Arrgh I give up why did I bother to buy

jodenice

i put an offer in on a flat at the end of the September 06.

The sellers went away on holiday for 3 weeks without bothering to tell the people they were buying from that a) they were on holiday or b) that they had buyers. Their sellers sold to somebody else.

We then had to wait SIX WEEKS before the seller contacted her solicitors to tell them to hurry up. (we by then had had practically everything done). The sellers found a new house, and the lady they were buying from was purchasing a new build which was finished by Xmas. She only got a move on as I wrote to the EA saying we would now be looking at other properties as obviously the seller wasn't actually serious about selling to us.

We foolishly (oh how I laugh as I remember those hopeful days) thought we might be in just after Xmas. Nope, more delays as our seller stated she couldn't use the phone or visit the post office on any weekday and she could now only do everything at weekends.

My partner starts a new job on the 19th Feb (we definitely thought we'd be in before this) and from this point onwards he'll be in training for 3 months and no weekdays holiday are permitted for this time. This means, when we do move it will have to be a saturday. If we moved before this time we could have been much more flexible.

My current tenancy finishes TODAY. Any money spent over this time will be taken from my deposit.

The EA sheepishly phoned us today and said that we may now be looking at 'early march'. Oh and that the seller wants to move on a weekend.

So a) i lose some of my deposit because we've overstayed. b) we won't be able to move in at the weekend and get it sorted in time for my partners new job c) we are going to have to move on a sunday which means leaving a week between them moving out and us moving in and us spending yet another £200 on rent PLUS the mortgage. D) we cancelled a holiday in India because we were told that the time we should be moving in was late January / Early February.

We are first time buyers who now feel like jaded bitter buyers and I am FED UP of being dumped on whilst those with more flexible timescales faff around.

I'm tempted to just tell them to s*d off and start again but now I have incurred solicitors fees - plus i do really like the flat. I feel like having a bit of a cry! Is there anyway I can assert a bit more authority? Due to all the wrong moving dates given to me I have lost a fair amount of money - and without, even now, a definite moving date all my plans are up in the air. :mad:

Kaminari_2

Welcome to the world of buying. Sorry it is not the easiest for you but your experience is not far from what is normal.

Imelda

Have you exchanged yet?

Doozergirl

It's a real shame for you, but this really is what happens most of the time! I have never been in a chain and had things run smoothly. You have your ideas and think everyone else is being selfish because they won't accommodate you but think about the others too. I guarantee they feel exactly the same.

It's a little too late now, but what you should do when moving out of rented accommodation is tell everyone exactly how long you need to leave between exchange and completion so that you can hand in your notice when you exchange, therefore knowing you have somewhere to go to and when.

Solicitors move as quickly as they like, new build developers run over timescales... you musn't ever assume that simply because you want to move on a date that it will happen. You can't do that when you aren't the one doing to conveyancing and even the solicitors can't help the issues that arise during that process. That's why it takes as long as it takes.

No consolation for you, I'm afraid. I don't know what else to suggest. If you do stamp your feet, you MUST mean what you say as EAs, solicitors (and people like me!) see empty threats all the time. You have to stand your ground, so I'd never threaten to pull out, I'd find another way around it.

jodenice

Well i haven't threatened to pull out but I do feel the need to have a major hissy fit. I had no idea this was the norm (if it is then its not in my office - 3 people have put in offers after me and are already living in domestic bliss!)

I understand what you mean about moving out of rented - we needed to give two months and we did discuss this with the sellers and everyone agreed the 11th February would give us ample opportunity. This would have been fine if they hadn't gone on holiday and lost their original house.

I wish now that we too had gone on holiday and not cancelled it.

At least i'd be tanned.

jodenice

Imelda wrote:

Have you exchanged yet?

No - just received the bill from my solicitor (gulp ) and then exchange.

silvercar

So a) i lose some of my deposit because we've overstayed. b) we won't be able to move in at the weekend and get it sorted in time for my partners new job c) we are going to have to move on a sunday which means leaving a week between them moving out and us moving in and us spending yet another £200 on rent PLUS the mortgage.

you have to complete on a weekday even if you don't actually move in. your seller will have to move out on or before the date that you complete. you won't start paying the mortgage until completion.

jodenice

so i guess they want to complete on a friday but have asked to move on a saturday. Which is understandable but it doesn't leave me much time and if I stay til the week after then I'm paying for two properties for a week, which I just can't afford. but if what you said was true they should move out on the friday or before it? I'm a bit confused.

I'm so close to the end. I just want it over with. I never even thought about the logistics of people moving in and out!

BettiePage

Set a date then tell her that if you've not got the keys by then you'll be dropping your offer by £xx per day/week. Stick to it too.

jodenice

Ah but I don't want to risk losing the flat. Seriously, out of about 40, it was the only one I liked. Plus that might mean.... confrontation! I don't want to turn into a bully over it but I have totally accommodated myself to everyone else and the whole way along, enticed by the carrot that is the 'moving in date'. If I knew that it definitely would be a date I might be more amenable but based on sellers past behaviour this now looks doubtful.. Seriously, if you are selling your house how can you a)not contact the solicitor to see how its going for five weeks plus and b) refuse to do anything apart from weekends. I understand that she may have a job that doesn't enable her to get to facilities often. But no phone ever, Mon - Fri? I analyse crime for a living and even I can pop out for five minutes to make a call.

specs_3

Complain all you like, but unless their is a financial penalty, your house purchase will go as quickly as the other party wants.