Aggressive Vendors! Any advice please?!

Princesspink17

Hi

I'm new to this but I sort of have a problem with the owners of the house I wish to purchase

My current suititation is that I privately rent and have been in my house just under a year- I have 2 dogs so I'm extremely lucky to be in a private rented house for a start! After 4 months of living in this house I realised the neighbours were a problem! It turns out I live next door to a council housed property which house ex cons if they have no where to live after being realised from prison. If I was informed this at the time I wouldn't be here, we've had trouble such as advertisements taken off my car, them knocking on the door when my partner is out and just me home - I don't answer clearly, chicken bones been thrown over the garden, them looking through the fence at me the list goes on I won't bore you.

Anyway we decided to move a while ago and I'm in touch with all local EA about a suitable property to rent with my two dogs I'm having no luck due to the fact that the landlord either won't accept pets or they will accept dogs but not my breed of dogs! I've owned the dogs since 8 weeks old and they are now 5 and 6 so please no silly remarks about getting rid of them, there part of the family.

So we looked into half buy half rent because I've recently gone self employed, my long term hubby to be will have to go along with a mortgage on his own as they need me to produce at least 2 years of accounts which I don't have as I only started in April this year. Partner on good money so not a problem and we have no debt or late payments etc credit rating is good, we found a property which we both loved close to friends and family good size and although the vendors have clearly spent a bit of money on the property it still needs work doing to it as there are big holes in the wall from heavy items being hung on walls and the house is a two bed semi but the vendors have put up a stud wall in the second bedroom to create two rooms, two very small rooms which if we did get the property would need to come down.

Anyway the vendor has had the house on the market with the local authority who own the other half since January, we were told that a lady had put in a offer of £61,000 but as the price for the half share was £76,275 she said no. The vendors have not lived in the property since jan as they live with the in laws as the vendors husband has a job in china and they need to relocate to there.

I was put in touch with a mortgage broker who has found us a mortgage and we have one in principle but the problem is the half share of the house is only worth £66,275 the vendors have put on £10,000 extra for the work they have done stud wall new bathroom and kitchen!

I rang the vendor for a second viewing and we planned to discuss this with the vendor when we were there as with half buy which isn't under a EA and the local authority you deal with the vendor direct- unlucky for me! So the day we were due to view the property again the vendor rang me 4 hours prior and straight away I could tell she was defensive, she said I know no one will get a mortgage for the house because when the bank send round a valuation it will come back that the house is over priced, so what is your offer she demanded! I was quite taken aback but we need to get out of our current home and we like this one so I said £66,275 which is what it's worth she started going mad and shouting at me saying why didn't I discuss this with her before arranging the viewing, I wanted to discuss this in person so glad I never! Shouting at me that they will accept £66,275 plus £4000 cash! I couldn't help but laugh then her husband starts shouting at me the same time she is saying the kitchen is 12 months old blah blah saying shes not letting me view it again she couldnt be bothered and she didnt care ahe would leave it empty for 2 years, she wasnt in a rush! - yet she told me on the first viewing she needed to sell it due to moving to china, anyway I put the phone down! I was upset angry you name it I felt it! I rang the LA who own the other half who were Disgusted by her and said we can't really do anything

Considering we want the house, but not the crazy Chinese woman I rang the vendor back a hour later, I apologised and said my phone lost signal I could of said I put the phone down on you how dare you ring me and attack me through the phone but I didn't I said my offer still stood and it would for 2 weeks should she change her mind!

My mortgage broker and LA agents have gone mad but F&F are saying hold on she sounds desperate hence the aggression and demand for cash?! Has anyone had similar experiences like this or is it just me?! MB & LA have never heard of anything like this!

seven-day-weekend

She sounds crazy!

I would just leave the offer on the table, like you have, and she can either accept it or not. I certainly wouldn't deal with any more abuse!

Or just look elsewhere for a place and then withdraw your offer.

Ivana_Tinkle

Run for the hills!

Acc72

Princesspink17 wrote: »

I was put in touch with a mortgage broker who has found us a mortgage and we have one in principle but the problem is the half share of the house is only worth £66,275

So the day we were due to view the property again the vendor rang me 4 hours prior and straight away I could tell she was defensive, she said I know no one will get a mortgage for the house because when the bank send round a valuation it will come back that the house is over priced, so what is your offer she demanded!

So, you know that the flat is over priced and the seller knows that the flat is overpriced - but the seller wants "their" price ?

I am not sure what your question is but irrespective of their very strange behaviour I would just walk away.

Also, there are a number of threads about shared ownership on this board.

Sorry if I am teaching you how to suck eggs but you should also read through these threads to fully understadn what you would be getting into.

pinkteapot

Walk away!!

Do not be tempted to pay significantly more than a property is valued at just to escape your current rental situation. You could end up stuck in the property for years.

The fact you'll have to deal with a nutter of a vendor directly throughout the sale process should be the other nail in the coffin.

abaxas

Remember there are two people in the transaction with two viewpoints on valuation. If they meet, you can buy.

Princesspink17

My question was if anyone had similar experiences, people have their own opinions on shared ownership but for me and my partner it suits our situation and we intend on it being a family home and hopefully not moving again!

The offer is there I shall hold out for two weeks and if by some miracle which I highly doubt the vendor accepts I shall ask the LA to deal with her direct so I hopefully don't.

The vendor knows that the half share she owns is worth £66,275 but because she has put in a "luxury" bathroom and kitchen which she has enjoyed for 6 years she seems to think she needs the extra cash for me to enjoy them! - not my personal taste on what she has done anyway!

All I can do is hope she does accept the offer, which if she did I know she will hold out for as long as possible, we do want really want the house which she doesn't know I'm just interested to her but I will be sensible and know when I have to walk away! She's had offers since jan when it first went for resale ours being the highest we've been told she's just being greedy by the LA

dancingfairy

Argh. It sounds like a nightmare. Unfortunately the house is only worth what it's worth. Hopefully common sense will prevail but try not to get drawn into her agression/emotional outbursts. Try and keep it calm and business like. I hope you get the house but you don't want to pay over the odds just because you are desperate to escape where you are now.
Maybe start looking around and see what else is on the market in case this one falls through?
Best of Luck
df

DRP

maybe aggressive business practice is a cultural thing?

you could return the favour by reducing your offer by your weekly rent for every week she doesn't accept it?

Ivana_Tinkle

Buying a house is one of the most stressful experiences you can go through in life. You haven't even been for a second viewing and your barking mad vendors are already screaming down the phone at you. They're incapable of having a perfectly normal conversation about price in a civilised way. What's going to happen when your survey finds a problem? Or your local search goes astray? Or your mortgage offer gets delayed? Or your solicitor goes on holiday without telling anyone?

I was being flippant before but I mean it: this isn't going to work out and it's going to be horrible for you! It can't possibly be worth it.

pimento

Have you checked out the neighbours at the new place?