Vendor issues

tristinh

Hi everyone,

Well after thinking all was running smoothly, we now have an issue. We got our offer accepted formally over 3 weeks ago, have our mortgage offer and are awaiting the buildings survey report.

Our solicitor contacted us as the vendors solicitor had nit been in touch at all and was not returning her calls. Now the EA has chased and it seems the vendor is upset as he doesn't want to move and it trying to scrape together the funds to buy out his soon to be ex wife. Hense why he hasn't even instructed his Solicitor yet!

Anyway, after the EA spoke to his Solicitor about this (same one as he is using for divorce) he said there is no way he can afford it. The vendor has now promised to sign and send the papers.

I know most will say pull out and cut your losses, but there us nothing else on the Market we like. We are still looking just in case, but as we are already liable for the survey costs etc, we may as well sit and wait.

Any ideas of how we can gee him up? I thought about writing a letter to him direct saying how we are so looking forward to starting our family there etc.

Thanks!

Mexas

If you're not in a rush I cant see the harm in waiting? Are you a FTB or are you selling a property first?

TrickyDicky101

You are at the mercy of a divorcing couple who presumably have things on their minds other than being in any way concerned about you and your circumstances (not wanting to sound harsh here). I wouldn't expect this transaction to be concluded any time soon.

Doozergirl

tristinh wrote: »

Any ideas of how we can gee him up? I thought about writing a letter to him direct saying how we are so looking forward to starting our family there etc.

Thanks!

There's me thinking you couldn't send anything worse to a guy that's just split up with his wife...

I'd go for another viewing and a chat. Establish whether or not this is going to happen, where he is going to live and how long you anticipate this process taking.

The only way to save yourself the money is to have a forthright conversation with the guy, without being pushy.

sonastin

You can't force this to happen. All you can do is keep reminding everyone involved that it still needs their attention every once in a while. You need to be patient and you need to keep looking for something better. Don't be tempted to get too pushy as all you'll achieve is to slow things down even more.

celyn90

tristinh wrote: »

Any ideas of how we can gee him up? I thought about writing a letter to him direct saying how we are so looking forward to starting our family there etc.

Thanks!

The guy is going through a divorce and losing his home; I honestly think this is really really tactless thing to do.

I don't think you have any choice but to wait for this to be concluded in its own time. By all means keep in contact with your solicitor and ask to be kept updated, but spare a thought for the guy. Even if you don't want to consider his feelings, if you apply pressure you risk having to deal with a stressed and upset vendor working against you which is not going to be good for you in the long run.

tristinh

Thanks everyone. I stupidly didn't think of that side of things. My experience of divorce (friends, parents etc) is that they want it concluded ASAP!!

I think we will wait and see if he sends the papers this time and if not arrange to go and see him for a chat. The issue we had with this is that he came across as very unapproachable through the EA... they might misunderstand him though!

We are not FTB as such but have nothing to sell. He told us he was planning to buy at auction once the deal had gone through when we asked when viewing.

We have already lost out on one sale (2k in fees) so we are desperate not to lose out again! Plus this is the house of our dreams!

KateLiana27

You have my sympathies. Personally I think it's pretty unethical to allow an (innocent) person to spend hundreds of their hard-earned money on a house you have no intention of selling, so I'm struggling to feel much pity for him. He should have decided whether or not to sell the house before accepting an offer on it, not after!

That said, I'm not sure what you can do other than arrange for a straightforward chat with him and the EA to find out what the situation is. Set yourself a deadline and if he doesn't instruct a solicitor by then, cut your losses and move on. Though if you're not in a rush and happy to sit on things indefinitely, that's ok but don't spend any more money on the house (eg searches) until things are firmed up.

tristinh

Thanks.

After thinking about it, I do have some sympathy for him, but like you say, he knows we have spent money. I have to remember it is a business transaction after all!

kingstreet

I really hoped this wouldn't happen and as we hadn't heard from you lately I thought things were pushing on a bit.

Hang in there. Not much you can do with a reluctant seller. You threaten to pull out and he'll probably shake your hand and thank you.

Plenty of deep breaths before each phone call...

tristinh

Thanks Kingstreet. We thought it was all too good to be true with the valuation etc being ok. We are being patient.... honestly!! :eek: