Sellers taking the Michael, what would you do and how to word a pull out of sale email?il

[MysticalPombear]

How do I word a professional “pulling out” threat to sellers?

I’m at my wits’ end and need some advice on how to phrase things professionally when threatening to pull out of a purchase.

I put my offer in 22nd April.

The sellers’ onward property is empty, and their sellers are desperate to complete.

We were originally due to complete end of August, then 12th September, then 6th October. Each date has come and gone because of delays caused by the sellers and their solicitors.

My solicitor is ready. They have everything they need, but the other side just won’t exchange, and their solicitor is ignoring mine.

The seller keeps messaging me directly with excuses, which I’ve now stopped responding to.

Meanwhile, I’ve already come off my mortgage with my ex (early September, ready for completion on 8th Sept), so I’m now technically homeless.... splitting time between my campervan and my brother’s house. The sellers know this and the estate agent.

I want to give them a clear deadline: exchange by 15th October, complete by 31st October, or I will withdraw.

What’s the best way to word this so it’s firm and professional, without burning bridges unnecessarily? I just want to bring this to a close, one way or another. I don't know ifcthe sellers actually want to move and seem to think they call the shots and won't commit to a date.

I feel they are taking the Michael out of me now.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

This is exactly what chatgpt is good for.

‘Can you be more specific about the cause of the delays? It’s untenable for me to continue in this state of limbo. If we do not exchange by x date, regrettably I’ll be forced to pull out of the sale.’

but I think you need to be prepared to lose the house over it, as it sounds like they’ve already got cold feet and this might push them over the edge

I would just be blunt - ‘exchange and complete by x or I will walk away from the purchase.’

Six months is unreasonable.

I want to give them a clear deadline: exchange by 15th October, complete by 31st October, or I will withdraw.

Just that. Amended as follows:

"I feel I have want to give them you a clear deadline: exchange by 15th October, complete by 31st October, or I will withdraw."

Chat GPT is great at that kind of stuff. Just provide the info you’d like in the email and it will draft something.

We had something similar to this and ultimately I think if you threaten to pull out by a certain date then you need to be willing to actually pull out

What has Michael to do with anything ? Who is Michael? 🤷‍♀️

This

Please take this as notice that if we do not exchange by Xx my offer will be finally revoked.

Direct, plain English using few unemotional words.

The problem.is that you must mean it and be actually able to mean it. Get the estate agents looking for another place for you.

Have you not heard the phrase 'taking the micky'? Sometimes Micky is made into the full name Michael. Usually means to have a laugh at someone else's expense

Would it help OP if she actually said, "In meantime I have started to look at other properties that I might wish to buy instead." and as PP said, get on RightMove & start booking some viewings of other properties. The more you get it into your head that there are other options, the easier it will be for you to complete the action threatened.

This is the key part. It's no good making threats that are idle. They know you're in this situation so you need to be blunt. Keep the message simple and straightforward and definitely ask the agents if they have any properties.

Don't usexhatgpt or some lomg winded text.
As some pps said, short very clear to a point.

You don’t email the sellers. You phone the estate agent. They’ll want their commission.

You don’t need to worry about burning bridges. A lot of the time house sales end up in a situation where someone is told they have to meet a certain deadline or the house will be put back on the market.

I would start actively looking for other properties and tell them so via the solicitor or estate agent. I had similar recently and when it came to it the vendors messed me around so much that my solicitor asked for a £1K allowance from them at the point of exchange for basically wasting my time (which I got). Thinking of you. Buying and selling brings out the worst in people and it’s hugely stressful. Whatever you say, you need to be prepared to stick to it.
ps I finally moved into my new house tonight and I’m so happy 🥰

Why isn't your solicitor dealing with this?

Oh lovely!!

🥰

My sellers started to take the piss. We had a verbal agreement to exchange 1 December and then complete on 15. Then it became complete 22 December. Then I suspect they weren't able to get a moving company so they wanted to rearrange for 10th Feb. My buyer's mortgage deal was close to expiring and I was prepared to complete the sale and buy another house which had come up in the next street and with another agent. t. I rang their agent on 12th December and said I needed to complete on house A by 25 Jan and exchange before Christmas or I was pulling out aand I was going to view House B with another agent. After a very panicky 24 hours for the agent we got it agreed. Exchange 18 December
We completed on 23 January. The sellers left the house fairly dirty with skid marks in every toilet but I was the winner overall.

Start looking at other properties

Michael, Mickey Bliss, Piss.
Taking the Mickey/Michael = taking the piss.

Tell me you're not a Londoner......

Will you pull out if they don’t?

I would start looking at other properties anyway.

And say “I can’t keep waiting indefinitely. I will withdraw my offer and stop the process if we have not exchanged by Oct 14th”

If they are ready to exchange they can do so and then set a completion date, if that is their issue. At least if you exchange you have certainty.

Are their other homes you like the look of? I would start viewing them before pulling out

We had something similar when moving but had to be moved ahead of the end of the year to get into school catchment. We ended up saying that they either exchanged by X, complete by Y or we would be offering on a rental instead. It worked but we really meant it. Idle threats are no use.