When to issue an ultimatum?

betsie

This is exactly what I said to the EA.
He assured me they do want to proceed, why don!!!8217;t they get on with it then?
This is why I think there may be more to them dragging their feet.

gash

Just a thought, but could they be waiting to see what their inheritance might be when the relative dies before proceeding?

JoJo1978

It's not your ultimatum to issue, it's your buyers. So if they haven't done so then you do just need to be patient. Unless you are prepared to lose them that is, and start again.

But I'm not sure that an ultimatum is needed. Your buyers can simply start to remarket their property to get the ball rolling on lining up a back up buyer.

So long as everyone is communicated with openly and clearly that would be a pragmatic option that doesn't involve threats and bad feeling.

Chances are, your buyers buyers will either react to that and get a move on, or they'll be so far ahead of any other prospective buyers they would win a race to contract anyway.

It sounds like they are having an absolutely awful time of it and I feel for them, don't you?

victoriavictorious

betsie wrote: »

This is exactly what I said to the EA.
He assured me they do want to proceed, why don!!!8217;t they get on with it then?
This is why I think there may be more to them dragging their feet.

Well, as this state of affairs is affecting 2 other parties, it isn't entirely about what they want.
Your buyer is the one who needs to decide whether to pull the plug on them and remarket.
It seems odd that your EA, who is meant to be working for you / your buyer and who potentially has 2 lots of commission coming their way, is telling you to be patient. Apart from anything else, it's unusual for an EA to be this accommodating towards someone who isn't even their client.
As we say, there prob is more to it.

Thrugelmir

betsie wrote: »

If they don’t Im trying to work out how to proceed and whether I should give an ultimatum. I know my buyers are as frustrated as me.

You'll collapse the entire chain and be back to square one. For the sake of a few days easier to be patient. You won't be getting the full story. Perhaps the relative (parent?) is terminally ill. If somebody was attempting to bully me in such a situation I'd probably be bloody minded too. Having lost my mother last year. The Doctors gave her 48 hours and she lasted another 2 and half months in the end. I can appreciate that time soon passes by. Priorities in life likewise change.

Clutterfree

Perhaps they are concerned that if their relative dies soon then they have all that entails to deal with and then they won't be able to move on the agreed date and will get sued for non completion.
I've no idea how close a relative is but when my dad was ill in hospital for 2 months my entire world revolved around him and visiting.

victoriavictorious

Clutterfree wrote: »

Perhaps they are concerned that if their relative dies soon then they have all that entails to deal with and then they won't be able to move on the agreed date and will get sued for non completion.
I've no idea how close a relative is but when my dad was ill in hospital for 2 months my entire world revolved around him and visiting.

Exactly this.
Which is why, if i were in that position myself, I would have to postpone moving and pull out until I was in a better place and able to deal with it. I certainly would not wish to think that my sad situation was also causing disruption, anguish and emotional and financial stress to others.
Assuming again, that this *is* the true situation.

Clutterfree

victoriavictorious wrote: »

Exactly this.
Which is why, if i were in that position myself, I would have to postpone moving and pull out until I was in a better place and able to deal with it. I certainly would not wish to think that my sad situation was also causing disruption, anguish and emotional and financial stress to others.
Assuming again, that this *is* the true situation.

Yes my dad was in that exact situation 6 years ago. They had "sold" their house and all was going like clockwork when my step-mum was rushed to the HDU with pneumonia.
My dad advised his buyers that he had to pull out because he'd no idea when my step-mum would be well enough to move house. He temporarily removed the house from the market.
It was the right decision because she never returned home and died 4.5 months later.
Dad eventually moved 9 months later having remarketed and found a new buyer.

That said, perhaps the buyer in the OPs chain feels they'd be letting everyone down if they pulled out at this late stage so are desperately trying to hold it together. Who knows?
The EA needs to find out what their thoughts and plans are but a bit of compassion goes a long way.

steampowered

An ultimatum sounds like a very good idea to me.

I suppose you'd say that unless the paperwork is signed by the end of next week you intend to pull out and start looking at other properties, and politely ask your solicitor and EA to pass that on to the rest of the chain.

I completely agree that an ill relative is not a good excuse for a long delay. It doesn't take that long to sign a contract. It is a shame but if the ill relative means that person is not ready to move just yet, they should pull out rather than leaving the rest of the chain hanging.

betsie

I am very sympathetic to their situation. My father was in hospital for a month dying (it was only meant to be a few days but he lasted 3 weeks without food and water). It was hugely stressful but I still went to work part time, sorted the kids and House out etc. The world does not stop however much you want it too.

Next week is week 14 and we could have exchanged 2 weeks ago- I can’t just let it drift along indefinitely surely.