Seller gone silent, can't agree a completion date

piggyinthemiddle1

Hi everyone,


I was hoping to get some advice about our current chain and not being able to agree a completion date.

The chain is short, we are selling to a first time buyer, and buying from someone who is going into rented.

We originally set a completion date for the end of November. It transpired that our buyer did not get this message until 2.5 weeks before the agreed date. But good enough, they done everything as fast as possible and everyone was in a position a position to exchange a few days ago.

However our seller wanted at least two weeks between exchange and completion to find a rental (fair enough). Then our seller said that they cannot do any of December (we were originally made aware that month was difficult, now its a complete no).

My buyer wants to complete asap, our seller wants January. Our seller went completely silent 3 days ago (the day we were trying to exchange on). Our solicitor and the estate agent have attempted on numerous occasions to contact them and sort a completion date.

Meanwhile we've got a very frustrated buyer also chasing for updates.

We don't want to lose our buyer, and I don't know how long to keep trying to contact our seller before considering other options. I'm at a bit of a loss with their behavior, as they have always kept in touch.


Thank you

hazyjo

I bought a year ago and spoke with my vendor who was under the impression we had an exchange date! Was the first I'd heard of it and I knew there was still lots to do lol! EAs often say it without actually checking with anyone.


You could exchange on both, sell yours but complete on your purchase in Jan? Nightmare over Christmas, but you could try to see it as an adventure...


Your seller may be getting cold feet, so try not to drive them too mad. I know it's frustrating.


Good luck.

G_M

piggyinthemiddle1 wrote: »

The chain is short, we are selling to a first time buyer, and buying from someone who is going into rented.

We originally set a completion date for the end of November.
a) you cannot 'set' a completion date untilyou Exchnage Contracts
b) you clearly did not- you simply (I guess) told your solicitor and/or agent what date you would like. And clearly they did not come back and tell you the seller and buyer also wanted his date - so in what way was it 'set'?

It transpired that our buyer did not get this message until 2.5 weeks before the agreed date. But good enough, they done everything as fast as possible and everyone was in a position a position to exchange a few days ago.
Are you sure?

However our seller wanted at least two weeks between exchange and completion to find a rental (fair enough). Then our seller said that they cannot do any of December (we were originally made aware that month was difficult, now its a complete no).
You knew it was 'difficult' so should not be surprised the seller is not agreeing to it.

December is a difficult time to move. And a difficult time to find a rental.

My buyer wants to complete asap, our seller wants January.
so someone needs to compromise or you all start again

Our seller went completely silent 3 days ago (the day we were trying to exchange on). Our solicitor and the estate agent have attempted on numerous occasions to contact them and sort a completion date.
Sounds like the seller is not willing to compromise. So you and your buyer will have to.
Or start again.

Meanwhile we've got a very frustrated buyer also chasing for updates. The update is: "We can Exchange now for Completion on Xth Jan 2019."

We don't want to lose our buyer, and I don't know how long to keep trying to contact our seller before considering other options. I'm at a bit of a loss with their behavior, as they have always kept in touch.

Ask your solicitor and/or EA to suggest Xth Jan 2019 for Completion subject to Exchanging this week/next week.

Or start looking for a new property to buy, lose your own buyer, and aim to move around April next year.

NeilCr

hazyjo wrote: »

Your seller may be getting cold feet, so try not to drive them too mad. I know it's frustrating.


Good luck.

Yes. This.

When I was moving down here I made an offer on a house which was accepted. The seller was enthusiastic - her boyfriend had, very sadly, died a few years before and she had completely done the house up. She said she wanted a new challenge and to move away from the memories. While I was never as far down the line as the OP she slowly slowed contact and then went completely silent.

EA said he had seen this behaviour before and it, usually, ended with a note pushed through their door when they were shut saying the vendor had changed their mind. He was spot on - that happened a couple of days later. As it turned out I found a better situated house so was lucky.

I hope this doesn't happen to you OP but the longer the silence carries on the more likely it becomes