I check where we are each week and then report back to the EA. Has kept it all moving!

Tantalisingly close to exchange (could be today, but at the very least before Wednesday!) and starting to think about 'after'! Eep!!

Have a couple of questions from the uninitiated

• home insurance - does this need to be in place at the point of exchange? Or just before completion?
• school places - do we apply for the new school/release the old place when we exchange? Or again wait till it's fully completed? The new school has ample space, the current one is over subscribed
• stuff like TV subscriptions, internet etc, again can I start any of those balls rolling this week? Or after we've mov

ed?

No worries at all! It sounds like you've made great progress despite the challenges with building control that's fantastic! hartinihusain.com/blog/ Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly with the exchange, and you get to move in before your anniversary! As for me, things are moving along slowly but steadily. It's a bit of a waiting game, but I'm hopeful things will start picking up soon. Best of luck with the next steps you're almost there!

How exciting! This is the kind of progress that keeps me optimistic. From past moves I’ve had home insurance in place for exchange but with the start date for the day of completion if that makes sense? It might depend on your lender’s criteria so worth double checking with them or your solicitor.

If the new school has plenty of space I would be tempted to stay enrolled at the current school until completion just as a safety net. If completion is likely to be after school has closed for summer and the office is also closed then maybe call them for advice once exchanged to make sure there would be no delay in starting at the new place in September?

Things like internet I would book as soon as exchange is confirmed as it can take a few weeks to get set up if it’s a new provider to the property. TV subscriptions etc less important and can wait. If you’re organising post redirection then I would get that set up to start the day of completion.

home insurance - does this need to be in place at the point of exchange? Or just before completion?

Buildings insurance needs to be in place from exchange, as this is the point where you are legally committed to the purchase, and if a tree fell on the house you're still contractually obliged to buy.

From past moves I’ve had home insurance in place for exchange but with the start date for the day of completion if that makes sense?

Definitely don't leave yourself uninsured for the period between exchanging and completing!

Thanks @Hermioninny and @Mildura !

No news here. Our solicitor was super confident it could be today, instructed us to speak to the EA's either side to check all was well with the chain. EA's have come back saying they've suggested the buyer/seller speak to their solicitors. Feel like our self employed ftb's have zero urgency, our downsizing, retired sellers on the other hand wanted to complete two weeks ago. We're in the middle with all the jobs, school applications and such things to juggle so were always hoping for the end of term and were open about that from the outset. Feels like one of those 'hurry up and wait' things!

We accepted an offer two months ago. This week we got a list of enquiries, mostly easy to answer. Our buyers still haven’t arranged a survey which is starting to bug me!
Our onward purchase is almost ready to go although no pressure for dates anytime soon.
Just stressing about our FTB inaction regarding a survey and whether that might cause delays or problems. They have told the EA they are getting one and have been organising it for the last two weeks!

Still no closer to exchange over here. Infact going backwards and downwards it seems. We are in a link of 5 and suddenly the link 2 has decided to have a survey (16 weeks in) and off the back of that wants to take a builder round and will be potentially negotiating price based off this. I’m so furious, I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but we first listed our house a year ago and have already had one chain collapse. I’m so done with how long this awful process is allowed to be in the UK. We are buying a new build so although they are being patient, we agreed to exchange within 28 days, it is now day 41.

our estate agent is useless and it is just lie after lie after lie. I genuinely want to give up on all this I really do

We are in EXACTL|Y the same position as you. Accepted an offer 2 months ago. And late last week had a list as long as your arm of questions and queries from our buyers solicitor which we have been sent to answer (and have done quickly) Our buyers have also still not arranged a survey which they definitely will be having and we have been putting pressure on them to do. Their solicitor though has told them to wait until the queries are answered (which we have done) and she is happy that there are no more questions to be asked before booking a survey. Its honestly pissing us right off. Our solicitor says there is no need for them to delay booking surveys and if they are serious about buying then they need to make a financial commitment and get the survey booked. However, today, after another email to our estate agents, we still don't have one booked in. We think they are waiting as long as possible and will try for a re-negotiate which is really shit. But they will know we are close to exchange at that point so will have us over a barrell but this is what we are thinking is going to happen.

Our onward purchase also is almost ready to go and we feel we have been stuck at the same point for ages and have not even had surveys done yet.

Its the most frustrating process on the planet and most days feel like screaming!!

@ErlingHaalandsManBun it’s no consolation but at least someone else is in the same position.
that’s in my mind too that they are going to leave it as long as possible then renegotiate on price.
its the first time I’ve sold so not really sure whether it’s reasonable to wait or not, but they apparently keep telling the EA they are booking it but it never happens.
I hope you get more movement soon 🤞🤞

Its frustrating isn't it? But last time I sold surveys were arranged fairly early on and we were never told to wait until enquiries had been answered. Both our agent and our own solicitor said they should have booked surveys by now and its not normal to wait like this. Same as yours, they keep telling our agents they are doing it but then don't!

