Complaint about house sale

bug_bloke

For the last 11 weeks I have been trying to sell my house.

I say “trying” but we found a buyer within the first 4 weeks and since then there has been a really slow progression. My wife and I have put as much effort in as we can possibly make to speed things up, including moving out so it was ready to be moved into as soon as possible. I have worked out that I am paying about £400 a month in interest on the mortgage plus council tax, insurance and water rates.

There are only three parties involved: us, our buyers and their buyers. We have finally been given a completion date which is in three weeks time.

If I had known it would take this long I would of sold the house for more, instead of dropping the price for a quick sell. Or not selling to these people at all. All told it would of cost me an extra of about £1000 due to other people not doing the job properly.
I know there isn’t much I can do to speed things up as it isn’t us, our solicitors or our estate agents that are slowing it down (although I don’t think they are helping).

However, is there any kind of complaints and compensation procedure I can make use of after we have finally completed?

Any advice?

silvercar

Nothing you can do. Just be grateful that you found a buyer quickly and your first buyer actually looks like completing. There are plenty people who lose buyers due to chains, surveys, personal problems and plenty who get messed around. 11 weeks is not actually that long, estate agents will tell you it is about average. I know someone on their 3rd buyer and been trying to sell for 11 months.

Cold comfort, I know.

dunstonh

11 weeks isnt that much with a chain. I think your expectations were set too high.

housebuyer_3

People talk about completing quickly but it can take 6-8 weeks on average with no chain! Only cash buyers can rush things along and it can still take upto a month depending on solicitors and local searches.

jamminjamaica

i was told it would take between 8-12 weeks from sale agreed to completion

goldbyron

I only exchanged last week after 5 months and will complete in 3 weeks which means it took 6 months in total. I would just ask the EA to find out if there are any problems/delays if there is no progress in the next couple of weeks. However if completion may happen in 3 weeks it seems things may be fine. When the house is sold I would advise you to put all your energy into your new life and leave the stresses behind.

TJ27

bug_bloke wrote:

If I had known it would take this long I would of sold the house for more

Would you? How do you know?

You might not have sold it at all if it was more expensive.

PoorDave

dunstonh wrote:

11 weeks isnt that much with a chain. I think your expectations were set too high.

Me too. Can take ages. It took us months - 4 of them if i recall correctly, from our purchase and sale being agreed (chain of three with us in the middle selled to a BTL'er, us buying a vacant property) to us moving in.

Obviously we were told by all involved it would be 8 weeks!

[Deleted User]

I bought 3 times over the years and it has always taken me on average 14-16 weeks, even with a small chain like yours. I think your expectations were too high. People say you can do it in 6-8 weeks, but that's more the exception than the rule from what I see.

Doozergirl

:wave: Van1971, haven't seen you around these parts much of late!

(apologises for hijacking thread)

OP, your time frame sounds like a completely hassle free chain situation to me too. Best intentions and all that, but I'd be pleased with the same outcome.

JennyW_2

wish ours only took 11 weeks! We had a FTB behind us and we were purchasing an empty property so should've had the easiest time ever but it still took 5 months! The searches along took 7 weeks.

I think you did well to complete in 11 weeks.