AIBU to walk away from this house purchase?

[Quandaries]

Will try to keep this short.

Viewed a house and loved it 6 weeks ago. Ticked all the right boxes and was very good value for what it was. Offered asking price and it was accepted. Survey done, solicitor engaged etc so at the stage where it’s cost us some money.
Booking deposit has been paid but is refundable (not in Scotland).

We have a large deposit and mortgage is ready to draw down. We’re not in a chain.

Our solicitor was chasing theirs for contracts.

On Thursday I got a call from their agent to say they’ve allowed another viewing from a very insistent couple who are cash buyers and offered £8k more.

Agent now wants us to reoffer and increase on the new buyers’ offer so we’ll be paying £12k above what was agreed. He insists that the house will go for even more if it goes back on the market and says that houses are being snapped up before they go on the market as more people are working from home and this village is very popular for those with just an occasional commute.

I’ve had a look at Right Move and can’t see any evidence of anything other than price drops in the area. I accept that there may be houses selling before hitting the market and I don’t have this data.

My heart loves the house. It’s in a stunning village and really ticks all the boxes in terms of schools etc.

My head is saying we’re actually in a better position than the cash buyer as we’re 100% ready to go and can sign this week whereas they will need to have survey done etc.

Head is also telling me that if the sellers are going to screw us for £8k (for context, that’s a bit over 1% of the purchase price we had agreed), they’ll be a nightmare to deal with and it’s only a matter of time until they come back to us either with a new offer from the other bidders, or pushing to put it back on the market.

I’m also guessing that house purchases slow down a bit in winter, and it’s an area where more Covid lockdown measures are likely so putting it back on the market may mean there aren’t many viewings.

For additional context, we can afford to increase our offer. I’m just loathe to get into a bidding war due to how the vendor has sprung this on us.

But I love the house.

YABU- up my offer
YANBU- walk away

@ISpeakJive

Sorry, you didn’t get the house , OP but if it makes you feel any better at all you really, really don’t want a house with marble counter tops shivers Oh the stains! You can’t put hot things on it, spray with chemicals, it fades eventually, etc You’ve definitely had a lucky escape 😉

You are absolutely right - DH is a kitchen designer and won't put in marble

Am I the only person to like a Bounty?

Yes. HTH.

No. I grab the bounties come selection box time 🙂

You are not alone!

As a child, I spent many a happy hour picking the chocolate off a Turkish Delight.

I never knew what happened to the ‘delight’ - I didn’t much care.

I have been in really similar situations. We lost out on a house I absolutely loved once as the EA said there was another buyer offering 2k more, EVERYONE told me to stand firm and there was in face no other buyer, so I did and there was. And we lost the house and ended up another that I never liked as much.

I have also been the seller and had one solid set of buyers the EA preferred offering asking price and another buyer offer 40k over the asking price and everyone told me to stick with the safe bet and the buyer offering more wouldn't see it through. This time I took the chance and got the extra 40k as it did go through.

My advice would be, if you really love this property and can afford either go back with a firm offer of the extra 8k only, or another amount that you are happy with. State your position and this is your absolute final offer, no more will follow and everything is in place to proceed. Also state that if they accept it, there will be no more viewings on the property or you will walk away.

Good luck OP. It will either work out or it won't, but you have integrity and dignity.

Tesco do Turkish Delight Thins
www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/260508895

MonsterKidz
another good piece of advice is RTFT or risk being completely tactless 🙄

Quandaries
Followed this for two days. Been gripping.. sorry as totally shite for you.. but your attitude to it all has been brilliant. Good luck to you... your dream house awaits .. elsewhere!!
Ps. Gutted about caramac. Who knew??

Been checking in on this thread, sorry it’s all gone south OP, the vendors sound well shifty, you might have dodged a bullet.

Know this is a crappy time for you and your OH but some of your comments have really made me chuckle, your outlook is gold. I’m also weirdly invested and sending them karma!

@singlebutmarried - CARAMAC BISCUITS???? Where have they been hiding? Ooh yum!
And I'm with you @Quandaries frys cream 🤤 is the devil's food. Turkish Delight though, food of ye gods. Especially when it's been in the fridge and your teeth crack the chocolate

Never got over the loss of Texan bars. Ate 3 in one sitting once and was very sick... but still loved them 😬

Whenever we get a selection box, I always choose anything except Bountys. Noone else in the house will touch them. So then, when the bountys are the only thing left, they are ALL MINE!!!!

Quandaries !

Happy days, you have just SAVED yourself
1,291,666
Turkish Delights (approx)

That's quite a lot.

Mmm.. Fry's Turkish Delight. Full of Eastern promise

I always love the positive spin they put on it with their “92% fat free”. Mmmmmmmm – so it's 8% solid laaaaarrrd!!!

The orange have been around for years, but strawberry?! This is a revelation of epic proportions

I've seen all of them in Poundland.

What?! Hold my coat – I’m on my way!

Happy days, you have just SAVED yourself
1,291,666
Turkish Delights (approx)

Nah, try nearly doubling that – 3 for a quid in Asda! You could build yourself a gelatine mansion with all of those! Use the ridged chocolate veneers as artex to fool Hansel and Gretel into thinking it’s boring old non-tasty wattle and daub.

Celebrations should introduce a new Mutiny Bar - if for no other reason than to keep boring uncles occupied, stacking them atop the Bountys and honestly, seriously, genuinely believing that they're the first person ever to come up with that show-stoppingly 'hilarious' visual joke.

Anyone else now finding it weird if someone now posts about houses rather than chocolate? I forget where I am and assume it's a chocolate thread.

I bought and have already eaten a three pack of Caramacs from Farmfoods this week. Farmfoods is a treasure trove of food you've forgotten about (totally off-topic, apologies OP - hope you are drowning your sorrows at home and looking forward to seeing the very embarassed vendor in the village trying to avoid you!)

Anyone else now finding it weird if someone now posts about houses rather than chocolate? I forget where I am and assume it's a chocolate thread.

It's a dead cert to rumble somebody for not having RTFT!

Nah, try nearly doubling that – 3 for a quid in Asda!

No bleeding wonder they are vile.

Anyone want to buy a horribly over priced house in California? I need to come home soon cos you bloofy lot are making me desperately sad I can't get multi packs of Turkish Delight or Caramac for almost free.

If Turkish delight was a man, I'd marry it.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

And orange, and strawberry

The orange ones are still available? And now strawberry too?! You need to tell me where!!!

I found them in Poundland, but the Poundland in town has closed

My DH loves bounties, and I've found the multi-packs of Aldi and Lidl's own brands are quite acceptable to him.

Love a bounty. Especially dark chocolate