To reject this womans offer? (More of a WWYD)

[curiousgeorgie]

DH and I are currently selling our house. Its been on the market about 10 weeks and today after some haggling we've got an offer 15 under the asking price from a lady who viewed 3 times last week - and seemed very lovely.

The price is great and actually more than we thought we'd get, but the agent has worried me by saying 'Mrs X is a very very nervous buyer, shes pulled out of sales with us twice before'

Now I understand the ups and downs of buying houses, she could have got something unpredictable on the survery / something happened with funding etc. But I'm pregnant and really would like to at least have a moving date in sight by the time this baby (DC2) is born. I'm just worried that so much time will pass, then she'll drop out, and we'll have to start all over again.

Is it stupid to reject a perfectly good offer just because of a comment the estate agent made?

(Sorry if boring!!)

Rely on your instincts. I rejected someone's offer because he came across as being very fussy/flaky/trouble. Even when he offered me more than another offer, I still rejected his. Glad I did too.

Do a bit more digging around, but don't feel obliged to accept the offer. Some people do make poor buyers and mess around over stuff and it just adds to the overall stress of selling.

ask for a deposit?

As others said, you could give her a deadline for completion too.

TBH, you could go through the process with her and with another buyer at the same time. The first to complete would get the house.
That used to be done in the boom days, but it also makes sense now because you don't want to be dependent on her giving up at any time.

Do as others have said. Accept the offer, but make sure the agent stipulates that there are deadlines to be met - and keep tabs on her, ask for frequent updates. Your solicitor will be the one to contact as it is them who are the ones waiting for forms to be signed etc. All the while though keep it on the market and make sure the agent is aware that you effectively wish them to keep marketing this property as if there is no offer on it currently. Make sure the buyer is aware of this too. I did this when I sold - it was a long drawn out process, but all throughout I kept the pressure on the agents/solicitors - I was reduced at one point to calling the buyers solicitor myself! Got there in the end, but this ever-so keen buyer, who in his own words wanted it exchanged and completed in a week, took 4 months to get to the finish line.