AIBU to tell our buyer to fuck off?

[AppleWin]

We put our house on the market in March. On the first day of viewings we had multiple offers. We went with a particular couple (even though their offer wasn’t the highest) because the agent stressed that they were very proceedable and had a high deposit so wouldn’t have any hiccoughs with their mortgage - and also because they weren’t a landlord.

In July, they still hadn’t booked their survey or had their mortgage approved. It’s a character property and you’d be bloody stupid not to have a survey (even though we know the property is fine). This was very concerning because, when we had the survey on the house we’re buying, there was a six week lead time. After a few weeks of the agent chasing them and them dicking about, they said that they didn’t want a survey and their mortgage was approved. We thought they were stupid as hell not to have a survey but it’s their choice.

They’ve been pushing for a very quick move and this has mostly been held up by searches and the solicitors. We were due to exchange tomorrow and complete on Friday. As such, we spent the bank holiday moving all our possessions into a storage unit (we have a toddler and a newborn and are now living off a few items we can fit into just our car). We’ve got DS booked into a new nursery from Monday and DH has a new job near the new house (this is two hours from our current house). Obviously our risk but it’s not physically possible for us to have moved out on time with a short turnaround between exchange and completion - especially with DH and I both working full time.

Our agent phoned this morning to say that they’ve changed their mind and want a survey. We’ve told the agent that they had their chance and there’s no way. Even if it’s quicker to let them have their survey than find a new buyer, I no longer trust them not to fuck us around at every stage. We’re not reducing the price so the survey won’t help them anyway.

AIBU to say no to the survey (and curse them to hell for good measure)?

THIS.

Can you say that they either complete now or the property is going back on the market, pointing out the increased market value?

It might be that enough people have said to them they are bonkers for not getting a survey that they’ve panicked rather than a deliberate tactic. But I don’t think that changes what you should do. Tell them it’s back on the market !

I know someone who set out right at the beginning of the process to wait until the day before exchange of contracts to tell the seller they wanted £10k knocked off the price or they wouldn’t proceed. They gambled that the couple, who were in a similar position as OP would have to accept.
Tell your buyers that they had their chance and try and find a short term let or AirBnB to move into, especially if your property has increased in price.

What about a semi-middle ground and say you will only continue within the agreed time friend but if they want another close look around the house today or tomorrow they can. They could bring a builder friend or something. However you won't be renegotiating the price or delaying completion.

This isn't correct, we drew down the mortgage, exchanged and completed within 24 hours.. on the 20th December, most stressful few days of my life, but it was done

Just say no. Say if they don't exchange on the planned date the sale is cancelled and the house will go back on the market at the current going price, or you will rent it out. You don't need to let them mess you around, so don't.

Yes, call their bluff or find another buyer. I wish I'd done that instead of putting up with bad behaviour the last time I moved. The first request seemed reasonable and then it escalated until it was too late. They've got you over a barrel and they know it.

We had buyers who outbid everyone, were FTB with a big deposit, original valuation ‘survey’ was fine. Decided to then have a full structural survey just before exchange.

From what the Estate Agent, who saw it said the survey was actually fairly good for a 70 year old house but they were freaked out by all the jargon and mention of things that might happen. Like ‘the property is rendered and painted so I could not be sure there was a damp proof course, if there is no DPC then damp may occur’ that kind of ridiculous cover all statement. They totalled everything up (nothing actually needed work at that moment in time) and tried to get 20k off.

Needless to say, we told them where to go and actually sold again for 10k more. With no issues in the survey. We weren’t in such a hurry though. It sucks that people think it’s ok to do this. Especially FTB as they feel like they’re owed something by people further up the chain, I think. Like we must be rich because we are buying a bigger house so can just absorb 20k!

Sunk cost fallacy. I think you should relist. They're just mucking about.

Yes they would. Only cash buyers wouldn't have to get a survey of some description. They are condition of every mortgage.

However OP has clarified she means a homebuyers survey.

I agree with @Whammyyammy, either:

1. Exchange and complete without survey
2. You'll relist the property

Bad luck to them that they think they have you over a barrel due to the timing - when they haven’t.
One call to the EA, all polite, “the time for a survey has passed, exchange as agreed or we’re the ones pulling out.”

Many buyers getting cold feet at the minute . I would relist obviously they are having second thoughts.

I’d put the house straight back on the market in the hope it would shock them enough to proceed.

YANBU. They had the opportunity to undertake the survey and didn't. I can't help but wonder whether they've assumed you're in the midst of a chain and under time pressures and are trying to create means of strong arming you into a reduction.

Prices have now gone up. I'd be minded to say it's being immediately relisted at a higher amount and that they're welcome to make a revised (higher) offer. Further, that if they are minded to make a revised offer, it would only be considered on the condition they didn't seek to reduce the price at a later date...Truthfully though, I wouldn't entertain these people again and would automatically disregard any offer they made.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy they've had a desktop survey. That's enough for the bank. Our buyer had a desktop survey. It didn't delay anything.

somsones been n there ear about a full survey but it shold have been done ages ago

tell them to shove it

Ive had a similar experience: my buyer dropped the price by 35K (on £150K) on Christmas eve at 9am, to be accepted by 3pm. We said No. They didn't proceed & our chain fell through (in fact they then bought the house we'd offered on!).
Very bad as we really needed to move.
But in your case I'd defo call their bluff.

They have been messing around for months, you are very silly to have tolerated it.

Put the house bavk on the market today.

Very annoying but this should never have gotten this far.

I think I’d be inclined to tell them to do one. In fact I would have months ago! They’re taking the puss!

Bin the CF, they are wasting your time.

Should’ve gone with the landlord, they are chain free, have funds and no issues with access to finance.

Now your unlikely to get a sale done by Christmas. You gambled and it’s a losing hand.

Gutted.

If you can afford to (which you can) I don’t understand why you’re not reposting the property, especially as it has gone up in value.

Our buyer (FTB) wanted to have the joists of the dining room and hallway checked (meaning lifting the carpet and floor boards!) a week before exchange, even though they'd had their structural survey for a month.
They also wanted someone to come and check the guttering, and get a quote for a new one.
We said no. Turns out they were worried about the jargon and wording of the structural survey, and thought the house was basically going to fall down!
I suggested, through the estate agent, they call the surveyor (who I'd spoken to when he did the survey, and he said there was nothing wrong with the house) as sometimes people will say things from a more realistic point of view, and they have to put a 'worst case scenario' in the report. The report was also a lot of 'this may' and 'this might' rather then anything bad!