Hi All,
Would be really interested on what you would do in this scenario...10 days ago we had an offer accepted on a house but we already dont trust the vendor and not sure whether to even start with survey/searches! Sorry this is quite long!
Originally the EA told us that the vendor had a house in a nearby village that he could move to so no chain on his side. We made an offer of interest while selling ours and the EA was chasing us regularly for updates. We agreed on a sale on our property and promptly made a formal offer (98% of asking price) on his. The vendor said he needed 24 hours to think about it and then accepted - the EA said he might need to rent as was moving into a property going through probate. Obviously already we were scratching our heads as this wasnt what we had been led to believe... in any case we asked for another viewing with kids so they could get a feel for the house (now think this was a terrible idea, but live and learn).
The vendor pulled us a side and advised us to buy insurance on the purchasing costs in case the sale fell through. He then disclosed that he had had an offer rejected on the property he wants and not sure what his next step is! I asked him if he wasn't able to secure that particular property if he would pull out of sale and he got very defensive and said he didn't want to waste his money on rent and it had taken 3 years to find the property he likes. Not quite what we had been expecting....
I phoned the EA the next day explaining what he had said and that we feel he doesn't want to sell and we would be looking at other properties. EA phoned back a number of times that day and said she had spoken to vendor who had put another offer in on the property he wants but would definitely be happy to rent if he can't get it. (Side note: he wants to buy a bungalow in nearby village - there are tons on the market so don't understand why 1 particular property is the be all and end all! But that's his business!)
We were not particularly reassured but hoped he would have an offer accepted. On Thursday I asked EA if his offer had been accepted (now talking to a different person in the EA as memorandum issued and sale progression team on it). Well she got back to me the next day to say that she tried to speak to him, but he picked up the phone said that there had been a death in the family and couldn't talk and then hung up.
It's all just absolutely bizarre!
Would you just pull out before it starts?!
We're worried that there isn't much on that fits what we want and also don't want to mess our own buyers about. I've signed back up to rightmove alerts etc. We really wanted this house but starting to think it's not actually for sale. The mortgage has been approved subject to valuation on Monday... half expecting that he won't let them in tbh. OH thinks it might push him one way or another but I'm not so sure.