Starting to wonder if our Vendors actually want to sell their house

Suzi.Q_3

We had an offer accepted on a house at the end of January, survey was done in Feb and we got the mortgage offer through around 20th Feb. We had some concerns about the survey and so didn't instruct our solicitors until we had the survey - this got us a lot of hassle from the EA saying the vendors were getting anxious that we'd not instructed our solicitors yet. Anyway, we were happy with the survey and instructed our solicitors 5 weeks ago. However, NOTHING has happened yet as the vendors solicitors has not responded to our solicitors request for contract documents. We spoke to our solicitor a week ago and she hadn't heard anything, so we started chasing things up with the EA who was very surprised that things weren't being done, and said she would chase the vendors up. Our solicitor got hold of the vendors solicitor the friday before last and they said the documents would be in the post within a couple of days.

As of last friday our solicitor had still not received anything from the vendors solicitor. Our solicitors will not do any searches before they receive stuff from the vendors solicitors, so nothing has been done. I've been trying to phone our contact at the EA to get her to hassle the vendors but her phone always goes to voicemail and it takes at least a day for her to call you back.

For saying there is allegedly no chain at all on the house, this is ridiculous. We're being advised by friends to threaten to pull out, but surely the EA will know this is an empty threat as we've spent money on the survey? If anyone has managed to get to the end of this post, well done, and do you have any advice? (The house has been reduced in price twice as it needs a lot of work, and we're 1st time buyers with a big deposit).

nifferwilko

I know exactly how you feel. I'm in pretty much exactly the same situation - waiting for the vendor's solicitors to do SOMETHING - Anything in fact. It wouldn't be so bad if someone would tell you something but, as it seems to be, noone wants to share anything!

My tip, not that it's working for me, is to keep annoying everyone. My mother offered the suggestion of setting a deadline which is a really painful thought as what happens if it all goes wrong (first time buyer's nerves I guess) so either of those. Don't threaten to pull out unless you actually would, as it will sound like an empty threat, and I'm sure EAs hear them all the time.

Good luck!

Tiger_greeneyes

I wouldn't threaten to pull out either, not unless I was prepared to do so - which you obviously aren't at the moment.

I would visit the agent though (always better face to face). Ask them to write to the vendor to get in touch urgently to discuss the sale. Then, ask what other properties they have on the market (or possibly coming on) that you could view in the meantime - and actually look at the properties. It's a far better tactic than threatening to pull out

If they think they're losing a sale, then they'll do all they can to kick the vendors into touch. You may also find something you prefer

Suzi.Q_3

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

I would visit the agent though (always better face to face). Ask them to write to the vendor to get in touch urgently to discuss the sale. Then, ask what other properties they have on the market (or possibly coming on) that you could view in the meantime - and actually look at the properties. It's a far better tactic than threatening to pull out

I like that idea! The problem with visiting the EA us that we've been told we now need to deal with the sales progression team, who are based in a completely different town to where we live (and where the EA office that the house was being sold through is), and only work mon - fri 9-5. They are the most annoying EAs we have ever met (we have owned a house before, but are effectively FTBs as we are now renting due to relocation).

silvercar

This often happens, seller's solicitors have less to do so often delay doing any work until they know the buyers are happy with the survey and have their mortgage offer. It saves unnecessary expense. Now you have the mortgage offer and the survey is done, I think the time has come to put the pressure on. Could you put a note through the door, asking why their solicitor's are not responding?

Suzi.Q_3

The thing is, they knew we were happy with the survey 5 weeks ago, and that we had our mortgage offer 4 weeks ago. It's getting stupid, and the fact that it takes 2-3 days to get to speak to the EA doesn't help. I'm not sure a note would help - he's away with work a lot, and they're separated so she doesn't live there any more.

ETA Just spoke to someone at the local branch of the EA - tried the sales progression person again and her answerphone message has changed to one saying she's off sick. The chap at the local office is going to contact the vendors and see what's going on.

rchddap1

That could be your problem..... vendors not there to sort things out.

nollag2006

Why not just pick the phone up to the vendors directly, and ask them what's going on, in a non-aggressive way ?

So many solrs and EAs are bone idle, so the vendor may not even be aware of all these delays, or might even be being told that you are dragging your feet.

Delaying in instructing your solr until after the survey, though, was not a clever tactic if you're trying to expedite matters now

Tiger_greeneyes

Suzi.Q wrote: »

I like that idea! The problem with visiting the EA us that we've been told we now need to deal with the sales progression team, who are based in a completely different town to where we live (and where the EA office that the house was being sold through is), and only work mon - fri 9-5. They are the most annoying EAs we have ever met (we have owned a house before, but are effectively FTBs as we are now renting due to relocation).

All is not lost!!! I'd still visit the EA, explain the situation and view more properties. Don't forget, the EA will be losing their commission if the sale falls through - s/he'll be in touch with their sales progression team before you're out of the door!

Voyager2002

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

All is not lost!!! I'd still visit the EA, explain the situation and view more properties. Don't forget, the EA will be losing their commission if the sale falls through - s/he'll be in touch with their sales progression team before you're out of the door!

Except that if you buy another property through them they will still get their commission. And if you buy something that costs more, they will get even more commission.

Personally, I would INSIST on contact details for the vendor. There are a host of things to discuss, and if everything has to go through two or three people loads of misunderstandings will arise.

Suzi.Q_3

nollag2006 wrote: »

Why not just pick the phone up to the vendors directly, and ask them what's going on, in a non-aggressive way ?

Delaying in instructing your solr until after the survey, though, was not a clever tactic if you're trying to expedite matters now

Because we don't have contact numbers for them. We delayed in instructing our solicitor because we had a concern about the house that could be nothing or could be £20,000 worth of work - obviously if it was the latter we would have backed out and we didn't want to lose solicitors fees. As it was it only delayed things by 1 week, hardly the same as what is going on now.