At what stage is the draft contract drawn up?

Doozergirl

vet8 wrote: »

Doozergirl, we do not have any issues that need tending to in our house. The buyers' surveyor found nothing major, but he has suggested they get all these extra surveys done, (those done so far have shown no problems at all.) It all seems totally time wasting to me, they spent 3 and a half hours yesterday inspecting about 20 feet of drain and found no problems at all, what a waste of time and the buyer's money.

It seems to me that everyone is terrified of committing themselves and wants to cover their back.

As far as CORGI and FENSA compliance certificates go, we have none of those.

Erm, that's really quite arrogant.

We'd all like people to not bother with surveys and ignore the results that but I think we also have to appreciate why buyers would want peace of mind!

As for finding new buyers, that's just silly if these are moving forward. You spend weeks looking for another buyer and then put the same presuure on them when your original buyers no doubt would complete well within the time that any new buyer.

As buyers and vendor swe don't actually have that much control over how long things take. We can only move as fast as we can on the things which are our responsibility but also appreciate buyers who want to do their due diligence.

jonewer

vet8 wrote: »

As far as CORGI and FENSA compliance certificates go, we have none of those.

So you have no compliance certificates but expect the buyers to rush headlong into the purchase anyway? Are you nuts? Or do you think your buyers are?

GDB2222

Doozergirl wrote: »

As for finding new buyers, that's just silly if these are moving forward. You spend weeks looking for another buyer and then put the same presuure on them when your original buyers no doubt would complete well within the time that any new buyer.

I am at odds with most other posters on this. I take the view that I want two agents acting (despite the extra cost) and I want them to continue marketing the property until contracts are exchanged. I don't think that that's unfair pressure and it means I am not totally in the hands of a buyer who may decide to pull out at any time.

I am not sure what the OP is meant to do if she does not have CORGI (GasSafe now?) and FENSA certificates? Isn't it just down to the buyer to make a decision whether to proceed without them, or can they be reissued? A gas safety check certificate is easy to obtain, but it doesn't mean the system is in good condition, just that it's safe.

sonastin

You only need CORGI and FENSA and so on if you've had work done. If your central heating was installed by Noah before he built the ark, you won't have a CORGI certificate and no one can make you get one. If the windows were put in when the house was built, or before FENSA was created, you won't have a FENSA certificate and no one can make you get one. Not having this paperwork doesn't hold up the sale, unless you've had work done that should be certified and isn't.

Doozergirl

GDB2222 wrote: »

I am at odds with most other posters on this. I take the view that I want two agents acting (despite the extra cost) and I want them to continue marketing the property until contracts are exchanged. I don't think that that's unfair pressure and it means I am not totally in the hands of a buyer who may decide to pull out at any time.

If the buyer requests that the property is removed from marketing then I'd rather offer a short exclusivity period which they have to get a survey organised and then regular updates. Even if I'd left the board etc up I would never entertain another viewing until such point that I felt the current buyer wasn't going anywhere.

I've never been stung in that way by a buyer, never felt the need to continue marketing beyond an agreement to sell.

vet8

jonewer wrote: »

So you have no compliance certificates but expect the buyers to rush headlong into the purchase anyway? Are you nuts? Or do you think your buyers are?

Why would we need compliance certfiicates?

There is no gas in our house and nothing has been altered, built on, added, changed etc. in the past 10 years or more, since before these certficates were needed. This house needs a bit of updating, but all the surveys done so far have found no problems. Our buyers are aware they need to spend money on certain things like central heating. I just think they are wasting money, quite a lot of money as well, on all these surveys, money they could better spend on the work that needs doing.

vet8

GDB2222 wrote: »

I am at odds with most other posters on this. I take the view that I want two agents acting (despite the extra cost) and I want them to continue marketing the property until contracts are exchanged. I don't think that that's unfair pressure and it means I am not totally in the hands of a buyer who may decide to pull out at any time.

Exactly.

My worry is that after all this delay and !!!!!!ing about the buyer will decide that they cannot afford the house anyway (which I think is likely as they have stretched themselves to the limit on their offer) and we shall be back at square one, except for the past 5 weeks we could have been marketing the house and might have found another buyer.

vet8

Doozergirl wrote: »

Erm, that's really quite arrogant.

We'd all like people to not bother with surveys and ignore the results that but I think we also have to appreciate why buyers would want peace of mind!

As for finding new buyers, that's just silly if these are moving forward. You spend weeks looking for another buyer and then put the same presuure on them when your original buyers no doubt would complete well within the time that any new buyer.

As buyers and vendor swe don't actually have that much control over how long things take. We can only move as fast as we can on the things which are our responsibility but also appreciate buyers who want to do their due diligence.

Why is that arrogant?

When we have bought in the past we have not faffed about with all these extra surveys and we shall not when we buy next time.

People are too afraid of taking a risk. You only have to look on this board and see posters saying they have just bought and one of the taps leaks, can they sue the buyer? It is buyer beware.

We have always had a survey done and acted on that, but the stuff these buyers want checked on our house is a joke. Everyone from the EA to the solicitor and other people I have spoken to have said it is ridiculous. The drains for example, we have never had any trouble with them, they work absolutely fine and we have stated that. To spend 3 and a half hours and god knows what money inspecting them seems total O.T.T. to me.

Doozergirl

vet8 wrote: »

Why is that arrogant?

When we have bought in the past we have not faffed about with all these extra surveys and we shall not when we buy next time.

People are too afraid of taking a risk. You only have to look on this board and see posters saying they have just bought and one of the taps leaks, can they sue the buyer? It is buyer beware.

We have always had a survey done and acted on that, but the stuff these buyers want checked on our house is a joke. Everyone from the EA to the solicitor and other people I have spoken to have said it is ridiculous. The drains for example, we have never had any trouble with them, they work absolutely fine and we have stated that. To spend 3 and a half hours and god knows what money inspecting them seems total O.T.T. to me.

It's arrogant when you expect other people not to "faff" and to treat house buying as flippantly as you do. Why on earth should house buying be a 'risk' for people to take? Accusing peope of faffing in the first place is arrogant and being unable to appreciate the protection people want when it's 'caveat emptor' is also arrogant. Presumably you're not offering the house at a knock down price and they are well within their rights to check that everything is fine before they move in... it is ultimately a MSE thing to do because if they find anything wrong with your perfect house it makes it your problem, not theirs.

And yes of course the EA will nod their head and agree with you when you're having a whinge to them. Why would they bother arguing? In fact, quite seriously, why would I?

GDB2222

vet8 wrote: »

We have always had a survey done and acted on that, but the stuff these buyers want checked on our house is a joke. Everyone from the EA to the solicitor and other people I have spoken to have said it is ridiculous. The drains for example, we have never had any trouble with them, they work absolutely fine and we have stated that. To spend 3 and a half hours and god knows what money inspecting them seems total O.T.T. to me.

Every survey I have had has recommended further tests, eg drain and electricity tests. It's just put in to limit the surveyor's liability, and my impression is that normally people don't bother. However, if the buyers want to get these tests done, that's absolutely possible within the 4 week time-scale.

Really, their prerogative is to go past the agreed timescale and your prerogative is to recommence marketing. By doing that, you're not telling them that you won't sell to them.