Vendor threatening to pull out even though solicitor has informed all EAs to agree completion date

TCPIP_Fox

Very odd situation I’m in. I’m in the middle chain and since before Xmas my vendor has constantly been pushing to set a completion date.  Enquiries were still underway before Xmas and they all got done this week.  

My solicitor sent the completion statement across to me and advised the EAs has been informed to contact all parties to agree a completion date.  For some odd reason the vendor is now saying if a completion date isn’t agreed by end of next week, they’ll pull out of the sale.  This makes zero sense, I got a feeling they’re bluffing. 

The other issue now is my buyer requested 6 weeks between exchange and completion. But, I’ve offered to cover their rent.  The issue I’m having now is my EA isn’t contacting the buyer after calling them up everyday and I don’t have the buyers direct contact.  Is there anything else that can be done to get my EA to make a simple phone call?  The last call I had with my EA was to make a complaint and they just said they’ll mark it as urgent.  

I take it I shouldn’t sent the funds to my solicitor yet till the completion date has been agreed? 

Cheers.

anselld

Normally the solicitors agree the dates in consultation with their respective clients.  EAs should not be involved.

TCPIP_Fox

anselld said:

Normally the solicitors agree the dates in consultation with their respective clients.  EAs should not be involved.

I thought that was the case, that’s why I’m confused why my solicitor said the estate agents will handle the agreement on what day to complete. 

canaldumidi

EAs can sometimes help with informally ringing round and getting a date, but ultimately it's a matter for the solitors to confirm and agree themselves.

Chances are your vendor is just being pushy. If they pull out, they'll face costs and further delays, so unlikely to do do so unless they are stupidly stubborn.

Buyer asking for 6 week gap is unrealistic these days. Used to be common 40 years ago, but not now. An overlap between tenancy ending and purchase Completion is just par for the course. Part of the overall expense to be budgetted for. Not your problem to resolve!

I would simply focus on your own position.Make sure you are ready,let everyone know you are ready, and then wait for the chain rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing or saying or threatening.

TCPIP_Fox

canaldumidi said:

EAs can sometimes help with informally ringing round and getting a date, but ultimately it's a matter for the solitors to confirm and agree themselves.

Chances are your vendor is just being pushy. If they pull out, they'll face costs and further delays, so unlikely to do do so unless they are stupidly stubborn.

Buyer asking for 6 week gap is unrealistic these days. Used to be common 40 years ago, but not now. An overlap between tenancy ending and purchase Completion is just par for the course. Part of the overall expense to be budgetted for. Not your problem to resolve!

I would simply focus on your own position.Make sure you are ready,let everyone know you are ready, and then wait for the chain rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing or saying or threatening.

Thanks for putting into perspective. I’ve told my solicitors in flexible with the dates.  So let’s see what the rest come back with.