We have no idea what is going on and our agents don't seem to be able to get updates from them. All I know is that I am losing confidence that they are actually serious buyers. We feel its time for them to make a financial commitment to buying as so far the only money they have parted with is for the searches.

We are two months in but it feels so very far from exchange and completion still.

I am just sorry someone else is going through it. Buying and selling is horrendous and an awful process.

This seems to be a done thing these days. Solicitors encouraging their clients to wait and wait for survey until everything else is done. Then picking up on any little thing that is pointed out on the survey so they can come in with a renegotiation on price. At this point the buyers have the sellers where they want them because who is going to not renegotiate at that late stage? After everything you have gone to, to get to that point.

We feel this is the tactic being used on our sale as we have been pushing our buyers to book their survey for weeks and they keep saying they will, but don't. We are getting further and further into the process and we are getting more and more frustrated.

Last week I was ready to pull out and I got to a point where I didn't want to move any more. I was so close to telling everyone to fuck off 😂Honestly, I shouldn't laugh but if I don't I will cry.

@ErlingHaalandsManBun I really hope your buyers book the survey soon and don’t end up messing you around.
Our estate agent seemed great initially but now I’m wondering whether flicking texts between people is really enough to keep everything moving.
This whole process is a nightmare. 🤞 we don’t need to move again 😂

@ErlingHaalandsManBun yeah I didn’t even think of that, could be a tactic I guess? Who knows at this point, our estate agent did some chasing today and the agent in the middle just is incompetent and doesn’t seem to know what’s going on! I don’t understand how you can not know what’s going on with your clients….?

I genuinely don’t see this ever getting over the line, given how slow and useless everyone seems to be, this could go on and on. I’m close to telling everyone to fuck off as well and walking away from all of this.

i hope they book their survey in soon, it seems mind boggling to just not get on with it!

I honestly feel this way about our sale. I only said to my friend earlier that I don't see this sale getting over the line. I will be amazed if it does. Everyone is so slow and useless with ours too.

The communication from our agent has been great to be honest, but the solicitors each side are awful. Their communication is terrible, both waiting on the other and neither doing anything. Our solicitor waiting for theirs to say what she wants, and their solicitor waiting for ours to offer solutions. So basically both just sat doing fuck all. Our agent then has to get involved and give them a push or tell us what is happening and we have to give the nudge. Its the most bloody annoying process. I do want to just shout at everyone just to 'get on with it!!!'

I'm so sorry you are no closer to exchange. Its mental isn't it how someone can now decide, this far in, that they now want a survey? Its like they don't give a fuck they are holding up the rest of the chain and pissing everyone else off. Why not just get one early on? And everyone has no choice but to grin and bear it.

Yours too. Although I am not hopeful. We just keep getting told 'we will' and then they just don't. Starting to lose confidence that it will happen at all.

Fingers crossed for some news this week and some progress for both of us

@ErlingHaalandsManBun i have to say our solicitor is okay, they are doing their best but they seem to be the only proactive ones. Our buyer was pushing to move this week (lol) but now has gone radio silent and her solicitor is utterly useless. Can you tell me how the hell anyone ever moves house? How long is your chain? I said to DH if we lose this house sale, I’m categorically saying no to any chains. Even if it takes us longer, we had a chain of 4 in December that collapsed and this one is 5!

I am just so over this, the process in this country is awful and I don’t know how it’s just let to continue like this!

@moving300m our FTB didn't instruct the survey until they'd had the draft contract, asked all the queries and done the searches. Felt quite backwards. They then said they had the paperwork and were signing but then came back with Qs from the survey. No ask for reduction on offer, just felt they didn't know the sensible method of doing things.

Finally both houses have had contracts signed and we are ready to exchange with completion for end of the month. Fingers crossed!

I know. I have no idea how anyone buys and sells these days with all the hoops everyone has to jump through and how ridiculous conveyancing has got. We have 5 in our chain too and we are 3rd in. The top of the chain is almost ready to start talking dates and we can't even get our buyers to commit to getting their survey done. Its bonkers!!

That seems to be the way our sale is going. Doing all searches, queries and questions first and then will instruct a surveyor. It definitely feels backwards. Surely you want to know the house you are buying is structurally sound and a good purchase first and foremost? You can go through all the other conveyancing stuff and queries only to find at the end of it all that your house needs a new roof and you won't want to buy it anyway. Its nuts!

Glad you have progressed to talking about exchange and completion. It still feels so far away for us.