To think it’s destiny and say yes?

[KatieFishStick]

We’ve been trying to buy a house.
Initially we missed that it was for sale and kicked ourselves for not going for it, then it came back on market so we hurriedly offered on it, which was accepted with proviso we sell ours within a month. We sort of know them a bit. The house is a good value price and we offered full asking. If we don’t buy this we won’t otherwise look to move.
Ours hasn’t yet sold and they’ve regrettably had to put back on market. I assumed this was game over.
Today they had an offer from someone else. She called me and said she’d had another offer but she’s hoped we could have had it and did we want to consider putting down 5k with solicitors sort of as a guarantee, so she then waits for us to sell but gets the 5k if we pulled out.
I feel like this is destiny to have a second second chance.
Husband worried what if we don’t sell or if we need to drop our house too much to sell and next purchase becomes unviable.
We have to decide by tomorrow!!
Wwyd?

So if your house doesn't sell they'll just have to wait? For how long?

How long will they wait for you to sell?

It won’t be endless. We waited 8 weeks for our seller to find somewhere else to go, our buyer was initially “more than happy” to wait up to three months, and then got very impatient and pulled out at 8 weeks.

Have you had any interest in your house at all?

We’ve had seven viewings. Nothing negative about the house just feedback like wanting a bigger garden etc.
We’ve dropped price 20k. I think we went on high bevause thought it would sell easily but in retrospect was a bit silly.

Oh OP don’t do it.
The destiny bit is if anything telling you it isn’t meant to be!
Don’t dare agree to £5000 for nothing especially as you don’t have any corresponding (legal) promises.

Do it!

This is common practice in the US, but it's part of the legal contract between buyer and seller. Get a solicitor to write it up and go for it.

How long will she wait? 6 months? A year?

I would do it.