Let me have a grumble and a groan about selling house

[thehappyprince]

Our house has been on the market for several months now - never had any trouble getting offers but first time it fell through on the day of exchange (our buyers couldn't get funds together), 2nd time accepted low offer to try to keep house we wanted to buy but buyer pulled out 3 weeks down the line "because she had a big bonus and wanted a more expensive house", 3rd lot now are playing around following the survey and had a quote from a friend for work which 10 (yes 10) times as much as the independent quotes - survey was 3 weeks ago, and think they're going to ask for a ridiculous and unaffordable sum off. I know we're lucky that offers are made but really f**ed off that it keeps falling through whilst trying to squeeze 2dc into small house (not so bad when ds2 was in carrycot, now needs cot). Just want a whinge and a moan .
Anyone else got any tales of woe to make me feel better?

I sympathise. You must have worked out the bottom figure you will accept to afford to go forward. If you have to go as low as that then in my experience go for it. It is more complicated than that I'm sure, but as the old saying goes, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Thanks for the sympathy and advice Chatelaine. Yes, we're willing to negotiate but no where near the sum mentioned, which would make it impossible for us to move. We've given a deadline as I think they'll either get cold feet and pull out or ask for huge reduction and we need to know now rather than later. I'm hoping that they are just naive and will negotiate reasonably but..... We're talking of a difference of £40 000 quid in their friends quotes and independent quotes and they've never bought an old property. Surveyor himself said there were no major problems, those he did mention had quotes of 2 probs he did mention had quotes of around 1000 each so can't quite suss out where their friend is coming from [sceptical]
Ah well, all will no doubt be forgotten if we ever get into a new house.

"Surveyor himself said there were no major problems, the 2 probs he did mention had quotes of around 1000 each so can't quite suss out where their friend is coming from [sceptical]"

will get hang of emoticons (and English) eventually

Instruct your Estate Agent to give them a ring explaining all this but essentially saying that if they are expecting a dramatic drop as you suggest, they should prehaps consider "setting their sights a bit lower". If they really want your property then this might make them a bit more straight forward. They've either got the finance or not and the above expression coming from your EA will hopefully get a reaction out of them.

Thanks, am planning on phoning EA today - tbh aftersales has been a bit patchy and they seem to have been happy to let it all coast ("oh, you can proceed and you can work out the money with them later.."- 3 weeks after the survey). estate agents have said they are confident an agreement can be reached but don't actually have that much faith in them, we were originally to negotiate last friday but have had to wait a week for his quote and now for them to discuss quote with him with the comment that he is notoriously difficult to get hold of. To be fair to the buyers they have said it is over the top but even if they quarter it it's beyond what we can stretch to - so a suggestion to set their sights a bit lower may be just what's needed. Thanks again for your advice