Buyer being slow at requesting further surveys is delaying my house sale in chain

[SandAndFluff]

Hello fellow movers! I’m in the process of moving house (post divorce, can’t afford to stay where I am).
My sale is dragging on and on. There are 4 properties in the chain and I feel that my sale is now starting to hold things up.
My buyers decided on a Level 2 survey. Fair enough. The surveyor told me he’d have the report out within a week. 5 weeks later the buyer decides they want a roof inspection. That was 2 weeks ago. I’ve given availability for appointments and I’m still waiting to hear. They are also saying that depending on what the roof inspection says they may then want a structural survey.
Ive been asked to shed light on the issues raised but they’ve only given me a list of 2/3 worded bullet points. I’ve asked for further details and they won’t share. Is this normal?? All I can do is respond that I haven’t a clue about any of the issues they’ve picked up. I know it’s impossible to say really, but should I be worried? I really don’t want to lose the sale but I also can’t afford to negotiate too much on price if that’s where this is heading..
My issue isn’t so much that they are being thorough, more that they take so long to make decisions and act. Their buyer has been waiting since October!

Consider re-listing it.

Maybe the buyer has reasons for delaying the purchase, for example they are not really committed, or they are looking for something better, or they have not sold their existing house, or they are waiting for an inheritance.

Or perhaps they just think there is no need to hurry, and you will hang around waiting for as long as they want.

This is what you are paying the agents and solicitors to do, to chase up and down the chain. Have you asked the agents or solicitor to find out what the delay is?

Definitely speak to your EA in the first instance as they can speak directly to the buyer and to both sets of solicitors which is so helpful. I've just got mine involved after waiting for buyers follow-up after survey on 15th July. Turned out they've decided against further investigations and want to complete on 25th September. EA got this bottomed out with everyone in one morning.

Thanks for responses. I will ask the agent to chase again after the back holiday. If that doesn't do anything I might have to tell them I’m not prepared to just sit around waiting. It’s frustrating that they won’t give me detail of the issues found, while I’m waiting I could have got a quote myself which is what I will be doing if they start asking for money off…

Definitely get the EA involved. My buyer just needed reassurance that small things noted on the survey were 'normal' as part of home ownership (eg slightly sticky door, an older but well functioning boiler). They then proceeded to exchange and completion quickly.