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)?

If they did not want that, then - and I asked for this to be written down and delivered verbatim - they were 'To get to fuck'

We have bought and sold many properties. We are fortunate that we didn’t need people like this. Every time we told them to do one.
more often than not they stepped up to the plate.

We’re relisting with a new agent but also speaking with our building society about potentially getting a BTL mortgage on that place.

We won’t bin these buyers off completely straight away but if they get gazumped then I feel no guilt at all and if we find a nice family who need a rental then I’ll prioritise them over these people.

Is it a very sought-after type of house that will sell fast? What kind of price range?

Just double check your contract with your existing agent. You don't want to find that the new agent gets you a new buyer but the old one still claims commission based on their t&cs.

^^ Definitely this. Isn't there usually a fee due to the original agent even if you sell through another, within 3 months? (sometimes 2)? Depends what you signed.

They have exclusivity for eight weeks from the point of us signing the contract (back in March).

Be careful renting out an older character property OP. EPC requirements are stricter and if you get tenants who don't look after it you could be in for a world of pain and re

It’s reasonably desirable. A 3-bedroom semi in a nice area with a big garden, we’ve renovated it throughout. When we first listed, the agents did an open day that was fully booked before the advert even went online and we had multiple offers on that first day.

Damn! Repair/ renovation costs when you come to sell it eventually. Speaking from experience.

Very similar happened to my parents. They were also moving into an empty property so asked to rent it while they sold their own. It was a statement of intent to reassure the vendor and they managed to get it at a reasonable rent.

The price of their own house also went up and they stuck it back on the market and sold within 24 hours for 10k more to a much nicer person.

Can you do similar with your new house so you don’t have to fuck about moving all your stuff again?

Untrue. The lender will carry out their own valuation, for their benefit. A mortgage valuation is often desktop based and is entirely different to a survey.

They have exclusivity for eight weeks from the point of us signing the contract (back in March).

I don't think this is what the PP meant. What you have posted is surely sole agency rights?

There is usually another very small print clause in the contract which says they are due their fee as well as the selling agent, if you sell through someone else within X number of months of ending your contract with them.

This is because they think that their marketing may have also caught the eye of the buyer initially and it's impossible for you to prove otherwise, especially if it's previous viewer (through them) who ends up buying it.

I'm so sorry for you, OP, this is beyond stressful.

Sack em off. They aren’t trust worthy

I feel for you and am now in a very similar situation.

Accepted an offer back in July, finally their solicitor started moving a couple of weeks ago, found out today (over 8 weeks later) that the buyer has backed out, apparently due to issues with the property.. but there has been no survey, etc - have a feeling he’ll come back with a lower price. I’ll be telling him to get lost.

Don’t get me wrong we are desperate to sell but these kind of individuals will not stop and/or carry on taking the piss.

OP

Tell them to get stuffed.

FYI we bought without having sold. We needed a bridging loan but they were like hens teeth.

Fabulous broker got us a mortgage with Santander with no penalty for paying early.

Once we'd sold we paid off a huge chunk of the mortgage, and while it was a bit hairy for 3 months till we'd sold, it all worked out brilliant in the end.

I think re-listing and keeping them as a possibility is the right decision. You will feel I control rather than at the mercy of a couple of people that have shown themselves to be indecisive and manipulative.

I think that re-listing was the correct decision, but I would still have ended all dealings with them.

We had this (alongside many others on this thread). Went through 3 months of the motions...with CF buyer offering 2 days before exchange to pay £50k less on a £500k flat. She clearly thought she could get away with this shit behaviour because she knew we were moving from rented (selling a third property) to buy our dream home. We told her to F off, redirected our movers from our rented house back to our owned flat and got a new buyer in 2 days. We sold the flat at the price we wanted and still managed to end up with our dream house (sellers waited).

Rule: Always call a CF's bluff!

Your EA should be contacting all of those who offered. They may be in a position to buy.

Friendly word of warning OP - now is not a good time to be a landlord.

We did it 4 years ago when we couldn’t sell… we’re now selling our BTL and can’t wait to off load it.

Research and think carefully… the government is waging war on landlords.

I wish you all the very best and hope you get sorted soon, OP.

how do you get a mortgage without a survey? Presumably they now want a full survey - tell them to take a hike.

When you listed back in March though, the housing market was booming. A pile of rubble would have had people queuing round the block.

We got a mortgage without a survey. New (ish) property, wanted a quick purchase. It was fine.