Lack of contract, what's going on

Margot123

Out of curiosity, are you buying a Probate property?

We have in the past encountered issues with these. One was because they hadn't even applied for legal authority to sell, another as they just couldn't part with the family home.

SuperCarpetCleanerMan

All we got back was that the seller is ill and so hasn't sent back the forms, It's been 5 weeks, and an apology.
The seller text me to apologise and say they will be getting the forms done, this was Wednesday night, I text back to say thanks, then again Friday to ask when they were likely to be sent. No reply..

Going scouting a few houses to look at today, absolute heartbreaking as I had my heart set on that one,

Appreciate the advice, Next door but one have sold, completed and moved in the in time we have been waiting for a contract.

Mutton_Geoff

House buying will often require some to and fro with the vendor as questions are raised as a result of the searches and forms. If your vendor hasn’t even had his solicitor instructed to draw up a draft contract after all this time, what hope for the whole process?

I don’t accept being ill as an excuse, has the rest of the vendors life also ground to a halt? I bet not. This rings alarm bells and I would pull out. The vendors agent is relying on your soft touch and inexperience to keep his commission. I would be pulling out but you could also start viewing other properties on that agent’s books (even if they don’t appeal). This will spark more action but if your vendor isn’t interested, it won’t be this one you’re buying.

Good luck.

JoJo1978

Sorry to hear of your ongoing delay. There's obviously a huge spectrum of ailments that 'ill' covers from feeling under the weather to gravely. You've had contact with the vendor though, or at least someone they've entrusted their phone to, so my guess is it's probably not on the more serious side - I think a fuller explanation would have accompanied the apology. You asked how long to wait and I think time's up now imho, irrespective of illness.

Book other viewings and withdraw your offer. If that elicits a speedy recovery of the vendor, great. If not you're already back in the game scouting alternatives. Good luck

moneyistooshorttomention

Another one that thinks you'd better start looking again. Hope this does work out for you - but have a suspicion the vendor has thought "first time buyer - good...that should be someone I can string along until whenever-I-like".

I had it done to me when buying my first house - and subsequently found out they'd done it to at least one person before me and were having a go at doing it to people after me. I had to buy another (worse and dearer) house instead.

Vendors know that buyers often become more cynical when buying subsequent houses and, as someone on my second house now, I suspect we've really only got a pretty good idea what's what by the time we get to house 3 or house 4 (maybe sooner if one of our houses has been in a part of the country where things are often different to "our norm").

Margot123

You haven't responded to my question as to whether or not it is a Probate property. Perhaps you don't know.
If you suspect it is, first try to find the name of the deceased, then check here to see if Probate has been granted: https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

If it hasn't been granted, then walk away from it now! It can take several months, if they actually apply.

HTH.

SuperCarpetCleanerMan

Margot, I'm not aware of it being Probate, sorry I forgot to reply to the question. I can't imagine it being as they said they bought the house about 20 years ago..

Smodlet

And another who thinks you should walk away or, at the very least, give an ultimatum and stick to it. You say it is not a probate property but, depending on the severity of this illness, who is to say it will not become one if you wait much longer?

I think the time to start looking for a fall-back house (which just might turn out to be better than this one) is now.

Margot123

SuperCarpetCleanerMan wrote: »

Margot, I'm not aware of it being Probate, sorry I forgot to reply to the question. I can't imagine it being as they said they bought the house about 20 years ago..

Could even be a divorce situation then. Need to sell but other party making it awkward. In fact could be anything.

Let it be their problem and walk away.........which from what I read, you will do anyway.

You'll find another property to fall in love with. This one was just not to be.
Good luck.