To those selling in these difficult times Part Deux. AKA sellers support network!

I,_Geek

The great void of Christmas is approaching and I'm starting to imagine my husband and I living off stuff that doesn't need to be cooked on a hob or put in an oven. Things are dragging and there's nothing we can do about it other than ring various people every day to find out what's going on.

- Valuation survey came a week ago. Homebuyer's survey expected a couple of days later, and there's been no sign...

- Booked damp report anyway for early next week. They would like to have the homebuyer's survey with them when they look around, but it's not vital.

- Our solicitor has heard absolutely nothing from the vendor's solicitor. No contracts (expected weeks ago at the start of this process). No responses to the property info questionnaire, which again were filled out weeks ago by the vendors. If, for example, there's no copy of the service certificate for the boiler we'd like a service done and any repairs paid for by the vendor. We've done the same with our boiler for our buyers. The questionnaire responses could raise other issues that, if we'd known about them weeks ago, could have been dealt with by now. Instead they'll be brought up at the last minute and if things need sorting out it will hold up the process.

My OH and I know we've made things a bit difficult for ourselves by choosing to re-locate the kitchen in our new house. However, if things were getting done on time the schedule shouldn't have ended up so tight. The damp is nobody's fault, but even if that wasn't going on we couldn't sign contracts because the vendor's solicitor hasn't sent them and is un-contactable.

23rdspiral

not_loaded wrote: »

This must be a new method of house buying. They come to view your house and you make an offer on theirs. I’d love to know how this situation came about. Have you even seen their house?

:rotfl:it turned out it was even odder than that!

I can't say everything for confidentialities sake, but they seemed to be trying to pull a fast one on the agents. They wanted us to view theirs without telling anyone's agent to make it "cheeper" (um, they've been on the market only a few days - so they are toally locked in!?!). I mean, why even hire an agent to sell yours in the first place if you are going to try to do this kind of deal??? :rolleyes:

They left saying they def wanted to buy ours. Then later in the week when our agent chased them for feedback, they said they didnt want it :rolleyes:

And no, we havent seen their house, and probably dont want to. it's the exact opposite of what we are looking for!

Oh well. At least it's given me some entertainment. :T

I,_Geek

:mad: and :mad: again.

The mystery of the Homebuyer's report is solved: it hasn't even been done yet and no-one knows why. OH has spoken to the mortgage arranger several times in the past week to ask what's going on. After nothing again today he rang and demanded answers. Was passed around from person to person, made 8 phonecalls to different people/departments, and finally got the surveyor's number. This sounds a bit odd, but he said he'd turned up to do the survey and another surveyor had been there (presumably the mortgage valuation person - it's the only other survey we've had done). The vendors had turned him away and he, for some reason, hasn't tried to re-arrange the appointment since (it's been two weeks). That all sounds a bit strange. Couldn't he have waited outside until the mortgage valuation person had gone? Why would the vendors have made him leave? They could have explained that we've paid for two surveys: the valuation one and the homebuyer's one. Or he could just be making stuff up... I have no idea.

It seems like ourselves and our vendors are paying so-called professionals an awful lot of money and getting sloppy service in return. Our solicitor has been fine, but the rest: mortgage planner (fobs you off on the phone unless you stress how annoyed you're getting), surveyors, vendor's solicitor (ignoring our solicitor and claiming the vendor is un-responsive) have been a shambles. They don't even accept they could do better and apologise, just try and place the blame on someone else. For example, the vendor's solicitor saying it was the vendor who hadn't been replying to letters. The vendor says no letters have been received and I'm inclined to believe him since our solicitor is also having trouble.

Oy...

tootsmyboots

So sick of running round getting house pristine for a viewing when it is a viewer like I had today. Not even on market and really wants one more bedroom than we have and wanted to put a table in kitchen when it is clear on photo and in details that we have a breakfast bar!!!:mad:.

