Buyer not responding to agent

ElsieMonkey

Just so I have this straight:
-You accepted their offer 7 weeks ago
-They haven't instructed their solicitor
-They haven't returned any attempts at communication
-They haven't done a survey yet (Homebuyers or structural - not talking about the lender's valuation survey here)
-They have applied for their mortgage and the mortgage valuation was done

It is strange that they have applied for a mortgage, but not instructed their solicitor to start work. It is also worrying that they are not responding.

Couple of things I'd consider:

Have you asked your solicitor to contact theirs, to find out where things stand?

I'd definitely be watching from a distance for any life at their house, to work out if they're around or not. This probably won't achieve anything much though, apart from satisfying curiosity.

Could consider knocking the door, but be prepared to be fobbed off by them and for you to walk away feeling short changed because they make excuses and you just want to get away because the whole thing is awkward, and afterwards you are ultimately still in the same situation as you are now, hoping they will 'change'.

Could leave a letter through the door. I'd favour only doing this if it is to put forward a cut off date, and copy in your EA to this.

Hate to say it though, I think you need to serve the ultimatum, then move on. I've been in this situation before when selling and the best thing we did was move on. I am also in a similar situation now with the vendor of place I'm buying not responding since accepting my offer! I'm leaving her hanging in the background, whilst I move on to other properties. People can be so rude and thoughtless.

hazyjo

Have your solicitors confirmed they haven't instructed any (or just the EA)? Speak with your solicitor before doing anything.


Jx

david1951

Confirm with your solicitor and estate agent that they have not aware of the buyer's solicitor, then instruct your estate agent to put it back on the market.


My estate agent didn't take it off the market until a solicitor is instructed...

ElsieMonkey

7 weeks is a long time for not communication. If they are serious about buying this just wouldn't happen.

We accepted an offer once and I think it was only 2 weeks of no response at all from our buyers we put the property back on the market. In those 2 weeks I contemplated knocking on their door and letter through letterbox etc. but didn't bother, because I knew that if they genuinely wanted it they wouldn't go AWOL. And if something genuinely terrible had happened to get in the way of them communicating most people would find a way of eventually getting in contact with someone to pass the message on to us or the EA.

Move on, for your own sanity and to not give these rude time wasters any more power over your future. Get your EA to call them and email them, leaving the message that due to lack of response the property will be re-marketed tomorrow unless they respond by end of play today. Any genuine byyer would respond asap to that. Then get it back on the market asap.

brodawel

Ring your solicitor today. The solicitor will tell you whether or not they have received correspondence from your buyers solicitor. It's your solicitor and they will tell you exactly whats happening, don't leave it to the estate agent.

Surrey_EA

brodawel wrote: »

Ring your solicitor today. The solicitor will tell you whether or not they have received correspondence from your buyers solicitor. It's your solicitor and they will tell you exactly whats happening, don't leave it to the estate agent.

Depends on the solicitor, depends on the estate agent

Some solicitors are rubbish, some EAs are very helpful. Of course the reverse is also possible....

Thrugelmir

marksoton wrote: »

It'd be back on the market if it were me. 7 weeks and no solicitor? I don't think so.....

Valuation was only performed last week............ Seems as if mortgage offer isn't even in place yet.

DRP

As above - check with your solicitor to confirm *exactly* what has happened.

Don't trust your EA as this isn't really their job - they may not know (or be telling) all the facts.

Willis0000

Thanks for all the replies.

An update, today the estate agent called and the buyers have separated so will no longer be purchasing the house.

Now to decide whether to put it back on the market or stay as we were only selling in order to change catchment areas for school and needed to be in by end of October.

ElsieMonkey

Willis0000 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.

An update, today the estate agent called and the buyers have separated so will no longer be purchasing the house.

Now to decide whether to put it back on the market or stay as we were only selling in order to change catchment areas for school and needed to be in by end of October.

Sorry to hear that, but in some ways it's good that you now know so you can move on.

Next time you don't hear anything from a buyer don't leave it as long. I know how it feels because it's happened to me before.

Can you market and still sell, but move into rented in your catchment area? This should speed things up if you find another buyer soon, and you can still be looking for something to buy in meantime.