Charlene's FTB - Diary 2007

Tiger_greeneyes

Most house purchases are like that though, it's one thing after another! You end up taking it in your stride

Fingers crossed for both of you

Diamonds_2

Hi Charlene, I am really enjoying your thread it's a real rollercoaster that's for sure. We moved into our new house on the 27th April (didn't have internet for ages so only just caught up with your story). Hope you get this story about the vendor sorted out, sometimes it's easier to skip the EA's and solicitors and ask the vendor outright! that's what I did when the EA were giving me dodgy info about if they'd found a place or were they moving in with relatives etc. made me nervy thinking people were lying to me... in the end the vendors were the ones to set my mind at rest and what they said was happening actually happened (they moved in with relatives so we could complete asap).

Anyway, hope you can move quicker than the October date!! I would continue to view other places if I were told it was going to take over 4 months to move! oh and I wouldn't pay for a survey either! not until the date was more realistic.

Best of luck, we're loving having our own place again. :beer:

CharleneUK

Aww thanks for the words of encouragement!! We will get there in the end!!

I've decided to write to the vendor myself just asking if I can measure for the bunk bed, and will also have a chat with her, as, like you said, it's horrible when you feel you've been lied to! EA didn't bother returning my call yesterday either!

So fingers crossed I can get back there sometime this week.

x

CharleneUK

I've been speaking a lot with OH over the last few days and to be perfectly honest, if we don't hear from vendor by tomorrow we're pulling out, and we may seriously consider throwing in the towel, completely.

I know that no one has a crystal ball, but I do sometimes wonder if we're making a huge mistake by buying at this point where the prices of houses are just so high.

Anyway, we'll see tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help, advice and been there done that experience in this thread!

xx

Doozergirl

Don't lose hope now!

Did you send the letter? Otherwise ask the EA if they would give your telephone number to the vendor OR ask if she is happy for you to have hers. That way you get it straight from the horses mouth. Chinese Whispers are parr for the course unfortunately - it does sound like you might benefit from direct contact.

Don't be so disheartened by a later moving date. As long as you exchange as early as you can, you have something to look forward to!

Tiger_greeneyes

I agree with Doozergirl, everything you've said is par for the course. I said to you before that you'd have moments when you feel really negative and that you'd get to the point where you'd want to throw it all in - I'd be worried if you didn't feel like that at some point, tbh!

Hang in there and just try to see it as 'paperwork', it always works for me

Diamonds_2

Hi Charlene, any thoughts on what to do next? have you contacted the vendor?

CharleneUK

Hi there. I've not had contact with the vendor, but the EA did and said she was extremely agitated and bit his head off. She agreed to let me come over on Saturday where I'm going to lay the cards out on the table, because I'm sick of it all. The EA said, he 'thinks' the reason she hasn't been around is because she has been up north london LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO LIVE!!!!!! You can imagine how happy that information made me.

I'm so so close to pulling out, just gonna wait till Saturday now so I can see what's really going on.

p.s - In the letter I sent the vendor, I gave both my home and mobile number. She didn't contact me.

olly300

CharleneUK wrote: »

In the letter I sent the vendor, I gave both my home and mobile number. She didn't contact me.

Some vendors want do to everything through the EA and their solicitor.

However when you go round on Saturday have a proper chat with her. By this I mean get into your conversation politely everything the EA has said to you about her and find out exactly when she wants to complete.

If you paint a picture of the EA not being honest, while the EA works for the vendor, if the EA looks like they are causing problems for her by their lack of honesty she will be more inclined to deal with you directly.

Also get a list of the furniture, fixtures and fittings she is going to leave in the property. (Take a pen and a notebook with you to write the info down.)

The vendor won't ring you up all the time or when you want it, but for example if she decides she is now going to leave some stuff and wants to find out if you want it she will ring you up rather than go through the EA.

Also if you are going to do any more viewings with family members or any extra checks i.e. central heating, electrics tell her while you are there.

(I dealt with the EA as little as possible and mainly when through the vendor. I found most EAs unable to remember what was in the properties they were showing and know about the parking.)

CharleneUK

Thanks Olly, I didn't see your post till today!

I went along today, and she was very friendly, and the bunk beds and two chest of drawers will fit nicely, so that's out the way!!

We had a nice chat and got everything out in the open. She explained that the October thing was said originally, and had changed some time ago.

She then showed me the survey she had done on the flat she was going to buy, but unfortunately, it showed up with her needing to have £85,000 worth of work done to it, so naturally, she has now walked away from this property.

She also explained that depending on when we wanted to complete, she could always put her stuff into storage and move in with friends. So basically, she is still looking, but this isn't going to hinder moving, as she can still go whenever.

I felt very at ease while talking to her and explained that I didn't want to be seen as a pest, but there were issues I had to discuss with her. She was very lovely and understanding.

I gave my mortgage broker the green light for the valuation for the mortgage and have had quotes for independent surveyors who are registered with RICS, and have had decent quotes of around £500 - £550, so am very happy to go ahead with it all.

So will keep you updated once things really get going!! Feeling very positive and excited about it all over again!