Buying a home and don't know how anything works

[miss direct]

I didnt take it as letting me down, just reluctant to promise anything.
I've asked for details of outstanding queries and whether it's possible to send the files without them.

Very pleased I'm going to stay at my Mum's for a while so at least I won't be going stir crazy in my hot room here.

 

[cybershot]

As others have said, find out whats outstanding,it may be niggley stuff, and the seller just might not know the answer!! You can decide if you want to proceed without the answers to those enquiries! It's in your hands to tell them what to do and what to just forget about and get on with it.

 

[miss direct]

The last time I asked about what the enquiries about, I got the reply "they are all related to the property"

Let's see what they come back with this time.

 

[Glitter]

Our sale was supposed to complete Friday last week after a last minute rush on Thursday. It didn’t.

Found out yesterday the people at the bottom of the chain changed lenders and need a new survey to get their mortgage agreed.

Fucking jokers.

 

[Idaho]

The last time I asked about what the enquiries about, I got the reply "they are all related to the property"

Let's see what they come back with this time.

Solicitors and estate agents just pad out the process and work on a go slow, stopping at the slightest minor hitch that could technically be someone else's fault/responsibility. They really are the pits and unless you badger them relentlessly, the process can easily take 6 months. The only way to bring this timeline to anything even within the same ballpark as their initial timeline is to make a total nuisance of yourself. Hounding everyone in the chain - estate agent, both solicitors and the vendor - at least twice a week. You need to drive them up the wall with constant nagging so that they just do the fucking jobs that they are charging handsomely for. Do I sound bitter?

 

[Hellsbells]

The last time I asked about what the enquiries about, I got the reply "they are all related to the property"

Let's see what they come back with this time.

When I was selling dad's house, the solicitors sent me a load of really irritating, complex queries that I had no idea how to answer. Most of my answers I just wrote 'I don't know'. It didn't seem to cause any issues and I'm sure the buyer couldn't have cared less. I really think you need to find out what exactly what these outstanding queries are and if they just reply with something vague, you need to insist they send you the exact same list of queries the buyers were sent.

 

[cybershot]

I don't think estate agents work on a go slow tbh. They want to get paid.

The longer these things drag on, it's another month of forecasted money not coming in. Mine was pressuring me into trying to complete the sale of my property and break the chain, which was a load of bollocks because my buyer was in no rush, and once they learnt i was in direct contact with him there harassing stopped. WHat that did acheive however was for them to put pressure on my sellers solicitor as well, which in the end was great and useful even though there had really nothing to do with that property as they had the time to do additional chasing that I didn't have the time, and quite frankly, had no right to be harassing as I wasn't employing them.

So yeah estate agents are slimy money grabbing tossers, but if you can deflect the pressure they can be handy. As the sole agent involved they should have the details of everyone involved in miss directs purchase so ultimately can be the mediator to harass each solicitor & buyer/seller daily. If they want their £2k this month, it's within their interests to harass and chase everyone involved.

 

[Idaho]

When I was selling dad's house, the solicitors sent me a load of really irritating, complex queries that I had no idea how to answer. Most of my answers I just wrote 'I don't know'. It didn't seem to cause any issues and I'm sure the buyer couldn't have cared less. I really think you need to find out what exactly what these outstanding queries are and if they just reply with something vague, you need to insist they send you the exact same list of queries the buyers were sent.

I once had a buyer's solicitor slow the whole thing down because they became obsessed with FENSA certificates with regard to the installation of double glazed windows. No-one has those, no-one cares about those, they mean nothing and help no-one. But solicitors are pedants. You were right to just say I don't know.

 

[Idaho]

So yeah estate agents are slimy money grabbing tossers, but if you can deflect the pressure they can be handy. As the sole agent involved they should have the details of everyone involved in miss directs purchase so ultimately can be the mediator to harass each solicitor & buyer/seller daily. If they want their £2k this month, it's within their interests to harass and chase everyone involved.

In the last sale the same EA was working for us and our vendors and their vendors. Our buyer was chain free and the vendor's vendor was selling up and not buying. They agreed with our vendor about a completion date a month later - but then did nothing useful and communicated with no-one. Amazingly it all took 4 months... And they bagged £12k in total fees for sweet FA.

 

[platinumsage]

Yes it could be they’re waiting on critical details of part of the freehold which was gained by adverse possession, or clarification from the vendor on whether they will be taking the carpets with them or whether there are no carpets.

 

[Idaho]

I don't think estate agents work on a go slow tbh. They want to get paid.

I think it depends. I walk passed estate agents and see a few people sat in front of computers. You can never see what they are looking at... But what can they be looking at? There just isn't that much that they actually do. All the sales brochures and Rightmove uploads are all template based. I'd be amazed if it took more than 15 minutes to sort one. And they will rarely get more than one of two new houses a day. I think they just "look busy" most of the time in the manner of all bullshit jobs.

 

[platinumsage]

Yes I'm amazed that agents manage to levy much higher fees than solicitors given the relative importance of what they do.

 

[muscovyduck]

The last time I asked about what the enquiries about, I got the reply "they are all related to the property"

Let's see what they come back with this time.

A response like that does suggest your solicitors are the one holding it up tbh

 

[hash tag]

Our sale was supposed to complete Friday last week after a last minute rush on Thursday. It didn’t.

Found out yesterday the people at the bottom of the chain changed lenders and need a new survey to get their mortgage agreed.

Fucking jokers.

