Frustrated

[alice77]

We put an offer in on a house nearly three months ago now. We're FTBs and the house is empty having been rented.

The house was taken off the market when we asked to view because the vendors were sick of having no takers - a kind of if we want it, it's ours if not we're renting again.

We wanted it we put an offer in.

Then the house went back on the market. I politely asked the estate agent why this was and she yelled at me very rudely and aggressively - she sure is a fiery character. Scared I took her word for it and watched the house put back on the market after the offer went in.

The mortgage process was slower and sooooo much more stressful than hoped because they wanted lots and lots of paperwork (self employed journalist sort of which confused the underwriter) but happened eventually. The day it happened our solicitor was still waiting for contract and deeds from vendors' solicitor and a search - so we hadn't delayed anything.

But still estate agent called me yelling and shouting like a bulldog every few days demanding we hurry up. She did this to our solicitor too. even though it was vendors' solicitors being slow It almost ruined our relationship with him!

When the survey was done it found a damp proof course needed doing, gutters replacing, double glazing fixed etc so I asked if there was any chance of a grand off the price. Estate agent went nuts and yelled at me for asking this saying all old houses have damp just deal with it. I insisted I'd like to take the advice of the professional I made lots of money for. The vendor agreed to drop right away.

Over last two weeks I realised solicitors were dragging heels as they do and we need to complete next week as stated all along! We'll be homeless (tenancy ends new people moving in had year from hell with asbo neighbours - another story!) if not.

So I contacted estate agent and asked her to let vendors and the solicitors know this date is being worked towards- just to you know help. Thought her abrupt manner could be used to my advantage for once!

She didn't. She had a go at our estate agent but now seems didn't have a word with anyone the vendors side (my aim!)

We signed two days ago and were given the hopeful completion date for next week but then a few hours ago the vendors swanned off abroad so it won't happen.

They refuse to sign contract it by email/fax - or at least their estate agent and solicitor refuses to ask them to (They're in Rhodes they yell!! I'm sure they have techonology?!?!). They still haven't removed furniture after 2-3 months so say we can't move in anyway.

Estate agent say it's not her fault. I say says I mean shouts and shouts and shouts for hours at me and husband in the most defensive aggressive nonsenical manner (You should have signed by now if you want to move next week - we have... etc). She's so rude! Says it's not her fault she forgot to tell them. Not their solicitors' fault. Not vendors' fault they forgot to tell anyone they were off abroad for two weeks even though they admit they knew everyone was aiming for end June.

I know this happens to everyone so I feel silly for feeling annoyed.

I've chased and chased and signed everything in seconds all along. The estate agent has nagged rudely and made it seem like her show all along but now there's a problem it's not her fault and nothing to do with her.

She says it's just normal house buying being stressful and it usually takes longer than this - even though she's been moaning this transaction is taking FAR too long for weeks and weeks!!

When I very calmly said well it's stressful because you know you're kinda making it stressful she hung up on me.

She also still refuses to take the house off the market. 2-3 months after the offer, 1-2 months after survey, we've been ready and willing for ages etc

I feel like pulling out and seeing what else is on the market almost!

Argh! Is this normal? Am I wrong to be annoyed with estate agent?

[brian]

This doesn;t sound normal, it sounds like a nightmare, and personally I'd walk away.

Let's face facts:

1. The sellers are in no hurry to sell
2. The selling estate agent is in no hurry to sell, or at least, too incompetent to move the sales process along
3. Despite all this, you are the ones being verbally treated like crap
4. The house needs repair work

Go look somewhere else - this isn;t worth the hassle, and even more problematical is that some sellers, for whatever reason, just can't be arsed to complete the sales process and just waste everyone's time.

Move on - you can do better than this.

(But this is just my personal opinion!)

[isproperty]

I agree with Brain. In this market they should be please to have a sale.

[alice77]

Thank you for the advice - and for reading such a long post! Sorry, I was v on edge and in need of venting when I wrote it.

You're right I know. We're now homeless on Thursday because this got pushed so far while being assured it'd be ok and sorted way in advance... Would've happened anyway because our tenancy was up with no chance to extend.

Decided vendors have till Thursday to be bothered to complete if not we rent again and find somewhere better. Have found a couple of bargains new to the market..,

Thanks so much again

[edgeofthemap]

I too am having problems with Estate Agents - they won't let me view anything.
I have found plenty of places that interest me on internet sites, but rarely get a response from the agents when I ask for more details.
I have sent about twenty requests to view, but so far only managed a single appointment (which the Agent broke). Fortunately the vendor showed me round, but the photos did not match the reality. Are fish-eye lenses still legal?
I decided to take the initiative, and emailed every agent within 20 miles whose contact details I could find (around 30 of them). I sent a clear list of my requirements, search area, budget etc. I also listed the things they should not offer, and chief among these is anything with a hedge. I hate them and said so (twice).
I have had one response. Of the four properties in their email, one is massively over budget, two are outside the search area and of course, all four have monstrous hedges.
I have the finances organised, I am ready to move immediately, no chain, and I am being prevented from viewing houses by the incompetence of the local estate agents.
If you are trying to sell a detached house anywhere within 15 miles of Corby, I think you're wasting your time.

[juliettelixora]

the seller just wash it's hands and leaves you all the work needed for the house to be repaired which is not a good idea for your side. And also the house should have been repaired before it was bargain. But at least they hide something and fool you in the first place. And this involves hiding or not allowing you to see the whole house itself.

In terms like this you really need to get every information you can to rest assure that you are not dealing with a fraud or scam.