Problems with agent's/buyer's date expectations

Ladyinwinchester

After having been about to go on the market just before Covid, it ending up taking until April this year. My dog and I are planning on moving to another part of the country but hadn't found somewhere yet when an offer came in from people whose chain had fallen apart and wanted to buy asap.However, due to all the backlog from people trying to complete by end of June, conveyancers don't know how long it'll take which is a huge problem as have to organise movers/storage somewhere to stay until can buy a new house. Agent said buyers expect to move in at end of July but even if the legal part is done by then can't find anywhere for us to stay until 1 September because of everyone taking staycations. Moving is always stressful, but with the pandemic still not over and so still affecting so much of everyday life - being pushed like this is making me absolutely crazy. Surely,  as it's my house (which the commission is linked to) it's reasonable for me to say and for the agents/buyers to accept/agree to exchange on 1 September when the conveyancers will hopefully be finished by? 

fishfingerbutties

Everything is a negotiation until exchange. You can reject their proposal, but equally they can withdraw their offer. Your agent doesn't decide any of it, they just want their commission the easiest way possible.

If they pulled out how easily would you find another buyer? 

Redwino222

Your state agent should be negotiating this for you.

Everyone should be upfront and honest from the outset around timelines and expectations.  Your buyers may well pull out of you say no to an earlier completion date, so go in with your eyes open.  But if you don’t want to move out until 1 September then no one can force you.

GDB2222

I can see that the buyers may be able to say what they want in all this. Likewise, you, as seller, can say what you want/agree to.

But, the estate agents have no say. Just tell them to get lost. 

saajan_12

Ladyinwinchester said:

After having been about to go on the market just before Covid, it ending up taking until April this year. My dog and I are planning on moving to another part of the country but hadn't found somewhere yet when an offer came in from people whose chain had fallen apart and wanted to buy asap. - on market from April, and you're considering an offer from someone who wanted to buy 'asap' - so in good faith, the expectation would be ~June/July move, unless there's major issues with the conveyancing etc. 

However, due to all the backlog from people trying to complete by end of June, conveyancers don't know how long it'll take which is a huge problem as have to organise movers/storage somewhere to stay until can buy a new house. Agent said buyers expect to move in at end of July but even if the legal part is done by then can't find anywhere for us to stay until 1 September because of everyone taking staycations. - the June rush should bring forward some transactions if anything, July should be relatively normal for the legal side.. Staycations might affect holiday rentals, but finding an AST should be fine, and a couple of weeks is reasonable, not 2 months! 

Moving is always stressful, but with the pandemic still not over and so still affecting so much of everyday life - being pushed like this is making me absolutely crazy. Surely,  as it's my house (which the commission is linked to) it's reasonable for me to say and for the agents/buyers to accept/agree to exchange on 1 September when the conveyancers will hopefully be finished by? 

No, you have a chain with multiple parties, and exchange / completion dates are a negotiation between all of them. Its your house, but its the buyer's money. The commission and agents are irrelevant, they don't have a say but are just passing on a message from your buyer. 

At this stage, they could probably still find somewhere else and get through conveyancing before you're ready to move out, so you don't really have a strong position. If the rest of the chain don't like your dates, they don't have to agree.