Huge Pressure to Complete!

bun · 11th January 2007, 18:00

Hi there,

I'm wondering about other people's experiences with buying a DWH.

We found a buyer through the Movemaker scheme just before Christmas and reserved the house of our choice. They told us we needed to complete by the end of January. Unfortunately we lost our buyer three weeks in, but a day later found a new buyer with nothing to sell. DWH are still making us stick to the end of Jan completion date, otherwise have told us we have to cancel and rebook at the new (higher) price of the house. We had no original negotiation and are paying the cash price for the house as was advertised when we reserved. I have told them we can't afford to buy at the higher price, especially as we have accepted a lower price from our new buyers in order to keep everything going. We have already paid substantial solicitors and valuation costs.

Can they do this? I feel as if they are trying to hold us over a barrel and feel completely stressed with the whole thing. We have no control of it because it's all down to our buyers. In essence DWh are asking us to complete with completely fresh buyers within 14 working days. Is this even possible? If not we will lose the house we want to buy because DWH are being unreasonable. Do you think they have another buyer waiting in the wings or are they just trying it on so they reach their January targets?

I'm going out of my mind, I really want to move as it's to a different area. I can't get excited now, just stressed because of this terrible pressure they're putting us under.

dsgreen57 · 11th January 2007, 22:13

Sounds typically of all developers, when we bought our house last year we had same problem, we managed to stall by asking a set of questions, which caused them problems to find out and refuse to complete until they answer. Managed to draw this process out for two months

Mush · 12th January 2007, 08:09

I would like to make one observation. If you can't complete in the requested timescale then DWH will have to find another purchaser and that will cost them money as it will take them longer to get a completion than if they let you stall for a few weeks longer. Get your solicitor to hard bargain with them thats what you pay him for. But please bear in mind that if you have to complete quickly that the important things for you are not left out. Once you are under contract customer service from DWH will go out the window. When they have your money the snagging and repairs that may be required will take a lot longer to resolve and they certainly won't be in a hurry to help you. Make sure that if they want a quick turn around that you are happy with the product you are buying - get a snagging survey and make sure things are corrected prior to signing contracts!!! if you don't you will regret it - see other comments from buyers before you!!!

Richard · 15th January 2007, 17:24

Bun

As said get your solicitor on this, and take advice it will take DWH longer to get someone else to take your postion, i think you will be looking @ least another 4 weeks on top to complete, all this is fine unless DWH have a cash buyer @ the higher price then it is a problem.... again get your solicitor to mull over the contract, goodluck

RTFishall · 23rd June 2007, 22:49

I've worked in new home sales and trust me delaying tactics don't always work. I've know my Sales Director out of cussedness (spelling?) to often cancel a failed reservation. After all, if the completion misses their half or year end, they have another six months to sell the house to make the targets.