Too long to instruct Full Structural Survey?

[Deleted User]

Hi Chloe901.  The time I'm talking about was December 2019 to February 2020, so pre-coronavirus.  (Sorry, I now realise in my original post that I said we agreed a sale in January; it was actually *December* when we accepted their offer, so well before coronavirus).  Our house is Edwardian, hence the Full Structural Survey, and given our 'buyers' apparently "liked older properties", then I would have thought they'd understand, given the age of our house (1907) that they definitely needed such an in-depth survey.  They just took too long, which cost us dearly, financially and emotionally.  We lost the bungalow we dearly wanted to renovate as the people who were selling that bungalow had already waited for our chain long enough (none of the delays were caused by us whatsoever).  I completely understand what you're saying about viewing properties that you wouldn't consider on paper and I think that's a healthy attitude to take .  I think we've just had a bit of a hard time with it all (won't go into other details; too long and boring for you to read!) and have simply had enough of people and the whole selling process (for now).  I wish you every luck in your new home. 

[Deleted User]

Hi moneysavinghero; thanks for your comment.  Our so-called 'buyers' didn't have a second viewing so I expect they missed the gaps between the treads on their first and only viewing; sometimes you don't notice such things in detail first time round, I expect?  I don't know, I can't speak for them.  It obviously wasn't an issue on their first (and only) viewing because they made an offer the very afternoon they viewed our house (we rejected that offer but accepted their higher offer two days later).  My husband and I were in the lounge when the Surveyor was carrying out the survey and he specifically took a photo of said stairs, so I imagine it's from that photo it stirred up the fear of God in them; three days later they pulled out of the sale, citing the stairs as being a problem for her grandchildren.  

Marshaltown

Mrs P. Although it's of no comfort now your prospective purchasers must have been seriously interested at some point. They have probably incurred around £2,000 plus in professional fees but then didn't want to proceed for some unknown reason (staircase blah blah ignored). It's just the way things go, as mad as it seems.

[Deleted User]

Hi Marshaltown; thank you for your reply .  Yes, that's what I thought; they paid a good amount for the full structural survey so they must have been seriously interested at one point.  It's just strange because from what our EA was saying when they spoke to the woman that money was apparently an issue; if that's the case I just can't understand why they a) only had one viewing; if money is *such* an issue then you really need to check that everything is in order with the house you're buying and at least have two viewings and b) in light of money seemingly being an issue, why our 'buyers' asked their builder to come round *after* the survey was carried out (because they wanted to move the downstairs bathroom upstairs?).  When we were going to buy the bungalow that needed work doing to it, the very first thing we did after our offer being accepted on it, was to take our builder friend round and price up what we needed doing....if he'd have quoted us a figure that we couldn't have afforded, we'd have reluctantly - but sensibly - pulled out at a very early stage.  It seems that it was our misfortune that we came across a couple that obviously don't know what they're doing, let alone a thought for us and how it would affect us - and the whole chain.  (Not forgetting the fact that the very same people have very recently pulled out of a 'sale' of our friend's property because they can't provide evidence of how they'd have paid for it).  No wonder I prefer animals to people!  Thanks for taking the time to comment. 

eddddy

MrsP1974 said:

It seems that it was our misfortune that we came across a couple that obviously don't know what they're doing, let alone a thought for us and how it would affect us - and the whole chain.  

Sadly, it's just one of the risks you have to deal with when buying / selling property.

Unfortunately, I had some dealings with a buyer who backed out of 5 purchases in a row - for invented reasons.

I really think they simply enjoyed the buzz of making offers, negotiating, instructing solicitors etc. Then making the sellers run around in response to silly/impossible demands.

And sadly, I think they then got the biggest buzz of all, by telling the seller that they were withdrawing.

One consolation was that eventually many the local EAs all blacklisted the buyer as a 'timewaster' and refused to have any further dealings with them

[Deleted User]

Hi again edddy; nice to hear from you, although I'm very sorry to hear of your dealings with the 'buyer' backing out on that many occasions.  All I can say is that we'll be much better prepared next time round - as much as one can be - (but we aren't looking to sell for eighteen months or so now) as I'm sure you are too.  I know there are some awful people out there in this world but I can't believe that they get their kicks in this kind of way?!  Well, actually; I can, sadly.  You mentioning the local EA blacklisting that particular person; a couple of weeks ago I emailed our (now 'ex') EA to warn them of the people that not only messed us around but also our friend (they wouldn't have known about that as he was with a different EA).....and I've yet to hear from them.  I suppose because we've now terminated our contract with our EA and we're no longer on the market they're not interested in hearing what I've got to say.  There really should be a shake-up in the English housing market system; there seem to me to be far too many ways where people are open to this kind of messing about but I have no idea who to approach about that.  Thank you again for your reply. 

Flugelhorn

MrsP1974 said:

Hi Mickey666; thanks for replying.  Yep, definitely think they're flaky buyers.  As mentioned in my original post, the very same people pulled out of our friend's property about a month ago.  Amongst other things (reneging on agreed price, etc) it also transpired that they apparently couldn't provide evidence of how they were going to pay for his property?!  And looking at their address on our Memorandum of Sale, according to Zoopla (and other platforms), there has been no sale or indeed *any* transaction on that address since 2007, so something is definitely up with these people.  

Unlikely that there would be any transactions on the property as those only tend to appear well after the event. They may have been intending to buy first and sell later (which we have done and now our buyers are doing) , but they definitely should have been able to evidence the funds.

[Deleted User]

Hi Flugelhorn; thanks for your comment.  We know from our friend that apparently this couple (same couple who pulled out of our sale as previously mentioned) "had to move out in April" (that's what they told him); I don't know how long after a sale this information goes on Zoopla so yes, perhaps it isn't on there yet, as you suggest.  Yep, apparently our friend's solicitors were exasperated at this couple not being able to show monetary evidence, which I think is odd.  I would therefore imagine that the lack of such evidence will hinder *any* future sale they choose to embark upon?!  There's some strange people out there for sure; and it was our - and our friend's - misfortune to come across such people, it would seem.  Thanks for replying.   

Thrugelmir

Serious buyers don't go to the trouble of paying for structural surveys. 

[Deleted User]

Thrugelmir said:

Serious buyers don't go to the trouble of paying for structural surveys. 

Why is that? I thought it was sensible to carry out a full survey if you're buying a house?