Why do people do this?

[wowfudge]

Just a bit of a rant - it's been a funny old week and I've just done an exam, but that's by the by. Our house is on the market, has been for a few weeks. A few viewings, then a second viewing at the weekend and an offer at the beginning of the week - Monday morning.

All good so far except when the agents rang the potential buyers back after speaking to us, they didn't answer and haven't called back since! They were left a message asking them to call, no other details from us.

Why do people do this? If you've changed your mind or something has come up, you could just leave a message on the agent's answer machine out of hours.

I could be eating my words at some point if they do ring back, I realise.

[lalalonglegs]

How odd. Regretting being too enthusiastic? Another house that they thought they had missed out on has come back on the market and they decided to go for that? Agent has the wrong number for them..? No, I've run out of excuses, it's just very odd.

If it's any comfort, this has happened a few times when I have been renting out a flat - wild excitement, definitely want it then... disappear. Some have even paid a holding deposit of a couple of hundred quid .

[IShouldBeSoLurky]

How annoying. Chances are they weren't entirely honest about their position and are having issues getting all their ducks in a row, but they don't want to tell the EA there's a possibility they might pull out. If they were definitely going to, I'm sure they would have said.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

It could be a wrong number?

Years ago when DH and I first bought a house we made an offer on one we loved, and sat on tenterhooks all Saturday waiting for an answer.. None came. So Monday morning I waited again, and nothing. Tuesday morning I called them and they'd been trying to call and had the wrong number for me so the vendors had accepted an equal offer. It was gutting.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

Although, reading that back now, I suppose the agent could've lied to me

[wowfudge]

Since I posted DP has spoken to the actual contact we're dealing with, not just one of her colleagues, and she has now spoken to them (not clear exactly when) and they have said they won't budge on their low offer, that was it.

They never said it was their best and final offer or all they could afford or whatever which is a bit odd in my book and EA agreed.

We've come to the conclusion they liked the house, but it's not quite in the right area for them so they were only interested if they could get it for a knock down price. DP said, and I agree, that if that's what they were thinking then they could be the sort of buyers who'd pull out somewhere along the line, leaving you in the lurch if we had agreed a price.

Onwards and upwards!

[JT05]

Yes, this has happened a couple of times to us. Fortunately (?) we have a buyer now, but we are still not confident the sale will go through!
People do some strange things, when buying houses. Usually to do with getting a "bargain" at others expense!
Nothing is certain till the money changes hands! Nerves of steel and a poker face are required! Good luck.

[wowfudge]

Yes - 'tyre kickers' as one of my colleagues said today. It's not like we have a desperate need to move so they can keep on looking!