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Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Original poster

About to buy a house now seen one I might prefer aghhh

26 replies

newgirl · 09/11/2011 18:12

We are in process of buying a house with agent a and nearly ready to exchange though waiting for some info. Done survey etc.

Same agent has new house on which looks really nice slightly more space bit of work to do.

Will agent even let us see it and will agent tell people we buying from
?

Wwyd?

OP posts:

said · 09/11/2011 18:18

Do you like the house you are buying or is it a compromise?

Original poster

newgirl · 09/11/2011 18:19

It's nice but a compromise - nice house but bit crowded on road

OP posts:

said · 09/11/2011 18:23

Hmm, if it's not just last-minute nerves I think you should look at other house just to get it out of system. But there will always be houses that come on market just after you have bought that you convince yourself are better. But most houses are compromises so look for the negatives in the new house, maybe?

MintAero · 09/11/2011 18:24

can we have a link to both and then the mn jury can advise?

Original poster

newgirl · 09/11/2011 18:38

Would love to put both on but what if owners on here?!!

Do you both think agent will let us see new one? Not sire if she then has to tell the owners of first house?

House a - smart kitchen, lovely garden, near good school
House b - old kitchen but bigger, nice garden, near to school good rep but don't it yet.

OP posts:

Original poster

newgirl · 09/11/2011 18:39

Don't know it (sorry poor typing)

House b def bit bigger same money really but needs bit tlc

OP posts:

said · 09/11/2011 19:04

Are you near top of your budget because the tlc one will mean you are forever spending more money?

Not sure about ethics involved for EA to tell House a owners. Would EA care since still = same commission for them? You'd have to start whole chain again and it might not go smoothly. Plus, more expense re surveys etc. A further delay would piss off your buyer. This time 2 days ago, were you happy to be moving into new house?If so, stick with that.

MilkyChopsKid · 09/11/2011 19:04

Think about it from the agent's point of view. They just want the money from selling both houses and so would not tell the owners of the first house that you are seeing the second as they could end up selling neither. I'm not saying the agent will be happy but they should keep quiet about it.

Original poster

newgirl · 09/11/2011 19:23

Ah good point chops agent might be wise to keep things discrete

Said - not at top of budget but agree no idea of chain etc

Classic bird in hand scenario

OP posts:

ZombiePlan · 09/11/2011 19:41

Look, houses are bloody expensive things. And if you change your mind after you've bought one, you can't just take it back with the receipt and get a refund. If you aren't 100% sure then IMO you shouldn't buy. If you have seen something you think might be better then you should check it out, otherwise you'll always wonder.

jollydiane · 09/11/2011 19:46

Can you just spare a thought for the person you were going to buy the house from. Imagine how they are going to feel if you pull out, the disappointment and expense can be crushing. That said, if you are really having doubts the don't go ahead. You really shouldn't have put an offer into a house if you were not 100% sure. It is not fair on you and it is not fair on the person you are buying from.

Original poster

newgirl · 09/11/2011 20:06

Jolly - good point - it's a developer so it doesn't stop them moving iyswim - I think it would sell quickly but agree not good to mess people around

This is really helping thanks everyone

Yep it's a lot of money to spend on two 15 min viewings but that is life I guess

OP posts:

threeisthemagicnumber · 09/11/2011 20:34

If I were you, I'd think about the two houses in terms of the things you can't change. The location of the house to schools/parks/shops, size of plot and garden, the position in the street, what it overlooks/what overlooks it and even where the sun shines in the garden/in the rooms.

These are all things you can't change about a house whereas internall space/style of garden can all be altered to suit your taste - it's just a case of money.

Most of the above you can figure out without even going inside the house.

But remember, there will probably always be another house that comes up at some point that will seem better...

Amaris · 09/11/2011 20:37

I was sort of in this position, I settled on a house because it was the best that there was available and I had to move, then a house that looked much more lovely, that I'd wanted to see before came back on the market. I had a sleepless night, and I wasn't going to do anything but then the EA of the second one (different EAs in this case but I had similar worries though about it being a small town and not being able to do things anonymously) phoned me up to persuade me to do a viewing - I said all the same things about being committed etc. but the second EA said that the way that the conveyancing system in this country works is that you're not committed until you exchange so why didn't I go and look.

In the end I didn't buy either as the vendors of the first house couldn't get a mortgage, so I was able to pull out gracefully and buy a third, which I absolutely love. I think it is rubbish for the vendors to have someone pull out, but on the other hand it's a huge decision and you are the ones that have to live with it so you need to do what's right for you and not what's right for other people.

said · 09/11/2011 20:49

Actually, just remembered that we were in this position when bought current house . House we'd viewed and lost out on came back onto market as we were quite far down the line with another house. They were on with same agent. Agent "casually" mentioned this to us in "we don't mind if you're still interested, we win anyway" kind of way. So, no, I don't think your agent will mind too much if you look

xmyboys · 10/11/2011 12:11

I agree that it can't hurt to look. Your long term is too great not to and it could mean you discount it anyway but better to know!
Good luck - keep us updated.

millimurphy · 11/11/2011 12:00

This has just happened to us - other half has put an offer on a property, now another property has come up with a different estate agent. The new property is 10K cheaper and closer to husbands work (one of the main reasons we are moving is to be closer to his work) and has a bigger garden (I have had to compromise with a smaller garden in the 'offered for' property). No surveys been done yet and the first house is still being advertised as 'for sale'. We have made a sneaky appointment to go and see the other house tomorrow - feel very guilty though .

AppleCider · 11/11/2011 12:01

what have you decided to do OP?

puffylovett · 11/11/2011 12:12

I went through with a purchase I wasn't 100% sure on. It took years of work, 2 kids, the loss of 2 cats an 8 years 2 of which we languished on the Market unsold. We wound up selling at 30% below what we originally went on Market at, just to get moved. All because I didn't want the guilt of pulling out of a sale.
Go and view the house. It's too important and huge a decision, despite the repercussions.

Original poster

newgirl · 11/11/2011 16:44

I've done a drive by and think house a might be right. Dh prefers location of house a.

Problem is that both with same agent - if different I'd go at very least to rule it out

OP posts:

Original poster

newgirl · 11/11/2011 16:45

Mind you puffy has made me think!

OP posts:

Teslaedison · 11/11/2011 18:01

If you are going to pull out, pull out.

It is really not fair to all the other people in the chain to hum and ahh for weeks and when push comes to shove, it's no.

We are in the situation that after three months, our buyer has decided that they like some where else. Yes for us it is gutting, but we would really rather have known sooner rather than later, or the purchaser came to us and said that they were having 'wobbles' (right word?) The lack of communication is a major thing on my part.

If you are not sure, please tell your EA and talk to the people in the chain. And if you do pull out, don't do it by email to the EA and ignore all calls afterwards. It is shitty in my opinion shows a lack of moral fibre.

P.s. I totally understand that stuff changes, but the inability of people to say that they don't want the house (not saying that is you) and let it mooch on for weeks really pisses me off.

Teslaedison · 11/11/2011 18:12

As Puffy said

Go and view the house. It's too important and huge a decision, despite the repercussions.

Make a decision. The EA doesn't care. They get paid eitherway.

Amaris · 11/11/2011 20:27

When I was in that position I considered getting a friend to make the appointment and then go to "help" her...!

Original poster

newgirl · 13/11/2011 22:35

No chain either way and we buying from a developer so not as comPlex as could be

Good idea about friend viewing - I guess they'd need to register with agent though which might be pain.

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