AIBU to continue running away from this house purchase?

[Quandaries]

Follow-up to www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4041606-AIBU-to-walk-away-from-this-house-purchase

Don’t even know where to start.

I’m a little worried that what I’ve posted so far makes me recognisable but what I’m going to post makes the sellers from hell recognisable so I’m not sure of the best way to go about it.

I think karma may get the sellers here too. The EA will pursue them for the commission if they sell to someone else during the exclusivity period.

Also who knows what’s going to happen to the market in the next few months with Brexit and possibly localised lockdowns looming. You were a secure buyer in the bag.

@littlecatfeet

they'd left a treasure hunt for the kids to find moving in gifts to get to know the house

That is ADORABLE

Yes it was lovely 😊.

They left clues around the house and garden and the presents were left in the bedrooms we'd told them was for each child with a little card saying welcome to your new bedroom.

DH and I were more than happy with the champagne!

We still swap Christmas cards with them and let each other know how we are getting on.

They moved a long way away but came back for a friends funeral (sad occasion) a few years ago and popped in for a cup of tea/cake and a nosey (in the nicest possible way) to see what we'd done with house and were really complimentary about the changes.

Really lovely people

I’ve never had an EA contract imposing a fee if you refuse a reasonable buyer. Sounds like an unreasonable term.

@DeRigueurMortis- I am so glad you posted your story. It's a much-needed antidote to the nasty greed that we have all been focusing on. It really restores my faith in human nature!

@DeRigueurMortis what complete gems they were - I am mostly in awe of the amount of mental energy that would take, on top of moving and cleaning!

@DeRigueurMortis - that's a lovely story!

Ugh, they are dodgy at. You are well rid.

I hope that you enjoy watching the price drop on their new listing over the next few months, whilst savouring your chocolates.

Nowhere near as interesting as your story, but I made an offer earlier this year on a 'perfect' property where the en suite bathroom was in a disarray because the (apparently insane) sellers forced the contractor to rip out a newly installed bathroom because it wasn't totally up to their standard. I sometimes laugh to myself thinking of the hassle I dodged, as I'm sure these people are equally horrible with everyone.

PS I would probably provide a brief witness statement

I’d definitely provide a brief statement.
Karma is coming for them op.

Glad to hear my experience made a few of you feel better!

Well.. That was quite an update.

The vendors are definitely shady. They wasted your time and money and the EA.

Do the statement or don't, but the EA is on to a loser. It doesn't matter how genuine or proceedable you were, the sale fell through and so there's no commission payable. It would be a different matter if the seller was intending to go ahead with selling to NB and planned to cut the EA out of the deal, but you say the EA is "100% sure" that NB never really existed so it can't be that. The days of fixed-term contracts with EAs are a thing of the past as far as I can see (I am selling atm) so I imagine they're now free to sell via a new agent or none, though whether they get the higher price is another matter (and the market isn't going to keep climbing for much longer, so they're gambling imho). The EA is entitled to block them from using his pictures, though it's hard to see why they wouldn't just replace them with some of their own rather than paying him anything for them. I'm sure it's galling to have lost his commission on the sale, but I'm surprised the EA is taking all this so personally - you would think this stuff happens all the time tbh.

Good luck finding another house, OP. And there's always another house.

May all their chocolate forever turn to Caramac.

Do the statement, OP, the cheeky fuckers need to learn a lesson.

I would definitely help the EA. You're exhausted and fed up with the whole thing now, but by the time it comes up and you need to do anything else (if you did, as above you probably won't have to) you'll be recovered and possibly quite happy to do it.

OP please let us know when you find your dream home.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I like your style and know that you will do the right thing when it comes to the EA.

All the best.

If you don’t want to follow it up, does DH? He had some good revenge plans...

Shysters!

@MiddleClassProblem funny you mentioned him. I was about to ask @Quandaries how her husband has been taking this crappy turn of events.

The sellers are idiots. I’m sure you’re glad you walked away now. I really hope you find something great soon.

I'm sorry but what the fuck? Caramac is delicious.

"Basically, the sellers have now taken all of the EA’s pics of the house and have listed it directly themselves on selling websites, at an asking price of over £75k in excess of what I originally offered."

Unbelievable!

They sound completely crazy.

I hope the estate agent manages to get some money out of them.

I think their latest stunt sums it up- so with their likely fictitious new buyer they "only" wanted another £12k from you to secure the sale... Yet with their next intended buyer they want £75k more than you offered. I'm sure any poor person who falls for the house next will have the same game played out.

I was also thinking that the EA may have an exclusivity clause as well- so round here with several agents if you list with them you then have to wait an agreed period (ie 2 months) after leaving them before you can list the house again without them, so either with another agent or solo.

I would definitely provide the statement. They are deserving of nothing less