FTB moral support! Now with stupid solicitors!

TrickyNiki

Your right, the main bathroom doesn't have a window but the ensuite and downstairs toilet do.

Nice to know that I'm not being obstructive and holding the sale up. I know I'm a FTB but I don't like the pressure I'm being put under. Im glad that me being asked for move in dates isn't normal. The estate agent has said I'm too laid back and over cautious.

Oh well, I'm spending a lot of money on this house.. I'll do it my way!

julieb1987

Don't let the Estate Agent bully you! They'll know you're a FTB and will try all the tricks with you. Most Solicitors will be closing today until 2nd Jan (ours is anyway) so nothing will even get started until then so January is looking very unrealistic. You have the upper hand as there is no chain below you. Our EAs and vendors got very naughty and decided they wanted money for things they originally said were included in the sale so we played hard-ball and threatened to delay the completion as we needed the extra money now to buy appliances, and suddenly they came back to us yesterday saying we can have what was originally agreed for free as long as we complete on 4th Jan. We're exchanging today! We had our offer accepted in August (there have been delays with vendors mortgage offer though) so that's over 4 months!

It might be worth overlapping a few days (if you can afford it) so it will be a much more relaxing move and you'll have more time to do it. Also, do not give your notice until you have exchanged and agreed a completion date. Anyone can pull out of a sale right up until exchange of contracts, and you don't want to end up homeless!

caeler

You don't want to move on the 17th to coincide with the end of your rental period! The benefit of being in rented is that you can complete on the property and move in afterwards. Doing a move on the sale day is a nightmare. Build in a few extra days so you can sort the cleaning on your rental to maximise your chances of getting the deposit back etc. Remember DO NOT give notice to end your tenancy until you have exchanged. Good Luck.

hethmar

How long has it been up for sale?

Just go ahead with the process, there is no way that the solicitors would be able to do this by 17 January considering we have the xmas hols in between. But as someone else said, you dont need to move on 17th of the month, you may lose a couple of weeks rent, but you are buying a bargain house that you love - so worth it.

robatwork

If the vendors really want to move on a date that doesn't coincide with your rental date, it's not uncommon for them to offer to pay your last month's rent if you would be out of pocket. You can mention this to the EA.

TrickyNiki

Its been up for sale for nearly a year I think.

Hmm.. Your right.. I should leave about a weeks overlap for moving stuff. That would make a completion date of around feb 10th. That sounds a little optimistic as I'd need to exchange before jan 16th to get my notice in at the letting agents. I doubt exchange will happen before then and I will take the fantastic advice of not putting in notice till exchange.

Im thinking a realistic time to look at moving in would be March. DO you agree.. I'm already being pressured by the vendors estate agents saying that I'm holding things up but I cant see exchange happening before Jan 16th.

TrickyNiki

Just spoken to my solicitors, they were really nice They agreed with everything on here and said whoever had given me the advice of not giving notice till exchange was spot on!

I've asked the solicitors to amend my wishes of a Feb completion date to a possibility. I really don't need to move too quickly and I would rather everything was done correctly than rushed.

My solicitors said to tell the estate agent to get in contact with them if they tried their tactics again.

I'm feeling a little less stressed now that my solicitors are handling it, and that they are on my side! I am SO glad that I didn't let them force me into their personal solicitors!

TrickyNiki

Well I've just had a mortgage broker come over and she has got me a cheaper deal than I had previously. Yes there are fees involved but it will save me loads in the long run!

She's telling me to give my notice in when I have my mortgage approved.. She wasn't happy with me wanting to wait till exchange.

What is it with everyone wanting to rush me? It's me who will be out on the streets if it all goes pear shaped! I'm spending all this money I think I should be allowed some say in the matter and not be treated like some ignorant child just because I'm a FTB.

hazyjo

She doesn't happen to work for the EA does she...?!

Jx

TrickyNiki

She's from the Mortgage Advice Bureau, I didn't go through the estate agents but now you mention it I checked up and it seems they are linked!

Cheeky sods... I know where their bread is buttered now.. So much for independent advice! Well I suppose the mortgage advice was independent, but still!

I never knew buying a house was full of subterfuge!