Property Information Form missing a LOT of info.

thequant

When purchasing my property, the vendor was unable to answer a lot of questions due it to being a probate sale and living abroad.


So I got a load of don't knows back, so I asked if could inspect the property to see if I could establish the answers myself.


e.g. Q when was the bolier last serviced ? A Don't Know


I visited the property and found the boiler was serviced 6 months ago. So vendor wasn't trying it on, he really didn't know the answers to lots of questions.


I would ask the vendor if you could make your own enquiries, let you visit the property, let you speak to the tenants and find your own answers.


if they are reluctant, then RUN, RUN, RUN AWAY!!


But saying that if it was me, any solicitor sending me unsigned papers, with pages missing, and an email disclaimer absolving themselves and the vendor of any legal liability.


I would already be RUNNING AWAY!

Eejay

The EA has now said that they will speak to the vendor but it will likely 'inflame them when they are already anxious'. Our solicitor has apparently had the paperwork for weeks so they object to us raising this now (even though we only received it yesterday), but we are very reluctant to start paying out money when there are so few answers.

The EA was the one who filled in the paperwork - there are bits missing that they could easily have answered, and the fact that they've listed things like where the meters are suggests they have been to the property - they could have answered some of the other questions whilst they were there (or at least said they weren't sure rather than just leaving entire pages blank). I don't mind having to find some of the info for ourselves but I don't think we should be doing all of their work. Even the document from the Land Registry says something about an area coloured green that can't be built on, but there's no green on it. However there's a sentence about "the land coloured green on the plan referred to is the whole of the land in this title excluding the site of the dwellinghouse" so it sounds like there's no chance of building anything other than a 'garage or tool shed'.

I can't see any chance of this working out to be honest, especially when the EA is being ridiculously rude about every concern we have - they keep brushing the tenant issue to the side for example. I am convinced they want us to spend money so that we are reluctant to pull out, but it's not happening. There isn't anything particularly exciting available at the moment, but I'd rather wait and rent for longer than rush into something that is, by the looks of it, going to cause no end of stress.

thequant

Eejay wrote: »

I can't see any chance of this working out to be honest, especially when the EA is being ridiculously rude about every concern we have - they keep brushing the tenant issue to the side for example. I am convinced they want us to spend money so that we are reluctant to pull out, but it's not happening. There isn't anything particularly exciting available at the moment, but I'd rather wait and rent for longer than rush into something that is, by the looks of it, going to cause no end of stress.

I would say from reading the other thread, that if things have already deteriorated at this stage, then it doesn't bode well for future dealings.


As quite rightly others have pointed out on the other thread, the mortgage issue is your problem and not the vendors.


But likewise, if the vendor is abroad, is unable to make sure the paperwork is done properly. Has tenants in situ. These are their problems, not yours!


Sounds like both parties are unable to get off the ground, till the other acts. This is where good EA's are really needed. As their job is to facilitate the deal to make sure it goes through smoothly by understanding and trying to resolve both parties concerns. You have a snotty EA's who is not going to be able to do this.

Eejay

I couldn't seem to find any reviews for the EA originally, but now I've realised that the reviews are under a different name on the 'allagents' website (but same address). They have 11 reviews (many are from tenants) and a rating of 1.9. One review that seemed to reflect a lot of what we are experiencing at the moment was:

"When buying the firm put us under a lot of pressure to complete the process within a short period of time to suit the seller circumstances. This included threatening on several occasions to withdraw from the deal and sell to someone else, if we did not force our solicitor to exchange contracts on a certain date and then complete 10 days later. This was deliberate emotional manipulation, knowing how much we wanted the property. It put us into conflict with our own solicitor, caused us a lot of unwarranted stress and was extremely cruel. Things that the agent told us were contradicted by what the seller said afterwards."

And someone commented on that review with:

"We had exactly the same experience as the reviewer above when buying from [them]. Increadibly rude staff, especially one lady who had me in tears - cruel, lying and pure emotional manipulation. Avoid these estate agents."

thequant

Eejay wrote: »

I couldn't seem to find any reviews for the EA originally, but now I've realised that the reviews are under a different name on the 'allagents' website (but same address). They have 11 reviews (many are from tenants) and a rating of 1.9. One review that seemed to reflect a lot of what we are experiencing at the moment was:

"When buying the firm put us under a lot of pressure to complete the process within a short period of time to suit the seller circumstances. This included threatening on several occasions to withdraw from the deal and sell to someone else, if we did not force our solicitor to exchange contracts on a certain date and then complete 10 days later. This was deliberate emotional manipulation, knowing how much we wanted the property. It put us into conflict with our own solicitor, caused us a lot of unwarranted stress and was extremely cruel. Things that the agent told us were contradicted by what the seller said afterwards."

And someone commented on that review with:

"We had exactly the same experience as the reviewer above when buying from [them]. Increadibly rude staff, especially one lady who had me in tears - cruel, lying and pure emotional manipulation. Avoid these estate agents."

If you proceed with this sale, don't let them bully you.


2 people I despise in this world are, EA's and Recruitment agents.


Both attempt to treat you like crap, because they think have power over you.


I always remind them, that ultimately it is me who pays their commission, whether I buy the property or accept that job. And it is me who has the power to prevent receiving said payment

Annie1960

It sounds from the reviews as though others have had the same problem as you.

Maybe put this one down to experience, and start looking for something else. Some EAs are quite good, you just seem to have encountered an extremely poor one.

Eejay

The longer we wait to hear back from the EA (they sent one snotty message this morning but nothing since then), the more my husband is tempted to pull out today. They want us to spend money but won't provide any answers other than telling us our solicitor is rubbish (they are genuine solicitors based in the city centre, and whilst their fees are competitive, they weren't the cheapest option) and that they don't want to be hassling the vendor.

If we pull out now, we're going to lose a few hundred pounds - but if we continue we could lose a whole load more money (and probably our sanity with it).

Annie1960

In your shoes, I would consider reporting this EA to the ombudsman. Putting this sort of pressure on people, especially FTBs, is really not right.

thequant

Eejay wrote: »

If we pull out now, we're going to lose a few hundred pounds - but if we continue we could lose a whole load more money (and probably our sanity with it).

If you have only paid for solicitors so far and they havn't done any searches. You are likely to be refunded your fees.

Officer_Dibble

Have you got direct contact details for the vendor? He might not realise how unreasonable his EA are being, as undoubtedly they'll be blaming you for everything.