Selling house & chasing buyers...

CornflakeGrrrl

We are in the process of selling our first home. We're not in a chain and neither are the buyers. They also don't need a mortgage. They have had a few requests which we have agreed to/completed prior to exchange/completion. The last request was offered with a date for completion being the end of this week. Now it has all gone quiet. I would appreciate any advice on what we might do next. We have emailed both our solicitors and estate agents trying to get some comms from the buyers but as yet nothing. Friday is coming all too quick and we havent fully packed or even provisionally booked removals firm so we can only assume it is not going to happen this week (if at all). Our sols have told us they will get back to us when they hear something - is there anything else we could/should be doing or is it a case of sit tight and hope for the best? (frustrating doesn't come close!). Thanks.

ognum

do you have an EA, maybe time to press them into action as a go between.

CornflakeGrrrl

We do have an estate agent who have been very good to date - we have had to go through them in the past as the buyers have always been slow to respond . . . we have contacted them and said if there is anything they can do to help - they want this thing wrapped up too obviously. Still no word from anyone other than our sols saying they have contacted their sols and will let us know ! Thanks for the reply.

unsure

You don't make it clear if you've exchanged contracts. If you have, the contract should specify the completion date. If you haven't exchanged nothing is set in stone and you do need to follow it up urgently if you are expecting to move this week. Emails are too easy to ignore, especially if someone is playing games. Sometimes cash buyers have several different irons in the fire and simply delay exchange of contracts till they've made their made up which is their best option, which could leave you high and dry if they pull out of your sale at this late stage. I would phone your solicitor, or your buyer if you have their number and confirm that contracts have been exchanged and the completion details.

Packing can take a lot more time than you realise and booking remover shouldn't be left till last minute either.

It's not good enough of you solicitors to say they'll call when they hear at this stage -- you are paying them (probably handsomely!) to act on your behalf and protect your interests. You need to know if you are moving at the end of the week or not and it's their job to sort that out.

CornflakeGrrrl

Contracts havent been exchanged - though we have signed ours as advised by our sols so good to move asap. You may be right about "several irons in the fire" as there is certainly some delay all of a sudden. We will chase the sols up again - thanks for your help/advice.

unsure

Unfortunately, ASAP doesn't really mean anything in legal terms and allows your buyer to take as much time as they wish. Sounds like poor advice to me. I'd be very concerned if contracts haven't been exchanged, and you are expecting to move in days. Unfortunately, until the contracts have been exchanged your buyer has no legal commitment to proceed with the sale at all. Just tell your solicitors you need to exchange soonest and suggest the completion date that suits you. I believe it is possible to exchange and complete at the same time. It doesn't sound as though anyone else involved is expecting an early completion and if that's what you understood and want you need to push them all along in that direction.