It is possible that the new valuation will throw up things the previous one did not or maybe even down value the property. The new lender might have a different set of requirements to the old lender.

 

[miss direct]

Actually getting responses today. Amazing.

"I will continue to chase them.
I will have a look at what we have and will in any event try and get the documents out to you tomorrow.
The nature of the remaining enquiries relate to charges that are registered against the property. The sellers solicitors await further information on these."

Anyone have an idea what the bold bit means in practical terms?

 

[hash tag]

A charge is a legal interest. A lender would place a charge on a property to secure a mortgage. A spouse might do this if they thought their partner might sell the property without their permission.

 

[Winot]

Actually getting responses today. Amazing.

"I will continue to chase them.
I will have a look at what we have and will in any event try and get the documents out to you tomorrow.
The nature of the remaining enquiries relate to charges that are registered against the property. The sellers solicitors await further information on these."

Anyone have an idea what the bold bit means in practical terms?

Ask your solicitors to let you know which charges are registered against the property and in whose name.

 

[Epona]

Or a debt collection company might go through the county court to have a charge placed on a property.

Most of the time this should not affect you - it usually means there will be some funds on the vendor's side that need to be paid to other people out of the proceeds of the sale.
(Although it could potentially lead to hold-ups if the vendor is disputing a charge I suppose)

 

[miss direct]

Hopefully not something to worry about. Maybe they owe the council money for work that was carried out on the building (total speculation here).

 

[Glitter]

It is possible that the new valuation will throw up things the previous one did not or maybe even down value the property. The new lender might have a different set of requirements to the old lender.

I don’t really give a shit as long as they sort it out quickly. There’s two families living in boxes because of these clowns and two houses sitting empty.

 

[Elpenor]

Sorry miss direct unfortunately I don’t see you completing next week if you’ve not yet sent your money to your solicitor or signed the forms

The Lidl will win the race

 

[miss direct]

Yeah I'm not even going to be here next week now actually so gave up on that idea. I will go to Lidl when I'm back though and buy some alcohol to make up for still being in limbo!

 

[Elpenor]

It just feels like a few more back and forths between solicitors are needed still, and it’s about right to allow a day for each exchange.

 

[Epona]

Yeah I'm not even going to be here next week now actually so gave up on that idea. I will go to Lidl when I'm back though and buy some alcohol to make up for still being in limbo!

They do some nice gin if that is your thing

 

[Elpenor]

I’ve bought and sold 2 properties but have never moved from one place to the other on the same day. I imagine that must be really stressful as everything needs to be packed up and shifted really quickly.

When I bought my flat I moved out of a mates spare room and when he was away so had plenty of time to move. Both times when I sold I put 95% of my things in storage over the course of a week or so, the first time I moved into a mates spare room and the second time I moved into the Hilton for 3 weeks as I had to finish off a contract in Reading before moving away for a new job.

If I ever buy again I will definitely shell out for a packing and removals service.

 

[miss direct]

Thankfully I have this room till the 8th. Possibly longer, assuming the landlord doesn't find anyone to move in straight away. I don't think he will!
I'm off tomorrow, and will be doing laundry and packing!

 

[Elpenor]

At least you have your trip to look forward to

 

[cybershot]

I think it depends. I walk passed estate agents and see a few people sat in front of computers. You can never see what they are looking at... But what can they be looking at? There just isn't that much that they actually do. All the sales brochures and Rightmove uploads are all template based. I'd be amazed if it took more than 15 minutes to sort one. And they will rarely get more than one of two new houses a day. I think they just "look busy" most of the time in the manner of all bullshit jobs.

One of my exs was one (we never talked about work much as it would cause arguments) but the actual person that comes out and does valuations and photos and writes up the ‘pack’ is usually quite busy followed by the person that does all the chasing etc (yes they actually do do some work) if they do manage let’s then usually the person looking after the rents will be quite busy as will the person dealing with arranging for things to get fixed/complaints.

the rest are office monkeys to answer the phone and deal with enquiries which to be fair only the ‘national’ big agents tend to have. Smaller independent ones will be trying to save money where possible and tend to have part timers. Before pandemic independents were struggling (outside of London at least) which is why they would probably be doing more chasing because that sale is important to their forecasts. Many were barely making a profit once paying staff and doing rent. It’s a competitive market. I would still say choose a local independent one over a national bigger one if you are selling as you’ll get that bit more care but your mileage may vary and during a stamp duty holiday I suspect a lot of it has gone out the window as they will too busy to go above and beyond and won’t have employed extra help in order to maximise profit margins in anticipation of a slump after the stamp duty holiday. Although with house prices having gone up a fair whack. Those that charge 10% of sale price will be in better shape than the flat fee ones.

it annoys me that I know far more than I’d like about a business model I hate.

 

[cybershot]

Actually getting responses today. Amazing.

"I will continue to chase them.
I will have a look at what we have and will in any event try and get the documents out to you tomorrow.
The nature of the remaining enquiries relate to charges that are registered against the property. The sellers solicitors await further information on these."

Anyone have an idea what the bold bit means in practical terms?

Fingers crossed it’s not a water board charge because they are absolute fuckers about getting money and will hold up a sale and they won’t care. If they think they are owed money they will insist they get it from the sales money. Your seller may be trying to fight it. Fingers crossed it’s not that.

 

[mauvais]

Just assume it's the simplest possibility until such a time as you learn otherwise. No point stressing out about imaginary scenarios. In this case it's probably just a mortgage.