Is our vendor serious or should we move on?

Techyteacher

Ok, before I ask this, it’s important to know we aren’t foot stomping FTB, this is the difference between us being homeless or not.

We are losing our house as it came alongside my husband’s job. We have received our legal notice, so time is really of the essence. We were clear about this when offering 8 weeks ago. 8 weeks in and we’ve had our mortgage offer and searches back for a month. Still no talk of dates. Our hand has now been forced and we have a date to get out before legal proceedings are taken against us.

Our vendor doesn’t even have a home buying survey booked until next month, two months after they offered. After being told, ASAP, we will move, blah, blah (don’t they all). There is no talk of exchange. 

For the record, it’s a 10-12 week wait here for searches, ours were expedited because we are literally about to be made homeless so it’s exceptional. She can’t find a new buyer all that easily. We need commitment now or we need to find a rental and pull out. Their solicitor is throwing out dates months down the line despite assurances we are a looking at an end of July completion (13 weeks in at that point).

From homebuyer report to completion, how long did it take? We will have to pull out if she’s not forthcoming soon with dates. The estate agent seems to think we are a little unreasonable. However we feel the seller isn’t all that serious.

powerful_Rogue

Techyteacher said:

Ok, before I ask this, it’s important to know we aren’t foot stomping FTB, this is the difference between us being homeless or not.

We are losing our house as it came alongside my husband’s job. We have received our legal notice, so time is really of the essence. We were clear about this when offering 8 weeks ago. 8 weeks in and we’ve had our mortgage offer and searches back for a month. Still no talk of dates. Our hand has now been forced and we have a date to get out before legal proceedings are taken against us.

Our vendor doesn’t even have a home buying survey booked until next month, two months after they offered. After being told, ASAP, we will move, blah, blah (don’t they all). There is no talk of exchange. 

For the record, it’s a 10-12 week wait here for searches, ours were expedited because we are literally about to be made homeless so it’s exceptional. She can’t find a new buyer all that easily. We need commitment now or we need to find a rental and pull out. Their solicitor is throwing out dates months down the line despite assurances we are a looking at an end of July completion (13 weeks in at that point).

From homebuyer report to completion, how long did it take? We will have to pull out if she’s not forthcoming soon with dates. The estate agent seems to think we are a little unreasonable. However we feel the seller isn’t all that serious.

I don't think you can put a time on things at the moment. Everyone is overwhelmed and rushing due to the stamp duty cut off date.

Personally, from what you've said, I agree with the Estate Agent.

Octothorpe

Not getting a survey booked in for 8 weeks though...that's pretty slow going!

NameUnavailable

How will it help if you pull out? You still need somewhere to live. I think you will have to find a short term rental OR tell your husbands employers the situation and that you will vacate when you can, otherwise let them start legal proceedings to evict you as that is likely to take 6 months at the minimum.

Techyteacher

We will have time to find a rental. We’ve been ready to go for a month. They are moving out of the area to a place with quicker timeframes. They didn’t book their home buyers survey until July, 2 months after their offer on their onwards purchase. It’s not about the ‘slow system’. They just haven’t been in a hurry.

powerful_Rogue

Octothorpe said:

Not getting a survey booked in for 8 weeks though...that's pretty slow going!

Not booked for 8 weeks, or a huge waiting list?

Techyteacher

powerful_Rogue said:

Octothorpe said:

Not getting a survey booked in for 8 weeks though...that's pretty slow going!

Not booked for 8 weeks, or a huge waiting list?

Not booked. Ea confirmed this.

Irishpearce26

You cant compare your circumstances with others it just doesn't fit. You don't know all the details. You could have rented a place first then buy so you are in control. 8 weeks into the process during a pandemic and extremely busy time due to SDLT holiday means transactions are taking much longer than they usual 12 weeks. You cant strong arm anyone to comply with your timeline it will take as long as it takes.

Thrugelmir

8 weeks is too short a time frame even in ideal conditions. When chains drop into place and everything goes seamlessly. Seller may not appear serious. But like you they have their own agenda. It's a stressful time for everyone concerned. Legal proceedings will take time. You will have moved by the time it goes to court. 

Octothorpe

I agree with people saying it can take as long as it takes and if you pull out you'd be back to square one.

However i don't agree that 8 weeks before booking  a survey is acceptable,  especially if they knew your time frame and agreed to it.

Understand your frustration,  just found out my vendor only applied for searches - 8 weeks in!

Getting_greyer

Is your current home SFA by any chance?