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Original poster

6 months - WTF

49 replies

sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 07:52

Hi All,

Our house has been on the market since March.

Since then, we've had 5 offers - 3 accepted and 3 close to completing. Then they fall out.

2 fell out because of their chain and they are still trying to sell now and the last fell out because they didn't feel like buying it anymore. Pretty bad considering they knew we had 2 fall out before.

We get an offer every 6-8 weeks. The two others that we had - are no longer on the table, they came at the same time we accepted our last offer. We didn't accept the highest price either - we went with the safest people! No chain etc.

Really deflated with this whole process. How can things just fall out?

Back on the market and a few viewings. Any words of wisdom?

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 07/08/2019 07:54

Only accept viewings from those who can show they are ready to proceed. I.e. no chain.

AlphaLemon · 07/08/2019 08:15

Sorry to hear that! I’ve just helped my mum sell hers and the whole thing was so stressful, a lot of time wasters!

What my mum did was continue to show the house, even under offer as she’d had some people pull out, that way she wasn’t losing any time.

It’s so frustrating but the only thing you can do is keep patience. Luckily with that many offers, it’s obviously a sellable house and shouldn’t be too much longer!!!

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:19

Our EA are making us take it off the market and even took it off without asking us last time - as we had accepted an offer and solicitors engaged. I wanted to keep it on the market till money had crossed paths - is that usual?

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:22

*making us take it off the market when we accept an offer

OP posts:
kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:24

the last fell out because they didn't feel like buying it anymore. Pretty bad considering they knew we had 2 fall out before.

It’s hard but you need to try & take the emotion out of it. Maybe the 3rd couples circumstances changed or their dream house appeared or they had Brexit jitters however they do not have to proceed because you lost 2 previous sales.

What worked for me once is an open house but this was during a very crazy time when prices were rising. With a small child I couldn’t face having to leave & tidy constantly.

Agree with showing it while it’s under offer just in case.

AlphaLemon · 07/08/2019 08:26

I’m not sure to be honest OP, but it may be worth asking them? Just explaining how having it fall through so many times has taken a toll?
I know the house she offered on did the same thing, didn’t even show as under offer on zoopla etc

kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:27

The ones who fell out because of the chain are they still interested?

One of my mum neighbours had a young family view hers but the chain fell through. She liked the idea of it going to a family & not a developer so waited almost a year to sell to them (for their original offer).

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:30

The ones who fell out because of the chain are they still interested?

  • yes, but they haven't sold yet and the first ones bought something else when we were with the last people.

The last people said we've just decided not to move now. Couldn't they have made that decision before putting an offer in? You shouldn't be able to pull out like that without consequences. :(

OP posts:
kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:32

Unfortunately that’s how the market operates here though & I don’t think it’s that unusual. It’s happened to me & I know friends who have pulled out.

kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:33

Is it back on the market now?

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:33

Nearly 4 and a half months of actively trying to sell and a further 6 weeks prior to that getting the house 'sale ready'. It feels like a life-time - is this normal? This is the first house I have ever sold.

OP posts:
kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:35

The ones who are still interested but haven’t sold do they have any hope of selling soon?

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:35

Yes, back on the market 2 weeks. 4 viewings. None of them are able to proceed, but don't want to turn viewings down as know how quickly this can change for some.

OP posts:
kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:36

i’m lucky that i’ve not moved much & my house selling/buying has been very smooth & quick but according to friends that’s not the norm.

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:37

@kidsdoingmyheadin Well one has bought something else now (because we accepted another offer - they offered when we already had the final people in play, £15,000 more as well!! - but we turned them down as didnt want to mess our last people around, or gazump? House karma we thought...went back after the offer fell through and they have now bought something else).
Second people still trying to sell but think its taking a while... its a big rural farmhouse!

OP posts:
kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:38

At least you are getting views, so everyone looking is waiting to sell? Unfortunately it might then be a slow process. Is it worth reducing a bit if it attracts more views or a wider demographic?

kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:39

I believe in house karma too so you will be rewarded! 😀

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:41

We already reduced by £25,000 - after having a full asking price offer, the two offers after have been full the price after reducing it too so its not the price. We are getting offers/viewings... Everyone always offers full price. It's more about making it stick?

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:42

Thank you @kidsdoingmyheadin :)

OP posts:
twolobsters · 07/08/2019 08:42

I know it's frustrating but if people weren't allowed to pull out at that point, no one would sell their house. As a PP said, things change. I'd try not to take it so personally.

Userzzzzz · 07/08/2019 08:44

I feel your pain. We are on offer number 4. We were close to exchange on no.3 but the chain collapsed. I’m fed up with it now.

OwlinaTree · 07/08/2019 08:44

We are on final stages of selling and buying, it's taken about a year! We weren't getting interest like you are though. The one we are buying had been on the market on and off, they've had similar issues to you. Good luck, it's the most stressful time, but will hopefully all be worth it.

kidsdoingmyheadin · 07/08/2019 08:46

That is annoying!

Maybe just fingers x for another chain free buyer.

Herat1986 · 07/08/2019 08:49

Its hard to sell at the moment because firstly it's summer and so it's a slump time (things tend to pick up in Autumn as people are motivated to be in by Christmas) and secondly and most importantly at the moment, the market has slowed right down and house prices have fallen because of Brexit. There's little confidence in buying and some people who are selling to buy are realising they aren't going to get what they thought for their property. The former reason will be over soon but sadly the latter may take years to recover from. Good luck.

Original poster
sarah2903 · 07/08/2019 08:49

Thank you all. Good to hear I am not alone - although sorry to hear you are all going through something similar.

I wish there was a way of making it water tight...

OP posts:
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