Struggling to agree on completion date

Paulo123

Hi, We are FTB who are due to exchange over the next couple of days but we cant agree on a completion date. We want the 12th (friday) but the vendor wants 17th (wednesday).

As its the summer holidays we are struggling with childcare for the wednesday but friday my in laws don't work so could have the kids while we move. The whole process has been very slow (only 2 in the chain and we had offer accepted last december) The vendors wife died which is why the house is for sale and he is going into an unoccupied over 55's flat. EA is saying he needs more time to pack and its stressful for him etc.

He has had months to pack, he knew the move was happening and I think they are playing the emotional card to pander to his requests. Everything has been done at his pace the whole way through and we have been very patient.

Shall I be forceful that we need to be in on the 12th or just let them get away with it again!!

G_M

If his preferred date is a problem to you, say it is unacceptable. If you stand firm, he'll either back down..... or pull out of the sale.

Clutterfree

If he needs more time to pack, and you need a Friday for childcare reasons then why not suggest the 19th?

HouseBuyer77

Why not Friday 19th? Whilst you may be 'giving in' if the important thing for you is a Friday, rather than moving ASAP that should work. Sounds like he doens't care too much about specific day, but does care about getting more time to sort himself out.

If he refuses that too, he's probably making up excuses and just likes being awkward.

cr1mson

You do know you don't actually have to move in on completion date? You could complete on the Wednesday and move in on the Friday if you don't have to be out of your current place which might be case as FTB.

In fact it may be beneficial as would have whole day to move in rather than just after legals have been sorted.

Hoploz

Yes, ask for the following Friday if that solves the problem.

He will probably be happy with a longer time between exchange and completion to get packed and sorted out. These days everyone wants everything done yesterday, but it's really not that big a deal to hang on a few more days, surely?

If he is panicking, he could have a heart attack brought on by the stress. That would delay you a bit I reckon.

hazyjo

Anyone would be mad to pack before exchange, so I'm with him there.


Could you all do Fri 19th instead?


I think you're sweating the small stuff - at the end of the day (or in 5 years' time) you won't remember what year you moved in, let alone what day. I feel incredibly sorry for the bloke, but appreciate it's hard for you when you're itching to get into your new home. I have no idea how my dear ol' dad would have coped had my my mum died first (he's now gone). Mum does everything and my dad wouldn't have known where to start!


Good luck.


Jx

Clutterfree

Also bear in mind he is an older gentleman and is leaving the marital home that he shared with his late wife. I should imagine it IS a very emotional time for him.

Surrey_EA

Alternatively, the sale completes on Wed 17th, but you actually move on Friday 19th, when your in-laws will be available for childcare.

The advantage of this would be you can begin moving as early as you like on the 19th, rather than waiting to hear from the solicitors that completion has taken place, typically around lunchtime.

Lost_Marbles

I've always been advised against completing on a Friday if you are hoping to move on the same day, in case there is a holdup with the money transfer or something. Not too much of a problem if you aren't in the middle of a chain. Different if you need to move out of your current accommodation with someone else's worldly goods already in the van outside your house!

So completing on the 17th & move on the Friday 19th sounds a good compromise.

Thrugelmir

What's the position further up the chain?