"It's good to talk" - but not to the seller!

If you are reading this and you are in the throes of buying a property and you ask me how can you reduce the stress of a transaction then I would say this. Under no circumstances should you talk to the seller after your offer has been accepted.

Once the offer has been accepted you need play the chief exec to the seller's door to door salesman. Under no circumstances should you take the call. All the seller is likely to be wanting to ask you is when are the missives going to be concluded, when are you getting your loan, why is your solicitor so slow and then end the call by threatening to remarket unless you get your finger out and conlcude the missives. It will be all one way traffic and that cosey chat that you had at the time of the viewing of how lovely the neighbours are will be but a distant memory. The seller is wanting to sell and in all likelyhood will a) not know the whole facts, b) not fully understand the process and c) become quite emotional. The deck is stacked against you in such a conversation and should be avoided at all costs. I have lost count of the times that I have had to pick up the pieces after such a call and reassure my client that everything is moving along smoothly and not to worry. I had a call this week!

Don't take the call. Speak to your solicitor and ask him to politely say to the seller's solictor that his client should not contact you. The seller's not your pal and all they want is for you to sign on the line that is dotted. Simple as that. All communication should be directed through your solicitor. That is the service that you are paying for so why not use it. Your solicitor should be like a good receptionist and shield you from the brickbats coming your way from the seller.