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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want to SCREAM

9 replies

MaMaMaMySharona · 11/07/2018 15:32

My DM put the family home on the market in June 2016. This was after my DF passed away from a long illness and the need to downsize became apparent.

In the last 2 years, she's had 4 buyers pull out of the sale - 3 of these were right at the point of exchange. The most recent of these was on Monday - this was by far the most solid of all the offers and she received it within days of going back on the market after another buyer pulled out in April. We'd been told all along that he was really keen, the solicitors were hard at work and she'd even received paperwork to sign ahead of exchange due this week. Then on Monday, the bloody buyer rings the estate agent with a flimsy excuse and off he goes.

My DM is now left with another load of bills and the dreaded task of going back on the market and setting the house up for viewings again. She just turned 70 and after the past few years she really needs to relax and have a break. I'm so worried about her with all this stress.

She's emailed her local MP to ask about his views on changing laws to make it more difficult for buyers to drop out of sales without having to pay the seller's expenses at least (I believe Scotland has laws in place which make pulling out at certain points much more difficult than here). I have also emailed my local MP for advice.

I don't really know what I'm asking for here. Has anyone been through anything similar, or does anyone have any advice? I'm just so angry and there's no one for me to have a go at! AIBU to track down this buyer and kick him where it hurts?!

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henpeckedinchief · 11/07/2018 15:36

No advice, sorry - your poor mum Sad

Scottish system much better - once an offer has been made and accepted you're both tied in except for pre-agreed conditions (for example, the offer is usually made subject to the purchasers getting a mortgage). You can't just pull out, it's a binding contract at that point. It's so much fairer and more secure for all. I would definitely be lobbying your MP for a similar law in england!

MaMaMaMySharona · 11/07/2018 15:42

Thanks Henpecked

I just don't know what to say to her at this point, she's so fed up with it all and stressed she can barely concentrate on anything!

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laura6032 · 11/07/2018 16:29

As PP said Scottish system is much better.

When my.sister moved from Scotland to England the seller of the house they bought made them.sign a legal agreement making them liable for legal fees and costs of putting house back on market, might be worth a shot x

bilbodog · 11/07/2018 17:03

As shes selling she shouldnt be racking up huge bills on the sale as the solicitor should be able to re-use a lot of the information. If buyers have had surveys done i would be asking them to make this available to the next buyers which will save them time and money. It sounds like it is a desirable property if a number of people have tried to buy. To give your DM a break why not take it off the internet for the rest of the summer and put back with fresh photos in september - from now until then is normally quiet. Agents can market quietly to anyone in a good position in the meantime.

MaMaMaMySharona · 11/07/2018 17:21

Thanks bilbodog

She did want to take the house off until September but she was in this situation last summer and it didn’t really give her any rest - she was constantly worrying about it but feeling like she was getting nowhere. This year she’s been advised to keep it on and the agents have said they’re dedicated to pulling out all the stops to find a new buyer. We’ve not heard from them since Monday though Sad

Also, she’s put an offer on a house that she really loves and doesn’t want to lose that, which I would assume she would do it she went off the market for a couple of months.

lauar this is good advice, although I wonder if it would put buyers off?

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MaMaMaMySharona · 11/07/2018 17:21

laura even!

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laura6032 · 11/07/2018 20:00

If the buyer is serious about buying and really wants the house, they'll do it no probs x

SynchroSwimmer · 11/07/2018 20:19

I read recently that Kirsty (Kirsty and Phil) advised the merits of using an auction in similar circumstances, Kirsty had been successful herself in selling an aged relatives property quickly and easily - the purchasers have to place an immediate deposit and completion within a short timescale.

Also if your Mum has a laptop or Ipad - I highly recommend the online bereavement support group called Way-Up, a lifesaver for similar advice, and a way of meeting empathetic new friends in your own area

MaMaMaMySharona · 12/07/2018 08:09

Thank you Synchro that’s really good advice! I’ll speak to her today about it.

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