After deciding against a Persimmon home after reading this forum and other info online, we found a new Linden Homes development nearby.
We liked one of the plots and with not TOO much info/experiences on Linden online and on this forum we decided to go with them.
We reserved the plot £2k and when going through the details they said that for X X and X reasons we should use their recommended solicitor. I've read all the online information and politely said no I will use my own. She asked who the solicitor was and I gave the name, immediately she said no way we won't use them as we've had bad experiences with them on this development. I've been using them for years for my house purchases and have never had issue.
Anyway I said I still want to use them and that they will not be a problem. She said she would need to speak to head office....
After the phone call she came back and said that they would take £1k off solicitor fees if I used theirs.. I still said no and finally she put my solicitors details down.
Today I get a phone call saying that head office are still refusing to use my specific solicitor because of the problems. Meanwhilst I had spoken to my solicitor who said that they had not acted at all yet for any of the homes on this development, so they were chatting total nonsense.
I still played along and said ok that's fine I will use another solicitor of mine, she refused and said they would only proceed with the sale IF I use their solicitor. I wouldn't give in.. so the sale has been cancelled and my deposit refunded .
I know I've probably got away lucky, but I can't help but feel gutted. I also don't understand why it is SOO massively important to them to use their solicitor??? And push it so aggressively that they won't proceed with the sale?
I guess they're hoping someone else will buy it and use their solicitor, but I still don't understand why they are so deseperate about this?? Surely the "comission" that they might get from the solicitor is not worth losing a sale over??
We liked one of the plots and with not TOO much info/experiences on Linden online and on this forum we decided to go with them.
We reserved the plot £2k and when going through the details they said that for X X and X reasons we should use their recommended solicitor. I've read all the online information and politely said no I will use my own. She asked who the solicitor was and I gave the name, immediately she said no way we won't use them as we've had bad experiences with them on this development. I've been using them for years for my house purchases and have never had issue.
Anyway I said I still want to use them and that they will not be a problem. She said she would need to speak to head office....
After the phone call she came back and said that they would take £1k off solicitor fees if I used theirs.. I still said no and finally she put my solicitors details down.
Today I get a phone call saying that head office are still refusing to use my specific solicitor because of the problems. Meanwhilst I had spoken to my solicitor who said that they had not acted at all yet for any of the homes on this development, so they were chatting total nonsense.
I still played along and said ok that's fine I will use another solicitor of mine, she refused and said they would only proceed with the sale IF I use their solicitor. I wouldn't give in.. so the sale has been cancelled and my deposit refunded .
I know I've probably got away lucky, but I can't help but feel gutted. I also don't understand why it is SOO massively important to them to use their solicitor??? And push it so aggressively that they won't proceed with the sale?
I guess they're hoping someone else will buy it and use their solicitor, but I still don't understand why they are so deseperate about this?? Surely the "comission" that they might get from the solicitor is not worth losing a sale over??