Vendor on holiday

Astara

My vendor has gone on holiday to Australia (apparently they are moving out there next year and at the moment the vendor's brother and other family members are livng in the house) and I have only found this info out bit by bit from their EA. We have not exchanged yet and this has made me feel nervous as I wanted to move in before Xmas and have completed by then because of the stamp duty exemption running out. I have asked my sol to inform their sol and have suggested a completion date. Their EA says they will want to proceed asap but I feel in limbo. They have in the past been 'uncontactable' and they have also omitted stuff on their F&F form that were supposed to be left. I have tried to sort that out as best I can but feel as if they have the 'upperhand' and this makes me nervous. Any suggestions as to what I can do? I have a private buyer who seems amenable but I do worry that this is slowing everything down. Thanks for any advice!

Gwhiz

I'd accept this purchase may be going nowhere and look for something else in the meantime.

Astara

My dilemma is that if I pull out I will have lost what I have spent so far, whereas if they pull out I'm covered by the type of sol deal I've got. I appreciate what you're saying Gwhiz!

poppysarah

Walk away if no exchange date is possible by the end of the next week with completion before Christmas.

If they can't do that then just pull out.

Tuscan

i think you have the upper hand as they need to sell up in order to go to Oz.

if it was me then id start looking again but dont pull out on this house unless you have to pay out any more money on it. that way either you find another house you prefer or this one proceeds ok. what ever comes first...

DVardysShadow

Astara wrote: »

My dilemma is that if I pull out I will have lost what I have spent so far, whereas if they pull out I'm covered by the type of sol deal I've got. I appreciate what you're saying Gwhiz!

'What I have spent so far" always comes up. It is trivial to the cost of getting it wrong. Forget about "what I have spent so far", it is only going to take your attention away from what is important.

Just tell the agent and your solicitor that if completion is after the cutoff date, stamp duty is payable by the vendor.

jhe

as well as following advice given i would also ask the ea selling the property what other properties they have for sale. if they are in touch with the vendors they will no doubt pass on the fact that you are looking elsewhere. this might help gee them up. it worked for us.

Astara

Thank you everyone! That's really good advice and I've decided to look at another property on Friday just in case. I realise that if I decided to buy another place I may have to pay stamp duty as not much time. But I really don't like the way this vendor is so laid back even though it's been on the market since last year and they already lost one sale! I wonder if they are stalling for time because of the brother still living there or they are not ready to move to Australia?! Anyway all your advice is much appreciated and if I can ever return the favour...!

Fire_Fox

Did you make your need to move in by Christmas a condition of your offer?

Astara

That's a good question Firfox! I did tell the EA that I wanted to complete and move in before Xmas and he of course said that would be ok. Now realising that he would say anything to get sale. He told me that the curtains and blinds were included and now they're not! I obviously should have got this in writng at the time of my offer. I have made some mistakes and I'm now learning from them!

Fire_Fox

Telling the estate agent what you would like and making it a condition of the sale are two very different animals. I always offer in writing so there can be no mis-communication.