To want to send an angry email to our house buyer after he pulled out days before exchange

I exchanged and completed on the same day, unfortunately I didn't understand that and had no way to move my remaining furniture out. But it made my buyer happy as she kept one or two bits of it. I accepted the offer end of January 2023, and it dragged out to July with the buyer's solicitors being so petty on the lease document (it was a leasehold house). So if it wasn't a leasehold, it would have been more straightforward.

Until contracts are exchanged anyone can pull out for any reason. So whilst sending an angry email might feel good for a few mins it isn't going to change anything. Just move on and find another buyer.

Oh God OP, I feel for you but this is on you. Next time you need to prioritise getting the sale over the line above everything else. If you can't clear your house quickly, start that decluttering process now. And change your solicitors.

Buyers do this, if they are becoming increasingly frustrated throughout , they like to pull out to be of the most inconvenience possible.
Or If there has been no issues then there could be a real genuine reason, loss of job, loss in the family, anything. At this stage, they would have lost money on surveyors and solicitors fees too.

It's frustrating and upsetting when a buyer pulls out. I've been there myself on the day of exchange.

But I do wish people would recognise that they have not "sold" when they are under offer with a buyer.

The selling process involves a potential buyer making a price offer for the property that once accepted the property becomes under offer - Not sold.

The property is sold on completion after exchange.

Don't send the email. Nobody spends thousands on conveyancing and surveys for fun. Who knows why he pulled out, presumably it's related to why he wanted to exchange in May. Perhaps he thinks you and solicitors have been messing around...
Not sure why you couldn't exchange though. Being out of town doesn't matter. So keen that you changed preschool but couldn't sign some paperwork?

I'm not sure (from your comments about moving in on exchange) that you fully understand the house buying process. He would only have wanted to move in after completion, so either he wanted exchange and completion on the same date, which you would have been aware of as the solicitors would have explained, or you thought exchange of contracts was the time the buyer owned the property from, or something... but you could have exchanged from anywhere, you don't need to be present as it's part of the process the solicitors manage. It's likely you've shot yourself in the foot here. I do hope you find another buyer soon.

I would send an email but I wouldn’t be angry, I would ask if there is a reason and is there anything you can do to change their mind. Depending on the rely then you could explain your disappointment

This

It's so frustrating when this happens , we had a buyer on old house pull out and noone informed us til weeks later I was so mad as we were obviously house hunting and found one we liked.

I would just focus on next buyer and just hope it doesn't happen again. I think there should a clause put in place even adopt the American way to protect sellers.

He didn't send you an angry email when you chose to refuse to agree to his exchange date

He simply found somewhere else to buy, which aligned with his time frame

If you want to sell, keep your buyer happy

I am sorry OP but you brought this on yourself by not agreeing to the exchange date.

The buyer probably had enough of waiting and went for an easier purchase.

Being 'out of town' is not a good enough reason.

There isn’t much different about the Scottish system. The seller as for a survey that is available to all interested parties but until contracts are exchanged either side can pull out. That’s why we have ‘sstc’ sold subject to contracts and ‘sstem’ sold subject to exchange of missives,

Circumstances change. Buyers don’t do this just to spite you.

I had to pull out of a purchase very late once. My partner announced he had been having a year long affair, the OW was pregnant and was moving in with her.

I was single with young kids and loosing my dream home.

I felt awful for the sellers and an email like yours would have pushed me over the edge I think.

They would have lost a couple of £1000 by pulling out so not a decision they took lightly.

Just chat to the EA if you want more info. Don't email them.

Exchange doesn’t mean possession. You could easily have exchanged when your buyer wanted. You chose not to.

I don’t think it is worth sending an email. People like this don’t care. Surely the time to think about what a huge commitment it is is before making the offer not string people along for months then pull out. I hope you get another buyer soon and your seller holds on for you.

YABU. It didn’t work out. It’s not personal.

Of course it’s unreasonable. You can’t send an angry email when you have no idea of this person’s personal circumstances.

People who pull out last minute are just the worst. Also setting deadlines when they are not in your control is ridiculous. Surely he will not get another property quickly as he has to start from scratch again unless he had a second option all along. Solicitors seem incredibly slow these days. My daughter was buying a brand new house(already built) and was selling to a FTB with approved mortgage. Just 2 in chain plus house developers and it still took 5 months from offer accepted to completion. All down to slow solicitors.

Why didn't you just exchange on the date requested. Out of town would have infuriated me too. But I don't think I would have pulled out. Have their been other delays caused by you.

Selling a house is hugely stressful, I still remember it years on, so you have my sympathies.

It's also a huge financial commitment and people are entitled to pull out. From their perspective, their dream house or housing needs are of paramount importance, just as they are to you.

The committment happens here when contracts are exchanged. And it makes sense for people to be able to back out up until then.
I think the problem is people exchange and complete on the same day. It used to be common to leave about a month between exchange and completion which made sense as it gives time for final arrangements, removal bokking etc.

People elsewhere don't seem to realise that in England exchange of contracts, is equivalent to the signing of contracts elsewhere. Nobody is committed until that point, and that is when you pay a deposit which you would forfeit.

Buyers don’t move in after exchange (if you’re in England, Wales or NI, missives in Scotland). Do you mean completion?