Fuck. What do I do now?!

[CinnamonVanilla]

We put our flat on the market yesterday; I've done two viewings today, waiting for another one imminently. Got a few more this week, too. We've found the house we want to buy and got a MIP, we're all ready for this house to sell...

And my other half has just messaged me that he thinks he needs to resign. His role has been changed from client-facing to technical (a few months ago) and he hasn't grasped the new role, it isn't his forte. He had wanted to look for something else anyway, the big commute has been setting off his disability, but agreed to wait until after the mortgage and stuff was sorted. He's had a very serious email from his new manager... he got a new probation period when his job changed, so he could be let go with a weeks notice.

I can't get the mortgage by myself, I'm self-employed and don't have enough accounts yet.

Do we have to pull out and incur the costs? Do I try and convince him to stay? To take some holiday and hope that he gets it a bit more when he goes back?

We really need to move. He keeps apologising and I have no idea what to do.

Sorry - have now RTFT and my last post is completely irrelevant!

I’d agree with your partner’s plan, except sales usually take 3 months, and can (and often do) go wrong at any point. It’s all so unpredictable.

Sorry you’re so stressed. I would be too.

Thanks Has. I feel like I can't breathe at times!

Our private buyer wants to proceed, asking price offer. Have told the EA, who are looking at what they can do... they aren't happy.

Fiancé wants to carry on and see how it goes until completion. The buyer is a loose friend and investment buyer who wants to put it on Air BnB. He seems knowledgeable.

So I’m guessing the friend won’t be in a chain either? Better and better!

Are you saying you’re going to cancel the estate agent but sell it privately to your friend? If so, does the contract mention a period of exclusivity? It might be that they have some hideous clause that says if you sell it to ANYONE within x months, you’ll have to pay the estate agents commission.

I hope they don’t.

I’m a right voice of doom today. Sorry!

Ha no I'd rather know in advance, Has!

I just talked to the EA. They said this would be "interesting" as usually they'd take the full fee for any sales after they listed it, but as we mentioned interest prior to listing it, it might be okay.

They won't put our offer over until we have some proof of the offer we've received, although they are letting the sellers know that we seem to have one. The bank have said from MIP to mortgage offer in our circumstances should be about two weeks at the moment.

Fiancé is buzzing, I am scared. And fighting the urge to plan what furniture we'd want... But scared.

Give it a few weeks. Tell your DH to stick it out if he can or take annual leave, unpaid leave or sick leave (if his health is being affected) until you sell and move.
If by Christmas you haven’t moved then to wasn’t meant to be.

What are you scared of? You can afford it on one wage either way so it's all good. Stop stressing - I mean that kindly though!

From your fiancé’s feedback it sounds like his job isn’t at risk, just that he may go back down to his previous grade if he can’t get his skills up. Presumably that would mean a lot less pressure on you financially, as well as on his health.

Go for it! Good luck.

I would push on with it too now if you have an interested party.

You have no offers or buying processes in place yet, easy peasy decision, tell your agent to take it off the market for a few months and apologise to your buyer. Just say that your partner was unexpectedly made redundant (white lie not to get into much detail), everyone would understand that.

No house is worth damaging your mental health for. Speak to the EA and see if you can come to an arrangement about the 3k - say you will put the flat on the market with them when you are in a position to sell and put it in writing and see what they say. Before Xmas is a slack time for people putting their houses on the market as they wouldn't be in by xmas now whereas things will pick up after Xmas so it might be in their interests to agree and you will know more.

Thread is months old!

Given the timings quoted in the OP's posts I don't think there's much point giving advice now, unless OP comes back.

Surely you only pay the EA an amount if you then put it back on the market and sell it with someone else.
We took ours off sale 4 weeks in and haven’t paid anything but there would have been if we sold later.
People change their minds about selling up all the time.

@CinnamonVanilla

Do please check the contract you have signed with the EA. It is very rare that there is money to pay [in UK] when they have not got a sale for you. If needed [for £3000] there would be some mileage in getting your solicitor to have a look.

If it goes on the market again make sure the EA is "no sale - no fee". Sales fall through all the time

The OP has not been online for two months!

Hang on think about this carefully. How long has your OH been with the his company? If they are changing his job description, have they offered him retraining for his new role, or could this be construed as constructive dismissal.....even more so if he has a registered disability! You must encourage him to take advice on this forced move. Was he competent in his last role, or is this a ruse to make him resign. Don't let him forfeit his rights even if he has to grit his teeth.

If you can yourself afford to cover the mortgage, and you have ensured a bit of leeway should any of your contracts fall through, you could still proceed as planned. String your agent along as long as poss, there is still a shortage of housing so go for max price. Don't forget an agent will often quote you a selling price so that they sell it asap to keep their turnover up. You can ask for more if the interest generated is strong.
We have sold 4 recently and achieved near to asking price on each one, AND we listed each one at more than the agent advised.
Good luck