I said I would let them come as they were travelling over 100 miles to come just to see my house, so I had to be accomodating as who knows, they could sell quickly. But what a waste of time.

I am at home on my own so arranged childcare for my toddler as I cant tidy quickly when I need to look after him and my young baby. Just feel like saying no-one can come unless they have sold, but I know that isnt wise in this market.

I,_Geek

Things are further forward in understanding what's going on:

- The mortgage provider forgot to order the Homebuyer's report. We have asked for one since the beginning of this process. They took my husband's money quickly enough (mid Oct), then claimed they'd lost the cheque (we heard about this through the mortgage advisor and assumed she must have got the wrong end of the stick because the cheque had been cashed), then didn't admit they'd forgotten until husband had rung loads of people and found out for himself. They only contacted the surveyors on 10th Nov - coincidentally the same day my OH had started getting irate with people on the phone. This has caused a 3-4 week delay, which has definitely cost our vendors money (they're paying mortgage + rent at the moment). I just hope our buyers will understand. They've been very patient - we haven't heard anything from them apart from general questions from their solicitors.

- Vendor's solicitors claim the paperwork they sent out a month ago has got "lost in the post". I say that with a high degree of scepticism since every single communication with that solicitor has got lost in the post. It's a great excuse, especially with the recent strikes, if you're doing a half-arsed job. Also, if things got lost in the post, why has it taken 4 weeks to establish that and send out new forms?

- Damp and homebuyer's report are happening in a week's time. Nothing to do but wait now.

Davesnave

tootsmyboots wrote: »

Just feel like saying no-one can come unless they have sold, but I know that isnt wise in this market.

It's a a different market now, but if we'd done that in 2008, then there would have been an even longer wait. It took six months between our buyers deciding they wanted our house and the sale which allowed them to have it. Within days, a second couple in a similar position also sold & were pipped at the post.

It could be six months,or six weeks or....no, I won't say it!:o

tootsmyboots

I know it annoying, but guess thats why I got to let them come. They could sell before us.

On another note I just did something really naughty - the person who pulled out of our sale in summer after viewing six times with various family AFTER the offer was accepted, survey done and fine, almost at exchange etc, just walked up to me and my baby daughter and apologised saying it wasnt the house for her. Well... completely out of character for me but I had a go at her, accepted her apology and then said I had nothing more to say to her. Whoops.

Davesnave

tootsmyboots wrote: »

I know it annoying, but guess thats why I got to let them come. They could sell before us.

On another note I just did something really naughty - the person who pulled out of our sale in summer after viewing six times with various family AFTER the offer was accepted, survey done and fine, almost at exchange etc, just walked up to me and my baby daughter and apologised saying it wasnt the house for her. Well... completely out of character for me but I had a go at her, accepted her apology and then said I had nothing more to say to her. Whoops.

You were lucky; none of our three who pulled-out had the bottle to say it directly to us.....Correction, one dithered around on the end of the phone and it was me who finally said: 'Sounds like you dont want to buy our house, then?' to which the reply was equally vague, but translated, meant 'Yes.'

We pulled-out once too, though only after a week. Told the people straight why we'd had second thoughts & they accepted it with good grace. Also gave agents a letter explaining our reasons that they could show to others, to prove it wasn't anything wrong with the property itself.

However, fairness and thought for others isn't generally top of the pops today, is it?:rolleyes:

goldbyron

I emphathise with you toots - I am rather tired of a multitude of viewings who then say things like they don't want a flat above them. Well why the hell did you view it then when it was darn clear from the details this was the case! Blimey if it is obvious it doesn't fit their criteria why view? However I know we can't get fussy in this market. But I have seriously gone past the point of making the flat pristine - I am hardly living in it (staying in my partners) and just let the agent come and go when they please.

pawpurrs

Hello guys!
How are you all?
I have put in an offer on a house, its a doer uper, and not fantastic but could be quite nice, and its at a price that we can do without a mortgage which is the main thing, as DH has recently gone self employed and therefore we cant get a mortgage!