Advice - Hesitant about Purchase of Tenanted House

Person_one

I really don't think bugging the tenants is the way to go. They're getting ready to move, not by their own choice, and I'm sure they don't really care about your purchase costs however nice they are!

Hold your nerve, the vendor is very unlikely to find anybody else who'll move faster or take more risk. Just be firm with the estate agent, they aren't the boss of you.

Reggie256

Person_one wrote: »

I really don't think bugging the tenants is the way to go. They're getting ready to move, not by their own choice, and I'm sure they don't really care about your purchase costs however nice they are!

Hold your nerve, the vendor is very unlikely to find anybody else who'll move faster or take more risk. Just be firm with the estate agent, they aren't the boss of you.

Thanks for the advice.

I have yet another voicemail from the EA, left just before I left work last night. Decided that I'm not going to return the EA's call (though I will endeavour to answer if she calls me again).

I do think these people (EA's) are a little detached from reality sometimes though. Both my wife and myself work full time and have a 19 month old daughter. The EA knows this, and whilst I don't expect her to care, I am still unsure why she expects immediate responses to what basically amounts to impatience on their part. And the worst thing is that we're not 'dithering' around on purpose either - we're quite eager to move in honesty, as we currently live in an apartment which, whilst wonderful when we were a couple, is proving a little less suitable for a small family.

AnotherJoe

Reggie256 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

I have yet another voicemail from the EA, left just before I left work last night. Decided that I'm not going to return the EA's call (though I will endeavour to answer if she calls me again).

Where's the logic in that? Why not call when its convenient for you?

I do think these people (EA's) are a little detached from reality sometimes though. Both my wife and myself work full time and have a 19 month old daughter. The EA knows this, and whilst I don't expect her to care, I am still unsure why she expects immediate responses to what basically amounts to impatience on their part. And the worst thing is that we're not 'dithering' around on purpose either - we're quite eager to move in honesty, as we currently live in an apartment which, whilst wonderful when we were a couple, is proving a little less suitable for a small family.

Why dont you simply tell her what the situation is, so she knows you arent "dithering" but its the concern over the tenants, and you already have taken steps, spent money but dont wish to proceed further until you see its vacant, which is less than two weeks away now.

This silly pretence that having a young daughter and a job makes you unable to make telephone calls is, well, silly. Just phone her.

Reggie256

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Where's the logic in that? Why not call when its convenient for you?

This silly pretence that having a young daughter and a job makes you unable to make telephone calls is, well, silly. Just phone her.

No silly pretence. We both work 9 - 5, although in reality it is extremely rare that we finish work before 6pm. Outside of those times our time is consumed by... well, being parents to a VERY active toddler.
Furthermore the EA offices are not open before we start work in the morning and are certainly closed by the time we finish.

And frankly, I don't see the urgency anyway. We've instructed our Solicitor and financial advisor to do what they need to do. The EA only wants to, for lack of a better term, nag at us to get a move on and I don't feel a desperate need to phone her myself to listen to that. I might, however, tolerate a call from her, since I can step out of the office to take a call and the call will be at the EA's expense rather than mine.

AnotherJoe

If the phone call will cost you money you have the wrong phone plan. I'm also sorry to hear your employer doesn't allow lunch breaks or stops for a cup of tea.

Instead of coming up with these pretences why not say it like it is and you are peeved with her and that's why you aren't returning her calls?

I hope it doesn't backfire on you when she reports to the vendor that the buyers aren't returning calls and they decide you are dithering and put it back on the market.

You may feel you are doing the right thing in terms of what you've done so far and if agree but unless the vendor and EA know that it's irrelevant. Just let them know you are on track instead of being peeved means you end up cutting off your nose to spite your face

Reggie256

AnotherJoe wrote: »

If the phone call will cost you money you have the wrong phone plan. I'm also sorry to hear your employer doesn't allow lunch breaks or stops for a cup of tea.

Instead of coming up with these pretences why not say it like it is and you are peeved with her and that's why you aren't returning her calls?

I hope it doesn't backfire on you when she reports to the vendor that the buyers aren't returning calls and they decide you are dithering and put it back on the market.

You may feel you are doing the right thing in terms of what you've done so far and if agree but unless the vendor and EA know that it's irrelevant. Just let them know you are on track instead of being peeved means you end up cutting off your nose to spite your face

Work is an unrelated matter, but no - don't get a tea break and lunchtime is just enough to eat something, usually at my desk so that I don't fall too behind with my workload.

But I guess you are right otherwise - perhaps try phoning the EA at lunchtime, which is about the only window of oportunity I'll have.

Reggie256

Well, update time. Phoned the EA to assure her that we had been in touch with the relevant parties who had already contacted her a short time before my call anyway!

Anyway - all looking positive so far (touch wood); Solicitor has organised searches, surveyor was due to visit the property today. Amendments being made the our existing approved mortgage (from the house purchase that fell through) since that was valid until July. The EA claims the tenants have found somewhere else to live and are in the process of decorating it - I am inclined to beleive this as there was evidence of them packing when we had our second viewing of the property. And the vendor's solicitor apparently has contracts ready.

So fingers crossed bigtime!

Crashy_Time

Reggie256 wrote: »

Work is an unrelated matter, but no - don't get a tea break and lunchtime is just enough to eat something, usually at my desk so that I don't fall too behind with my workload.

But I guess you are right otherwise - perhaps try phoning the EA at lunchtime, which is about the only window of oportunity I'll have.

Why not e-mail them, that works 24/7 I believe.

Reggie256

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Why not e-mail them, that works 24/7 I believe.

I didn't have a specific email address for the branch/EA herself until today - only the EA's 'contact us' form which wasn't specific to the branch.