Accepted Buyer's offer but still no Survey

Jaynorth_2

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

Agree that they need to instruct a solicitor. I think when you're dealing with FTBs you (and your EA) need to work on the assumption that they know nothing at all about how the process works. I know that sounds really patronising (obviously FTBs on MSE are going to be much more clued up!) but we once sold to a FTB who instructed a solicitor but then when he did nothing at all for two months it never occurred to her that perhaps she should give him a ring and find out what was going on!

As for Santander, my recent experience would suggest that six weeks to the survey is completely standard. They're glacially slow. I think our offer took 10 or 11 weeks from application, and that was a straightforward application, small income multiple, v small LTV, chasing every other day, sending back all paperwork immediately etc etc.

Do Santander provide or offer to pay for your conveyancing fees as I thought this may explain why they have not yet instructed a solicitor?

bigchrissyg

We're in a similar debate, agreed to a reduced offer on the basis of a quick sale. Now I'm hassling the EA everyday. They hav their own interest at heart and they are not interested in getting other viewers to yours as they want them to buy something else.

Set deadlines and conditions, that's what I'm doing... Our mortgage took 3wks from app to survey to offer with the woolwich.

Good luck, frustrating I know!

DiscoCat54

Ive recently applied for a Santander Mortgage. They didn't pay fees however they offered to let me draw down an additional £950 towards fees if necessary. I applied for mortgage via broker on a Tuesday, affordability agreed the next day, survey 2 days later and offer sent out the following Tuesday. It's the quickest turnaround time I've experienced...

Jaynorth_2

bigchrissyg wrote: »

We're in a similar debate, agreed to a reduced offer on the basis of a quick sale. Now I'm hassling the EA everyday. They hav their own interest at heart and they are not interested in getting other viewers to yours as they want them to buy something else.

Set deadlines and conditions, that's what I'm doing... Our mortgage took 3wks from app to survey to offer with the woolwich.

Good luck, frustrating I know!

Very frustrating, I spoke to one of the EA in their office on Tuesday and told him that I had lost out on 2 properties that I was interested in because there had been no movement at all from my buyer in 6 weeks and also pointed out that my buyer had not even asked for the property to be taken off the market yet! He said that he had informed him that he would not take it off the market until he had booked his survey but would find out what was going on and get back to me, now 2 days later still nothing...

I spoke to another agent in the office yesterday who said they had been rushed off their feet because the school holidays were now over so more people looking to view properties, I asked if they had any viewings for me as they are supposedly still marketing my property and she said no but I was still under offer so it's not so bad. I reminded her that it has been 6 weeks and the buyer had not even retained a solicitor yet, she offered to chase it up but I said someone else was already doing this.

But it seems obvious that they have stopped marketing my property so I think it may now be time to consider terminating the agreement with them and taking my business elsewhere or moving to a multi-agency contract because I have all but given up on looking for another property now and if I am not looking then I feel I should be focused on marketing my property and pushing for another sale. I am absolutely sick and tired of these EA's and their games, this is my 3rd EA since March and thankfully I made sure that I have a 7 day termination clause within the contract.

Jaynorth_2

DiscoCat54 wrote: »

Ive recently applied for a Santander Mortgage. They didn't pay fees however they offered to let me draw down an additional £950 towards fees if necessary. I applied for mortgage via broker on a Tuesday, affordability agreed the next day, survey 2 days later and offer sent out the following Tuesday. It's the quickest turnaround time I've experienced...

The thing is, I have a nasty suspicion that my buyers are not using a broker - this is the impression I got from the EA but then as they have not retained a solicitor I can't even ask them directly so who knows.

DVardysShadow

Before you go much further, get your mystery buyer fired up as I said earlier and find out what your agent is up to.

If they are not actively marketing your property, a written statement from your mystery buyer will give you more options. And if they are doing their job, then you can leave the property with them and just instruct them that the deal with your current buyer is off.

DVardysShadow

Jaynorth wrote: »

The thing is, I have a nasty suspicion that my buyers are not using a broker - this is the impression I got from the EA but then as they have not retained a solicitor I can't even ask them directly so who knows.

Nothing wrong with not using a broker. Is the agent demanding that they use the agent's broker?

Jaynorth_2

DVardysShadow

I have tried to find out what everybody is up to but really it is only the EA that can tell me and having received conflicting information from them it leads me to believe that either they do not know or they are not telling me the truth. Both scenario's do not look good for my situation. What sort of written statement did you have in mind? Something to say that they are definitely interested in buying? While I do not doubt their interest, retaining a solicitor at the very least would be a more committed response.

I do not think that the agent is demanding that they use their in-house broker, infact I was under the assumption that they seemed pretty clued up because they rejected the agents solicitor and were going about getting their mortgage in their own way but I am not sure how this would be..

DVardysShadow

Jaynorth wrote: »

DVardysShadow

I have tried to find out what everybody is up to but really it is only the EA that can tell me and having received conflicting information from them it leads me to believe that either they do not know or they are not telling me the truth. Both scenario's do not look good for my situation. What sort of written statement did you have in mind? Something to say that they are definitely interested in buying? While I do not doubt their interest, retaining a solicitor at the very least would be a more committed response.

I do not think that the agent is demanding that they use their in-house broker, infact I was under the assumption that they seemed pretty clued up because they rejected the agents solicitor and were going about getting their mortgage in their own way but I am not sure how this would be..

When I say a 'mystery buyer' I mean that you get a friend to go into the agent looking for property with the same spec as yours. Doing that may give you more idea of what is going on - eg if you house was not presented. And if you have a board outside if your mystery buyer says 'what about <address>' will the agent let them have a viewing?

If the agent is not presenting your property, a written statement from your friend could help you cancel the contract.

Jaynorth_2

DVardysShadow wrote: »

When I say a 'mystery buyer' I mean that you get a friend to go into the agent looking for property with the same spec as yours. Doing that may give you more idea of what is going on - eg if you house was not presented. And if you have a board outside if your mystery buyer says 'what about <address>' will the agent let them have a viewing?

If the agent is not presenting your property, a written statement from your friend could help you cancel the contract.

Well I am still on rightmove with no 'under offer' or 'sold stc' sticker, but the fact is that they claim to be marketing my property and have only produced 1 viewing in almost 7 weeks which ties in with when the offer was made, and they have not made any suggestions as to why there are no viewings apart from the usual excuse of it being the summer holidays so things were slow but things have picked up now and still nothing so it may just be time to try something new.