The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

1616six

Camboudica said:

Looks like we're going to be walking away from our sale just as we'd be ready to exchange. 

Basically, the house is an ex rental, the Owner has barely spent a penny on the property in 25 years, and on top of all the work we already knew about from our initial viewing (needs new kitchen /bathroom, redecoration and carpets), it turns out the roof is rotten, the windows need replacing and the house needs a rewire. Bottom line, it's needs a complete refurbishment from the ground up to the roof. 

As a Landlord she had to have an EICR done, we asked for a copy but she only sent half the pages, I asked for the rest and after making a fuss about not being able to find them, we said no worries we'll get one done, at which point she suddenly found the missing information. It turns out the missing pages show it was an unsatisfactory report with serious fault codes on it, and she's been letting her tenants live there! She is adament though that the electrician told her everything was OK, despite the report clearly stating its not, and she is refusing to acknowledge there are serious issues with the electrics.

I've just about had enough of her lies and evasive attitude. We put a very reasonable email together outlining all of the additional work needed with quotes and back-up and offered a reduced price and she responded to counter offer a couple of grand off. She basically wants the same money for her property as a comparable one that is in good overall condition. I told the EA she's a joker and she has two choices, she either drops the price to bring it in line with other similar properties of the same state of repair, or we walk.

I've booked another viewing for Monday. 

Walk. This will be the tip of the iceberg.

IIRC this is the same vendor that lied about the dropped kerb issue isn’t it? 

Honestly, dodge the bullet whilst you can. Once you’re over the disappointment you’ll be glad you walked, especially when you find the right house with an honest vendor!

Camboudica

@1616six

Yes, it's the same Vendor.

It's such a shame because the house itself is in a lovely street close to all our families, and it has great potential, but we just can't take much more of this, if she'd just been upfront from the start and would at least acknowledge how much work needs doing we'd probably be exchanging now.

I'd like to think maybe she's just delusional and doesn't realise how bad the house is, but honestly, I actually think it's just pure greed, she already knows what needs doing and that's why she's selling. All she's thinking about is profit margins. 

RM_2013

@Camboudica
I have to agree I think she’s been very dishonest and the house sounds like.a money pit.  As frustrating as it is to walk away so close to exchange it may be a blessing in disguise unless this really truly is a dream home that you accept needs money spent and work doing and you’re prepared for it,
good luck whatever you decide 

RM_2013

Feeling very disheartened with everything.  Feels like zero progress here.

we are almost ready to exchange with our sale
but solicitor advised yesterday that they hadn’t received the signed contracts and transfer form
we posted back well over a week ago so not sure if they’ve gone astray or just delayed with postal strikes? They aren’t local
so dropping the paperwork to them isn’t an option.

we are waiting for.confirmation on our purchase that the 2 outstanding enquiries have been satisfied and that the transfer form from
previous owner has been received. Chased yesterday as have heard virtually nothing all week but had no response from the solicitor so
still no idea if we are close to exchange or not.

Genuinely don’t think before Christmas will happen now.  So stressful 

poppysmam

There was a good bit of activity last week for us, 4 emails from solicitors and 2 from our estate agents!! Buyers are very keen to get in before Christmas, which was welcome news. Buyers sols suddenly decided after (finally) receiving the s106 that indemnity insurance would be sufficient (which we agreed to pay) and they have reported back to their clients. I think the buyers and EA have been putting pressure on them. Our sols are hopeful we should get some dates before Christmas. Hard to believe that’s only 3 weeks away! They should have contracts, tr1 and everything else in hand by next week so am I being too optimistic thinking we could possibly get this done and dusted before the Christmas break?? Fingers crossed! And fingers crossed for everyone else waiting on some positive news this week! 

julicorn

We went to see the house we're buying again yesterday, the tenants have very much moved out and left everything in really good condition. They have even left a couple of bits and bobs that will be really useful for us. 
The sellers themselves were travelling back to France (where they currently live) over the weekend, but are apparently looking to review and reply to the enquiries at the start of this coming week. Hopefully they have all the required documents. We're definitely making backup plans for in case we can't move in before Christmas - a colleague of mine has agreed to look after our ginormous fiddle leaf fig for example, that one can definitely not go into storage after all. 

rfoodie93

So we've heard our contacts are in the post. Are we allowed to hand deliver to the solicitors or do they have to be posted back? 

SadieO

Why wouldn't it be allowed? We've hand delivered everything, not stressing about them being lost or delayed in the post is one less thing to worry about! We're lucky that our solicitors are in walking distance though. Sometimes the documents they sent us have been back in their office the same day they landed on our doormat!

1616six

When our solicitor said she was sending our final report/contract etc I said no don’t, leave it in reception and I’ll collect it! I drove straight over, took it home, signed the contract and got the TR1 witnessed then drove back the same night and put it through their post box! Didn’t want any delays.

1616six

We’ve very nearly finished packing. Had a trip to the tip today after clearing the shed out.

To get to our local tip you drive past the village we are moving to so I couldn’t help myself but divert and drive past the new place, looks as though they’ve moved out as blinds were all closed, front lawn freshly cut, wheelie bins all lined up at the edge of the drive and no cars on the driveway.

We complete on Thursday and move on Saturday.

Good luck to everyone hoping for positive updates this week!