Looking for advice on awkward seller.
FTB here and after a bit of advice/reassurance.
We’re buying a chain-free property. The seller has already moved out and moved away. There seemed to have been some previous issues between the seller and the estate agents regarding viewings and how they were handled, which already gave us slight concerns about cooperation.
Our offer was accepted mid March. We got everything done on our side very quickly. Initial enquiries went in around 12th April, with some additional enquiries sent on the 16th.
For the last few weeks the estate agent has apparently been trying to contact the seller, leaving multiple voicemails with little to no response. It also took nearly a month just to get the initial enquiry replies back, which feels excessive to us, especially for an empty, chain-free property.
The replies finally came back yesterday, but they only partially answered some questions, refused indemnity for a HETAS certificate (which we know is probably manageable, but it feels more about attitude), answered a lot with things like “client is unaware” or “client holds no paperwork”, and completely ignored the additional enquiries sent on the 16th.
What’s making us more uneasy is that the seller has completely revamped the house during ownership, including installing a log burner, replacing floors, electrics, new kitchen, ceilings etc, so it feels odd for so many answers to be “client unaware” or that no paperwork exists.
Our solicitors have obviously gone back to them today, but we’re starting to worry the seller just isn’t going to cooperate properly.
Is this fairly normal, or does this sound like a major red flag? Any advice from people who’ve been through similar?