[joanne]

Hi Guys
I dont really know where to start...
We accepted an offer on our house mid December and the exchange date was last week. We had every little detail planned (thanks to alot of help from Nic AKA kiwi)
Then at the last minute (morning of the exchange) our buyers buyer backed out.
The feeling of utter desolation is hard to describe.
Hubby should have started work in NZ yesterday. We are living in a house that is fully packed up. The kids are confused as to whats happening (only 3 and 5). Chris and I are so shell shocked we can hardly function.

Our buyers are still desprate to buy our house, but I still expect a phone call to say they have backed out too (she is expecting a baby in less than 4 weeks)

Our solicitor has advised us to push ahead with the exchange and have a delayed completion of 6 months. This way we gain some certainty and control of the situation and our buyers are commited to the sale at the agreed price.

Other options include renting the house and coming to NZ anyway, or putting it back on the market. I cant seem to face either of those options.

I know we are luck to have got our visas, and that Chris' employer is willing to wait (for now) I know we are lucky to have a house to sell in the first place. I know I should be thankful for alot of things that are more important than all this (health etc).

All these things I know, but it is still, so so so disappointing.

I feel like screaming when anyone says "are you still here"

I am sure the struggle will make it all seem more worthwhile in the end.
Even through all this Chris and I have never questioned why we are doing it or whether it is the right thing to do. We are 100% committed to emmigrating to New Zealand.
Surely that means something....

[sarahw]

How awful to get so far with it & then feel like the ground's been pulled from under your feet! :eek I really feel for you both.

I hope things work out for you. I don't know what your situation is, but we left our house in the UK (unsold) and came out to honour the start date with Ian's company. Since leaving things have moved on & we've had an offer (whatever that's worth!) and we're supposed to complete in 4 weeks but we're not holding our breath!

I'm sure things'll work out for you & you'll be here soon enough. :hopeso

Take care,

[veronica]

The same thing happened to us last October a week before the house was due to exchange. we were already here and had committed to 2 properties for businesses, as you can imagine its been pretty tight.
If you are as ready to go as that and can follow the pattern your solicitor has suggested, any chance you can still come out now and rent your house for the 6 months between exchange and completion. even if the rent only covers the mortgage its better than it sitting there empty.

[joanne]

We thought about that Veronica - we also did some very lateral thinking and came up with a plan to rent it to.... (wait for it) OUR BUYERS !! :))

The 'rent' would be a lump sum deposit (deducted from sale)

That way they get to move into the home they so desparatly want (she wants to live in our village cos her mum lives here, she is expecting 1st child and her hubby works away alot)

We have tennants that will look after the place (after all its going to be theirs)

We get on the next plane to NZ, sit back and wait for the cash to arrive

OOOOOhhhh it all sounds so simple, this cunning plan of mine :)))

[jubjub]

Sounds a good plan, suggest it tomorrow!

I saw a get a new life programme where they do this kind of thing in New Zealand, a Rent to Buy sheme, you are commited to buy, but have a year to do so, guess it could be adapted?

[jthavh]

Hi Joanne
We know just how you feel,the same thing happened to us.We accepted our first offer on the house in July 04,yes July!! and contracts didn't get exchanged until 26th January 2005,ironically the same day NZIS received our ITA.We made a huge decision to sell the house,all its contents and move into rented property before we even heard about our PR,which thankfully was granted in Feb 2005.
Things do work out in the end,its hard to keep smiling some days :? but hopefully things will be OK

[eric_amanda]

What is wrong with housebuyers in the UK at the moment? :eek

It seems a lot of us here (us included) have been on the receiving end of people pulling out at the last minute :?

What is going on?????

We have instructed our agents to continue to market, even when we accept any offers, we can't afford to lose lots of time over and over again.

Amanda

[kiwi]

Today is the day (your wed, as we had ours!) when things will all become clear...I can feel it in my waters!

At least they are still wanting it, they are the ones having a baby and wanting to be settled in the village, they can just rent their house out till they find a buyer....or do a lease to buy for a future buyer for them, as they might do with your house.

It will be ok...I promise, as you can see from others it works out, just not in the way you expect, but sometimes even better than you wanted.

Chris might even come with you on that plane on friday...how cool would that be!! all together....best pressie ever.

