Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

Take my advice. NEVER MOVE HOUSE - EVER!!!!!!! and if you do NEVER DEAL WITH THE WOOLWICH

I sold my house in September, I was supposed to be moving in November, then the people at the bottom of the chain pulled out and everything went back on the market. That got sorted quite quickly and they found new first time buyers and about 10 days later the original chain got reinstated with new people at the bottom. Fine, we thought, that puts it back a bit but we should still be moving before Christmas.

Then things started to go wrong.

It became fairly obvious that my buyers buyers were using delaying tactics and that they didn't want to move before christmas as they were really dragging their feet about everything. It got to the point about 3 weeks ago when it became obvious that we were not going to complete before christmas, however we were assured we could still exchange and then move in early January - the 6th was booked.

For the last 3 weeks EVERYONE has been chasing these people to get their survey done and I heard 2 days ago that this still hadn't happened and that the problem lies with the Woolwich - the company the buyers in question are getting their mortgage through. Apparently they are inundated at the moment and they aren't coping with the number of offers they have in and are not getting surveys organised in time. We've chased and chased and had finally found out today that at least the survey has now been approved, though a date hasn't been booked yet. My financial advisor friend told me this morning that she hates dealing with the Woolwich, that they are a nightmare and this isn't the first time she's had a deal slowed down or messed up by them.

Hopefully the survey will happen Monday or Tuesday of next week and we will be able to exchange in the first week of the new year - we have now pencillied in a revised moving date of 20th Jan.

I just can't believe how long all of this is taking - I sold my house in September for gods sake I never really believed people when they said how stressful moving can be, well believe me it is, I think this is the most stressful thing I have ever done.

As some of you know I have reasons for wanting this move to happen ASAP and the longer it is going on the more panicky I am getting. I'm sure everything will work out fine but at the moment it is taking over my life and I just want it all over and done with.

Happy Christmas everyone and wish me luck sorting this out in the new year.

Lee - I should pass on the address of 'my next door neighbour' at work.

You two could commiserate with each other.

He too sold his house in September and the one he is hoping to move into is actually empty. He has had problem after problem none of them his fault and comes in every day - threatening to kill either the estate agent, the people who are holding everything up etc etc. He should be OK if anything happens cos he's a criminal defence solicitor so a he says he could claim mitigating circumstances.

He has a year old son and had packed everything away hoping they would be settled in, but has had to unpack everything again.

So its not just you Lee - not that its much help to you, but at least one other person is suffering too.

I DOOOOO sympathise LEE.

OH and I are in out 9th house. This last ....and final one..... we have been in for 4 1/2 yrs.

Every move has been different . The shotest 35 days...boy oh boy that was a rush and the longest over a year. Didn't bear thinking about.

HOPE THIS TIME the date willnot be put back again.

Fingers crossed for you LEE.
Chin up !

My new house is empty as well Busy Bee, but because we haven't exchanged yet I haven't been able to get the keys, it is soooooooooooo frustrating.

I can't believe your bad luck LEE!


It's absolutely ridiculous that an important contract such as a house move can be messed around by some people and yet there's no comeback!

There should be a way of pushing them into sorting it out!

Poor old Lee

I am sorry you haven't sorted it all yet.

I hope you get some good news soon

That's really bad luck LEE. Hopefully it will sort itself out finally for you in January.

Oh Lesley, I am so sorry I'm a bit late in sending you all my sympathy. It must be incredibly stressful for you. I really do feel for you.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to see the back of this year. Next year is gonig to be so much easier for you, I'm sure. I have my fingers crossed for you.

Yuk! Yuk! Yuk!! House chains are the worst things in the world (well p'rpas not as bad as disasters and terrorism but they're pretty grim!)

Anyway, I hope that things are picking up for you this side of Christmas LEE, and that you can get those contracts exchanged so that things are binding and you can get access to your new house.

My fingers, toes and ankles are crossed for you!!

Just thought I'd let you know the latest in this saga.

