Sigh, I wanted to be in before Christmas...

Brallaqueen

Hi all, wonder if anyone can offer some advice or support?

I'm buying a flat, FTB, no chain. The vendor also has no chain, having already moved out. Unfortunately due to the nature of the development there are 2 management companies to deal with. The vendor swears blind that they paid the fees for switching things over THREE WEEKS ago, but nothing has progressed because the Management Cos say they haven't received anything!

I've spoken to the estate agent, my solicitor, they've spoken to their solicitor, but no one sems to be able to say why the delay is, as the money has "definitely been paid".

I'm really annoyed and a bit disappointed, I had hoped to be in by Christmas becasue of no-one being in a chain, but mainly I'm worried sick that the vendor is telling porkie-pies about paying.

A similar flat has come up for sale in the development (possibly not as good, being ground floor) at 20k more than I am paying and I'm terrified the vendor has spotted it and thought she's been done.

I'm going crazy with this nonsense, my solicitor says there is nothing more I can do but surely there is some way of getting this progressed???

Fire_Fox

Management companies are notoriously slow at answering queries, it's down to the vendor to chase them.

Wickedkitten

when was your offer accepted?

clearing_out_my_pockets

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Management companies are notoriously slow at answering queries, it's down to the vendor to chase them.

Echo this. Our solicitor wanted confirmation of the annual service charge and that there were no arrears and it took them TWO weeks to respond and I'm told that's quick. I called the estate agent every day to make sure they chased the management company.

maninthestreet

Others may disagree with me, but the worst time to move into a newly purchased property is the second half of December.

Brallaqueen

Wickedkitten wrote: »

when was your offer accepted?

The offer was made on Sat 24th October, and I got email confirmation on the 28th October. It's been nearly 2 months now, with no chain to hold things up?!

Brallaqueen

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Management companies are notoriously slow at answering queries, it's down to the vendor to chase them.

The vendor doesn't seem to be chasing, just shrugging shoulders and saying "well, they've been paid". This is what is scaring me the most - she seems to be being rather unhelpful. Maybe I'm just being churlish, but she was as insistent as I was on a quick sale

Argh, I'm just overthinking things now I guess. At least I get another month's wages under my belt before the real outgoings start :rolleyes:

jassco

maninthestreet wrote: »

Others may disagree with me, but the worst time to move into a newly purchased property is the second half of December.

I disagree with you . Yes it's not ideal, but for me its a choice of move in second half of December, or pay almost £1500 in stamp duty and move in January. No-brainer imo

Wickedkitten

Brallaqueen wrote: »

The offer was made on Sat 24th October, and I got email confirmation on the 28th October. It's been nearly 2 months now, with no chain to hold things up?!

It might be doable if it were earlier in the year, but I don't think you have a chance really in December

Fire_Fox

Brallaqueen wrote: »

The vendor doesn't seem to be chasing, just shrugging shoulders and saying "well, they've been paid". This is what is scaring me the most - she seems to be being rather unhelpful. Maybe I'm just being churlish, but she was as insistent as I was on a quick sale

Argh, I'm just overthinking things now I guess. At least I get another month's wages under my belt before the real outgoings start :rolleyes:

Phone the estate agents on a daily basis, make them work for their money.

clearing_out_my_pockets

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Phone the estate agents on a daily basis, make them work for their money.

That's exactly what we did. I'm sure they got sick of hearing from us, but frankly I don't care! They either want the sale or they don't. On our purchase they're getting a decent commission based on the amount of work they've had to do - it only went on the market mid November and found a buyer (us) within a week.