Finally sold our flat and nothing to buy

[Scattymum101]

After a year on the market we have finally sold our flat but the house we wanted to buy just hasn't happened. The vendors were happy with the price but wouldn't accept it formally until they had an offer accepted on something they wanted to buy. We had over a week of back and forth before it became apparent that they were expecting us to wait however long until they found a property whether that was weeks or
months. Tbh I really didn't trust them after all that not to then pull out even if they did find somewhere.

Our buyer is putting pressure on for us to commit to a date of exchange.

We've been to see everything else on the market and of the two potential houses we liked, one had such small bedrooms that we couldn't even fit a bed and bedside cabinets in the master let alone a wardrobe. The other one backs onto a main road and the garden is north facing although the house is actually great (hubby really doesn't want to buy it due to the main road).
We can't extend our search any further due to childcare so I think we're stuck with going for a middle house and moving again ??

Renting isn't really an option as we are planning to port our existing mortgage as its on a ridiculous interest rate and will save us hundreds of pounds a month but we can only do that for three months after we sell ours.

I feel completely trapped. Nothing is likely to come on the market at this time of year and we've been looking for 8 months for a property while trying to sell our flat. Looking for a detached house is so hard here as they so rarely come up.

I think I'm going to try canvassing. Has anyone done this before and how would you word things on the leaflet to let people know you're serious?

[Bearbehind]

Are you in Scotland OP? I noticed you using the word 'missives'.

If so I'm a bit confused about the house you originally wanted to buy- you can't back out of a sale in Scotland at the last minute in the same way as you can in England and Wales so you don't need to get the sale as far down the line before its assured.

Is there no chance of this happening?

[Scattymum101]

They won't even accept the offer officially until they have found a property bear so there would be nothing official and we could be sitting about for weeks waiting on them and they may not even find something.
Also you can pull out of a sale right up until the conclusion of missives here which is fairly far down the process.
X

[united4ever]

Could you stay at a cheap caravan park for a few weeks in addition to a few weeks with the parents?

[Scattymum101]

That's a thought. There aren't really any close enough to us though to manage the commute. Good idea though x

[Madbengalmum]

Scatty, definately leaflet drop the areas you like.
I did today for my mum, we put out only 12 leaflets and have had two calls.
Its definately worth a try, there are people thinknig now to move in the spring so you might just catch someone!
Put a note apologising for any inconvenience, explaining how you love x road etc and if they are thinking of moving to contact you etc. Thank them again for their time and sign off with your name and phone number.

Good luck!

[Scattymum101]

Thanks mad. Think I'm going to make up a letter tomorrow and get a few out tomorrow night and over weekend.
It's hard to know exactly what state houses are in on inside and layout so I'm not sure exactly which houses to leaflet drop but I've got a fair idea. X

[Madbengalmum]

I know what you mean but you can get a general idea fromthe state of the property outside and rightmove sold prices will give you the approx size number of beds etc if you put in the road name etc.

However, whatever comes of it you have had a go, and given it your best shot.

[Dobbylugs]

If there is a house you like the look of put a note through the door. We found our new house this way and exchanged contracts this week.

I wrote the note by hand and it just said that I was looking for a family home in the area so if they are thinking of selling please contact me on XXX as I would be very interested and I am ready to move immediately.

You will get a variety of responses. Some people just want to know what you think the house is worth, others will sell 'for the right price' and some just want to wish you luck. Then you get a few people who were thinking of selling soon anyway and you end up buying one of those.

For what it is worth we were the top of a chain of 4 houses in February. We found 2 houses to buy and complete the chain but both times the sellers pulled out just prior to exchange. In desperation we put notes through doors and we found ourselves a lovely house before it came to market and for the right price. The same chain stayed with us all year so if the buyers like your house they will wait for it.

Good luck

[LittleBearPad]

Rent. We were in a similar position and got royally messed about by one buyer when we were in a chain. It all fell over when I was 8 months pregnant.

Post-birth we sold and rented. Much less stressful and we've now found and bought the right house for us. And our mortgage rate is two-thirds of the rate we would have ported.

[Scattymum101]

Have made a list of potential canvassing houses to attack from looking at rightmove. Wine has helped. Thanks so much everyone. Really hoping this is all worth it when we're in somewhere we love. X

[Scattymum101]

Letters are out. Everything crossed

[Scattymum101]

We have three months to port after our sale completes. Hubby's a qualified IFA and works in mortgages so he's pretty good with all the technical bits. Shouldn't have any penalties as not on a fixed or tracker rate term any more.