The kettles on, see you soon.....praying and crossing everything, keep positive and dont let go of the dream...for anyone.
Nic

[Karoline]

Can't you protect yourself for a situation like that via a contract?
In the Netherlands, when buyers back off the day before sign-over they'll pay a fine of x% of the house price PER DAY!!!
That would prevent a lot of hassle for everyone.
It's a terrible situation for you and good that you post it, because it may be a lesson for others to make sure that they sign a contract with the buyers and have a fine in it for not following through.

I hope it will work out fine for you in the end...

[joanne]

Yes Karoline, it is different here in the UK. All parties in our chain had signed a contract BUT its worthless until its exchanged. You are free to walk away form the deal up until then. The only winners are the solicitors.
I am amazed we all put up with it - the Scots didnt.

Anyway... Our buyers have accepted an offer today - from a cash buyer (investor) so everything looks back on track.. but it aint over till the fat lady sings or should that be signs?

[kiwi]

I am 75 kgs..I am singing!

(I know, big boned!)

Told you...where is your faith, stuck under a pot plant.? Crack open that champers..you are coming to NZ!

[kiwidollie]

Glad it seems to be working out for you now.

House sales really are a nightmare aren't they.

Just think though...... one day it will all be a distant memory and you will have forgotten all the stress and cr@p involved.

Be happy :yes you'll soon be in Godzone yippee

[jubjub]

:hopeso :hopeso

Good luck, at least they have a cash buyer, and desperately want your house, hopefully it will get sorted quickly.

We are lucky being in Scotland, things can still go wrong, but it not common to lose a sale after you have signed the contract

[Diny]

Told you...where is your faith, stuck under a pot plant.? Crack open that champers..you are coming to NZ!

Hey Kiwi, do us a favour and ask the runes whether our house sale will go through or fall through will you ........ this balancing on a knife edge is mighty uncomfortable. :nice1

Diny

[kiwi]

well, does it feel right? Can you 'see' it happening?
are you sending those positive vibes out into the universe?

then crack open the champers....you are on your way!!!!

ha ha

(will look at the crystal ball tonight for ya)

[joanne]

Its dejavue time. We are back in that scary place again - countdown to exchange in 4 days time. YIKES!!!

[kiwidollie]

Fingers and toes and everything else crossed for you xxxx

[NW2NZ]

Fingers crossed for you Joanne. I'm due to exchange Monday or Tuesday so know what you're going through! :roll: :? :roll: :? :roll:

[Danpoll]

Guys my heart goes out to you and theres only a few words to describe people like that.
the house buying process in this country has really for me encapuslated what the british have become, a bitter fraudulant bunch of meisers who instead of kicking up a fuss of being ripped off just pass on the sentiment. the way in which properties are sold in this country are fundamentally wrong. on the other hand houses are just not worth the money they are getting and they shouldn't be as high as they are. It is little suprise that people contrive to screw the vendor, and try and get in some sort of way a bargin or a deal. It is wrong that the only winners are the soliciters, the homebuyers pack in 2007 may move to cut solicitors need for raising enquiries and just maybe make the house buying process easier. Estate agents shoul by law ensure that the viewers are capabale of buying the property, that once an offer is placed then a 10% bond is paid if either pull out. that properties should remain on the market untill exchange of contracts.

despite selling mine, the events of my house sale will leave me bitter for a long time, but hey thats Britain for you and good ridence to it.

Dan

[Paul]

Part of the problem also has to be the "greedy" sellers trying it on with unrealistic prices - what goes around comes around I guess.
Still nice to see that the few genuine good estate agents are the ones still selling well now and the other sharks are going out of business now that the market has cooled.........

Agree that some change of sale process is needed - not sure the home buyers pack will make much difference personally as surveys and valuations included will be worthless in real terms.
Scotland has got it more right than we hace I would say
Good luck to evryone selling

[joanne]

Guess what?
We STILL havent exchanged. Dont know how much more of this I can take now.
We were due to exchange last Thursday 21st but it didnt happen cos our buyers had not returned a transfer form which was posted to them on 19th. The form actually arrived at OUR house (cos they redirected their mail to our house 5 weeks ago when the FIRST exchange was arranged) on Saturday 23rd. We took it, by hand, to our buyers and told them to get it into their solicitors PRONTO - which they did.
So Monday morning we were told by our solicitor that now the form has been returned thing were on track to exchange "any day this week".
Since then 2 other "final" points have croped up (a damp proof guarantee thats is being queried, cost of a firewall). These issues are nothing to do with our house - its all in connection with our buyers house.
We accepted their offer mid DECEMBER - after this bank hol we are into MAY.We have had FOUR exchange dates come and go in that time.