Yesterday we should have exchanged. What actually happened yesterday was that the people who have been causing all the trouble decided to try their luck and see if they could get away with reducing their offer on my buyers house by Ł2,500

So we haven't exchanged, my buyers and their buyers are arguing about the money (I think the offical word is negotiating lol )

I am just soooooo p*ssed off. We might exchange today, or hopefully on Monday, but there doesn't seem to have been one stage of this process that has gone smoothly.

I'll keep you posted.

Is your work colleague fairing any better Busybee?

No, he is tearing his hair out. I just told him about you and he said something to the effect of "are you sure they arent in my chain" cos the same thing has happened to him. Someone is having trouble with finance (allegedly sorted out) and has made a lower offer. He has a young baby and have now unpacked everything they packed before Christmas. He is due to exchange on Monday (but as he says "which Monday")

Best of luck Lee. Everything comes to those who wait though some have to wait longer than others

Miracles do happen. My friend has just come into the office like a hurricane. He has finally completed on his house. Only taken six and a half months. He is over the moon.

Perhaps this means there is hope for you yet Lee. Lets hope so.

What a nightmare, poor you.

Dare we ask how it is going??

Yes, I was thinking of you earlier today LEE and crossing my fingers that all would be well. What's the latest? Or should I just duck now???

We still haven't exchanged

On Monday yet another problem reared it's head when someones mortgage paperwork got sent to the wrong place and therefore still hasn't been signed.

I've been up in Manchester all week and even though we haven't exchanged I have still been given the keys and have started to decorate.

I am now definitely NOT moving on the 20th, it has been put back yet again, this time to the 29th, because of this mortgage cockup.

The person I am buying from is getting really annoyed by all of this and he is now saying that if it isn't sorted out in the next few days he is pulling out.

My Estate agent is hoping that we will exchange on Monday, though this is exactly what he was saying to me this time last week so I'm not holding my breath.

Lets just hope it all gets sorted out soon cos if this guy does pull out I am completely scuppered.

Oh yuk!! Sorry to hear of further hassle LEE. My only ray of sunshine on this is that the guy you are buying from is probably just threatening to pull out in order throw some weight behind getting the whole mess sorted out.



Hope the decorating is going well though - that sounds like fun!

It is quite fun, Jet and I have been painting all week we've done the Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen and Hall as well as most of the woodwork. We've taken up all the grotty carpets as well cos I'm getting new ones laid on Tuesday. So we had better exchange now

Say congrats to your friend from me BusyBee and hopefully he will be able to return the sentiment to me fairly soon.

All fingers and toes crossed for you for tomorrow Lee. Perhaps we will all be in Boris's then celebrating.

Sounds like you have had a busy time.

This is just getting silly now and I'm getting suicidal.

The missing paperwork did get back to the mortgage broker on Friday, but they are still not issuing the mortgage offer cos the guy concerned is Italian and they have to get it approved by someone else - not sure who but I got the impression that they had to send it off somewhere.

Why the hell didn't they tell us this last week

His solicitors will not issue the contract to be signed until they have the mortgage offer in place so the earliest we are going to exchange now is probably Friday, Thursday at a push, and Friday also happens to be the last possible day we can exchange to get the monies in place to complete on the 29th.

My vendor is still saying that he will pull out if we don't complete on the 29th, he might be scaremongering, but I have met him and I have a horrid feeling he means it.

I just don't think I can take any more of this - Boris's Bar here I come.

Lee my sympathies to you. Lets all keep our fingers crossed for you this week. PMA may work so we'll all go round saying - Lee will complete this week, Lee will compete this week. You never know what power TIBBers have.

Poor You, it really sounds a nightmare.

FiNGERS CROSSED!

I am also keeping my fingers crossed, Lee. It's just been an absolute nightmare frm start to finish for you.

I'm sorry to hear you've had more trouble Lee,I hope it all gets sorted out very soon for you
Have a double whatever you want on me at Boris's bar

Poor LEE - I'm so sorry your sale's not been finalised yet.

Do you think some



or .............................



or even ..........................



might give you some better luck? I hope so - have my fingers, toes and everything else crossed for you!