Are we being unreasonable?

1993

Hi All, I'm new to the forum so please bear with me!

We are in the process of buying our first home and our vendors had already put an offer in on a house before we viewed and offered on theirs. We had our mortgage offer, homebuyers survey and searches all done as quickly as we possibly could to ensure as smooth a transaction as possible, keeping updated with the EA and our solicitors along the process. We were asked by the EA if we could move any earlier than our original ballpark completion date. We had to juggle some finances but we agreed we could move a couple of weeks sooner than originally planned, on a day that suited our vendor. An exchange and completion date was agreed (both within the same week), subject to everything going through ok with the solicitors.

On the day of exchange, we were informed there is an issue with our vendors' onward purchase and they won't be able to exchange with us for at least another week as a result. By this point we had already booked our annual leave (we work shifts and need to give a couple of weeks notice) and set up buildings/contents insurance on the property (condition of our solicitor prior to exchange) as we were led to believe everything was ok up until this point and given no reason to think otherwise. We spoke to the EA, our solicitors etc. who said they would try to get it sorted for the following week. After several more phone calls to all parties, we are no further and it looks like we can't complete a week later either.

After becoming quite cheesed off by this point, we have told the EA that we need to move very soon or we will have to push it back to the end of next month when we can next get time off, regardless of whether their onward purchase is sorted out in time - asking them to break the chain and complete with us and rent/move in with relatives until their purchase issue is resolved.

Are we being unreasonable? I do feel slightly guilty in having to issue an ultimatum as I'm sure all they want is a smooth transition and are probably having a nightmare themselves, but we have done everything we could to get this sale moving in the time frame they set and now it's an issue at their end that's causing problems. We just hate being in limbo not knowing when we are actually going to move!

Many thanks all

[Deleted User]

You can give any ultimatum you want. Maybe they'll be happy to move into rented. But if they're not able to accommodate you, then it won't make any difference.

It all depends on how much you want the house and how much they want to sell to you.

1993

Thank you, we love the house and really want it to work but we can't keep asking for annual leave on the off chance they decide to exchange only for it to be set back again!

It's likely they won't be willing to break the chain which is understandable but they would be adding an extra month onto the sale getting another completion date that suits us all, so either way it's not an ideal situation for any of us.

Can't wait for it all to be over :sad:

mrginge

My advice would be to stop trying to exchange and complete on the same day.

1993

Thank you, our exchange and completion dates weren't the same day but they were originally in the same week. All we want is to be sure the house is ours and we can calm down a bit then, but they won't exchange with us until their purchase problem is resolved. We're stuck not knowing when anything is going to happen and it's really frustrating as we've done everything in our power to do everything they want and when it came to signing it over there's suddenly a problem.

AnotherJoe

I would just push back your move date to the month or so away date that suits you. Also insist on a week between exchange and completion as a minimum.
They had their chance and blew it.

(And no I dont think you are being unreasonable)

dunroving

mrginge wrote: »

My advice would be to stop trying to exchange and complete on the same day.

I'd definitely agree. The advantage of a two-stage process is that at least once you have exchanged, you know (theoretically) when everything will come to a close. With a simultaneous exchange/complete arrangement, there are no guarantees at any stage, until the purchase is finalised.

I'm constantly astounded at the labyrinthine chains that some people are in, and the absolute lack of control they have over their house sale and purchase. I have every admiration for people who manage to see it all through to the end despite being dicked around by various people up and down the chain.

bobwilson

reason is in the eye of the beholder

jbainbridge

The only way to guarantee a completion date is to exchange first. If you need time to book leave etc. then tell your solicitor. We had 2 weeks between exchange and completion last time ... it gave us plenty of time to book removals and made the whole thing less stressful.

And no you!!!8217;re not being unreasonable ... sounds like your vendor is messing you about. That said getting the deal concluded generally takes a bit of compromise! Good luck!

franklee

By this point we had already booked our annual leave (we work shifts and need to give a couple of weeks notice)

we can't keep asking for annual leave on the off chance they decide to exchange only for it to be set back again!

Right so you explain this to them and say you need 2 or 3 weeks between exchange and completion. You then stop organising, wait until you have exchanged and then you book your leave. Pretty sure most people would prefer some gap between the two to organise themselves, it's the trying to exchange and complete too close together that is causing the logistical problems.

bingohighway

We had a gap. Booked the leave closer to when we thought would complete