We are sooo lucky that Chris' employer is being patient.
What annoys me most is that we wont be able to say to our solicitors... you did an unsatisfactory job so we arent paying you the full amount - cos they take it from the house sale money. I am compiling a letter to them and sending a copy to the Law Society.

I try to keep things in perspective and keep positive and most of the time I manage ok. At first this imposed wait was a good opportunity to take stock and confirm what we are doing is right for us - and that was a good thing. But now we have been waiting TOO long and have had too long to think - we just need to go now.

[JJG]

Hope it all goes through this time.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_107v.gif
Say hi to Nic when you get out there.

[Diny]

But now we have been waiting TOO long and have had too long to think - we just need to go now.

I know exactly what you mean. It's these last few weeks that are the most stressful and the desire to get on that plane is almost too much to cope with.

Fingers crossed that all goes well. We too are waiting for exchange and completion ...... it's downright horrible !!!!!

Diny

[Glenda]

Hi Joanne,

I know this may sound a little shallow considering the stress of everything ... well, a lot shallow ... but try and enjoy the nice weather here in the UK. It will be a very short summer for many of us and as human beings we do need that sunny warmth and that white mark around our wrists, wedding rings and (god forbid in my case) bikini line. A little browning in this country will help prevent sunburn in NZ's harsher sun.

We had our first around to look at the house. Their report ... the house and garden were too big for them to handle. Well ... we're speechless! :roll:

[leslie]

hub insists on pricey sols and while i used to grumble about the fees have learned to appreciate how much faster/ smoother process is with them. when all is said and done we probably save money too.

[Diny]

hub insists on pricey sols

Are there any other type?

Diny

[leslie]

our agents are now trying to say market dormant because of election. whats it going to be post election? maybe we should make a game of it with a nice nz bottle to the winner...
my guess it will have something to do with the beckhams pending divorce.

[Moorf]

Could someone pls put in an offer on No. 10 Downing Street and kick the current tenant out ??? PLEASE? :laugh

[veronica]

There is probably some sort of regulation that means that it's not politically correct to do that :laugh :laugh

[Moorf]

It's Tony that's not politically correct ;)

[leslie]

believe tony is in 11. brown is in 10.

think tony'll qualify for housing benefit or just a pension? either way england will pay...

[Paul]

hub insists on pricey sols and while i used to grumble about the fees have learned to appreciate how much faster/ smoother process is with them. when all is said and done we probably save money too.

Pay peanuts, get monkeys............... therefore your hubby's probably right!

[Karen and Rich Matthews]

:( Lord, we're just about to start the house selling process, and we were worried about the telephone interview :eek

Good luck in selling your houses guys :roll:

Karen and Rich

[Simon & Emily]

Could someone pls put in an offer on No. 10 Downing Street and kick the current tenant out ??? PLEASE? :laugh

You're OK Moorf - you've already made it out :laugh :laugh

Emily

[joanne]

Zipperdy Doo Dah, Zipperdy Hey, My oh my, what a beautiful day........

WE have exchanged!!!!!!

[joanne]

Packers will be here 1pm on Thursday (12th) and completion day is

FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH AAAAAggggghhhhhh

Hope to be on a flight out of here within the next two weeks.


To everyone who is in the middle of a nightmare house sale - keep faith.
Keep sane. Keep perspective. It WILL all turn out fine.

[eric_amanda]

SNAP

We just had an e-mail this morning from our solicitor saying our buyers want to complete on Friday 13th!!! Is that OK with us....of course it is luv, just get that cash in the bank!!

Best of luck Joanne...see you back here next friday to toast our sales
:cheers :cheers


Amanda

[Glenda]

My beautiful daughter was born on a Friday 13th, after a 35 minute labour and no pain relief. So ... it can be a very, very nice day. :yes