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

Orpheo

goldbyron wrote: »

Well the buyer's sol has just got back today with a huuuge list of enquiries (18 of them!!!). Some are fine but some are just cheeky. A few issues to do with pickiness over the lease wording etc and wanted deeds amended/added which I hope isn't going to be an issue. The other stuff is a list of defects picked up in the survey which I totally disagree with. says it all that I stayed off work yesterday to let a contractor in who confirmed the 'defects' were incredibly minor and exaggerated by the survey. The buyer hasn't even waited for this quote before their sol fired off a letter! Feel like contacting a chain breaking company or letting out the flat and continuing with the purchase - so angry at the buyer. However I know that sols try their luck sometimes and it is not always the buyer. Never ever again buy a leasehold - they are a huge pain.

Why are the enquiries from a buyer's solicitor cheeky? Put your emotions to bed and realise that this is a business transaction and they are trying to protect their finances.

Your "contractor" does not supercede the lender's qualified and chartered surveyor in any forum but your own mind. Bet your "contractor" cost you a few quid though.

Why is it that everyone is quick to criticise the work of chartered surveyors when they are in fact the only ones qualified to do what they do? Is it the inconvenient truths?

harz99

pollyzanna wrote: »

so we exchanged last week and we have a completion date of Friday November 12th. Our buyers just would not budge on that date and threatened to pull out completely!

It was really hard for us - especially being given only 2 weeks to find somewhere. But we have to focus on the positives - mainly that it puts us in an excellent position when finding somewhere (ie no chain)

Congratulations - if all else fails you can always store your furniture and phone Travelodge for a long term stay!

rosered100 wrote: »

Congratulations!!

We should be exchanging this week - fingers crossed - and also have only 2 weeks to find somewhere to go to. I'm really dreading that part esp as we're not moving locally. But as long as we sell, I dont really care, we'll just make it all happen when/if we get exchange.:)

That's the spirit!

Davesnave wrote: »

As a buyer in a market like this, the benefit of being in rented, with cash in the bank, cannot be overstated. It may be a pain in the posterior, but I bet you find it well worthwhile.

Fully agree, when we come to market next year, we will either stay with our daughter in her spare rooms or rent depending on the time of year we achieve a sale. That will give us 4-6 months to find the "right" property.

tyllwyd

We've been doing stuff on the house the last week - we've painted my eldest's bedroom, and moved her sister from the box room into what was the spare room. Next job in a few weeks time will be to change the box room from a pink disney pincess palace into my study. We've swapped beds and curtains around in the house, which I expect will completely confuse any stray viewers who might turn up!

Only problem is, now they've got their new rooms, both of the kids have completely changed their minds about moving and are begging us to take the house off the market again. We're sticking to our guns because financially it would be better to move, but it is 50-50 at the moment - especially since despite what you read in the papers, there are very few houses on the market in our area, and we really can't see anything that looks suitable at the moment even if we did get an offer tomorrow.

goldbyron

Orpheo wrote: »

Why are the enquiries from a buyer's solicitor cheeky? Put your emotions to bed and realise that this is a business transaction and they are trying to protect their finances.

Your "contractor" does not supercede the lender's qualified and chartered surveyor in any forum but your own mind. Bet your "contractor" cost you a few quid though.

Why is it that everyone is quick to criticise the work of chartered surveyors when they are in fact the only ones qualified to do what they do? Is it the inconvenient truths?

Hi – I will admit that I was quite wound up that day as the surveyor had left windows open, broken a cupboard and stood on our bed – so not a professional start. The survey was widely exaggerating the issues as my own buyers bought the flat below (this one is my partners) only 4 months ago and their survey didn’t raise these issues. The contractor (a specialist roof, timber and damp company) gave a free quote so it didn’t cost and any works were certainly in their interest as they would be paid for it if undertaken. They did identify issues but this ran into £100’s not £1,000’s which is essential for the buyers to hear.

I have bought and sold several times so can say from both perspectives that surveyors do identify issues but they will make it sound like the property is about to collapse to cover themselves. Not all surveyors do this admittedly as surveys can vary wildly. I am calmer about the enquiries as my sol is dealing with nearly all of them. Some of the enquiries were factually incorrect raised by their sol and thankfully my sol read the lease so that was quite irritating as this error could have caused delay and cost. One of the enquiries also made it obvious that the buyer was very new to the process as they asked for a muddy pathway to be made clear (it was cleared professionally 2 months ago). I don’t think I would be asking my vendor to mow her lawn… Anyway I hope the issues can be resolved and we are now raising our own enquiries on our purchase (we have offer and survey now). I can understand your comments but hey give me a break – this is a sellers forum – this is where we go to moan even if we go a bit overboard sometime!

SazM030306

Well still no viewers since we lowered the price!!

LilacPixie

My buyer signed missives this morning. We are officially sold.

whitesatin

How long would you consider a reasonable period of time to be for our vendors to find a house now that they have accepted our offer. While we are not in a particular hurry (already sold, living with relatives), we don't want to miss the boat should they pull out because they can't find anything. They have quite specific needs which is why they need to move but there are not that many of their required properties (with annexe) on the market in the area they want to move to. I don't like to keep ringing the estate agent but they did say they had their eye on a specific property when we put our offer in.

Should we continue to view houses in the meantime?

rosered100

whitesatin wrote: »

Should we continue to view houses in the meantime?

I would let the agent know that you are viewing other houses (even if you're not) & they will put the pressure on the vendor when they can see their commission slipping away.
Cant they go into rented? The agent needs to be persuasive & tell them they would be in a much stronger position & ready to pounce when the right property comes onto the market & if they dont take you seriously they could be on the market again for a very long time.

cress1

2nd viewer booked in for sunday. They seemed very keen when they first viewed but don't want to get our hopes up. 1st time buyers with everything in place. Not going to view anything till under offer as we'll just end up disappointed. Wish us luck.

goldbyron

Good luck cress1!