Friday afternoon phone call from estate agent

rubble2

We are in the final stages of moving house.

I got a phone call from our solicitor yesterday lunchtime to say that our buyer and their buyer are ready to exchange contracts and can we call in at the office on Monday to sign? of course that is no problem.

He then said that the buyers were asking for completion on Friday 7th -one week hence, what did we think of that? we said that was too soon as we have not yet organised removals etc. (how could we without a moving date). Solicitor said he fully agreed and to come back to him with an alternative date, we decided on 14th December.

All went quiet until 5-15 Friday afternoon when the agent selling our house called to say that our buyer was 'very stressed' that we won't complete on 7th and the 14th is no good as he has arranged a business trip!. I quietly explained that effectively 4 days to get everything arranged was unreasonable (given that by now everybody had gone home for the weekend). and that the 14th seemed a reasonable date to aim for. I said we could do a date after the 14th if that helped to which she said that the solicitors will have finished then for Christmas (ours finish on 21st).

Said to leave it with her and she would get back to us, not heard anything yet.

After speaking to her (bit shocked to be honest at the conversation) I got to thinking, they are supposed to be working for us, we are certainly paying enough for the privilege shouldn't they be working to our instructions not our buyers I also got to wondering when they found out about the proposed date for completion and why we hadn't been informed sooner?

Bit hacked off by it all frankly.

Am I being unreasonable?

Okrib

How long have you been in the conveyancing process? As it moved along, did your solicitor confirm that you were almost there?

I find it bizarre you get to the point of exchange and have not made any plans to move. Would you not have already spoken to removal companies etc to have everything ready to go once you could exchange?

Completion is by mutual agreement. I've dealt with many sales where it was the same day, others where it was delayed for months. Usually it would be 1 or 2 weeks post exchange, so this is not out of the ordinary. I am just surprised you have not made any plans yet.

gycraig_2

No you aren't being unreasonable but your solicitor is simply stood in middle passing messages atm. It's not your solicitors fault that your buyer is being unreasonable. Same happened to me and I managed to move in that time scale.

Flugelhorn

also curious that the contracts haven't been signed before - they are usually done a bit earlier and then the exchange takes place when everyone is ready.
Why not try avoiding a Friday - don't have to complete that day and easier to get removals etc on other days

Robin9

I agree with Okrib - by now you should have had quotes from removers and most of your contents in cardboard boxes.

PS When you move don't forget your meter readings !

AdrianC

Who's being unreasonable here?

The vendor who's insisting on one date - and hasn't even started to organise moving?
Or the buyer who's saying "But that date is not good for me - why can't we do it sooner?"

Does it HAVE to be a Friday?

Doozergirl

I think most people exchange and complete a week later. I can't think of a time when that hasn't been the case for us.

I wouldn't look at it as your buyers being unreasonable, nor your solicitor. This is a negotiation. I too am surprised that no conversations have been had about dates, that contracts weren't signed before being ready to exchange and that you haven't been organising yourself to move with at least some quotes if not already packing, or being ready to start. This was always going to end with moving house

That said, it is a negotiation. (Although we organised some removals very quickly a couple of weeks ago - they'll even pack for you!).

HampshireH

Removal companies generally work with quite short notice but surely you have one on standby so to speak? Presume you had always anticipated a move before xmas...

I don't think they are being unreasonable

Thrugelmir

Once the process was well under way. You should have started preparing for the move. Boxing up, clearing out etc. Obtaining removal quotes. When the point of exchange is reached everyone simplty want to get on with it. Friday doesn't have to be completion day.

kerri_gt

It's not really unreasonable that the vendor cannot complete on 14th if they have a business trip booked, same as it's not unreasonable for you saying 7th isn't good for you.

What was discussed during the process? When we moved we agreed the vendors would need two weeks after exchange to sort out rented accommodation and new schools for their children (they were moving areas) but they had already been looking prior to that so had things lined up, just (understandably) didn't want to commit before exchange.

Have you had quotes from removal comaonies already? Could you feasibly move on 7th? (Sooner you're in, the more time before Xmas you have to settle). Does completion have to be a Friday?

Red-Squirrel_2

The 7th is too soon for you, the 14th is not good for them. Fair enough, that happens.

Why not meet in the middle somewhere? This really doesn't seem like something to be getting very annoyed about!