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

I havent seen a dark chocolate bounty in years!

Love them and I really want one now

I will eat bounties in celebration form but unlikely to buy a bar...

I like a boost or a double decker

Dark chocolate Bounties still exist - I had one last week.

I miss Cabana 🌺

@NancyBotwinBloom

I havent seen a dark chocolate bounty in years!

Love them and I really want one now

Why you're bound tae

I used to like Bounties, but they seem very sweet now.

And Chunky Kit Kats but what on earth has happened to them? Oversweet, no chocolate in the chocolate and the wafer tastes of cinnamon and cardboard. Truly foul.

Is there anything that still tastes as it should? (Picnic maybe).

I miss Cabana

"This season, I are been mostly eating Bountys and Cabaaaana!"

@BlueThistles

I miss Cabana 🌺

Best chocolate ever.

Someone will be recommending a Winter spice twix next.

@prettybird

I'm old enough to remember the multi-flavoured Fry's chocolate creams - a different flavour every segment

"Plain" Fry's Chocolate Cream is still one of my favourite chocolate bars - you can get them in most corner shops

wow until this moment I had forgotten about those Fry's bars with every segment difference.

they were......ummm.... well, sickly sweet and a bit weird

All this talk of chocolate makes me want to do my jigsaw again

Yep, dark chocolate bounties still exist, I eat them regularly

Has anyone else seen a salted caramel twix? I'm sure I had one recently but DH doesn't remember me having one and thinks I'm going nuts. Haven't seen any since, so maybe he's right!

I reckon that the vendors are sat at home with a face like they got the coffee Revel when they wanted the orange one.

Not about choccie and I have RTFT

I wanted to say OP that I lived the figure of the upped offer. If I ever get into a similar position buying a house, I’m going to remember this tactic.

If you do hear anything from EA it see the house pop up on right move (or similar) again, please let us know. It’ll be done way towards proof that NB was non-existent (likely friend as your suggested).

Hoping you find your dream home (in sand village and you can state down at these cheeky buggers at the school gate).

I have seen salted caramel twixs in Morrisons and B&M. Wasn't a massive fan as I felt the chunks of salt were too big.

Shall I tell you what I had that was bloody lovely - a ruffle! You know the raspberry pink coconut chocolate bar. So nice. Though not as good as the raspberry fry’s cream. I had no idea you got strawberry too!!
OP agree with @AdoreTheBeach please do let us know if you hear anything or see online again. Invested!!

Has anyone tried the festive spiced twix yet?

Don’t know what to make of that tbh..

They had salted caramel twix/twice a/twixii in our local shop - maybe a week or so ago?

They exist.

NB approached the EA who said a sale was agreed and there were no more viewings.
NB then contacted the vendors directly.
Vendors contacted EA and said they wanted NB to view the house.

At which point the EA should have advised the Vendors (in writing) that as they were unable to conduct any due diligence on the new buyers, the vendors were at risk of losing the sale and that they would still owe the estate agents the increased commission on the new offer. Assuming they used a boilerplate contract which makes their commission dependent on the sale not the introduction ....

No read the whole thread, but I hope you stuck to your original offer. This happened to us and we walked away, only for the vendor to come crawling back 2 weeks later and we got the house. If it's meant for you, you'll get the house. If not, it wasn't the right house after all

*used to like Bounties, but they seem very sweet now.

And Chunky Kit Kats but what on earth has happened to them? Oversweet, no chocolate in the chocolate and the wafer tastes of cinnamon and cardboard. Truly foul*

Mondelez and kraft. Palm oil and sugar instead of milk and cocoa butter. It is very hard these days to find chocolate that tastes “british”, it’s all american sugary crap.

I eat very little chocolate these days. It’s just not nice.

This reminds me of one of those Under the Hammer stories - where all their offers were turned down, the property was eventually put up for auction and they got it for less than the original asking price. I'm rooting for you OP.
Also, Sainsbury's fruit and nut dark chocolate 200g (yes I RTFT)

What? Onadifferentuniverse - where is that Twix?