House we like is back on market. What would you ask the EA?

[Anjelika]

Have been in current house for 20 years so a bit out of practice! A house we were interested in buying went under offer before Xmas but is now back on the market. I am planning on calling the EA tomorrow and not sure how much information they'll give me. I'd like to know what the original offer that was accepted was and why the buyer pulled out. Will they tell me? Are there better, less direct ways to ask the questions? Thanks.

We lost our original buyer when their mortgage fell through. Their buyer might not have pulled out-it could be any number of things that went wrong (broken chain higher up etc). Our estate agent was instructed not to discuss previous offers as it had no bearing on new listing. You could ask if a survey was done and what happened before.

Will they tell me?

They won't tell you the truth

Anjelika

Better luck this time round

Get it in writing (e.g. email) why the previous sale fell through. I think they are legally meant to tell you why (depending on the reason)

If it's my house, it's because the buyer couldn't get the mortgage after all despite an agreement in principle. If my estate agent divulged the previous offer I'd be furious.

I think they are obliged to tell you if it was survey related.

When we bought this house the previous two offers fell through as the buyers couldn't get their mortgages approved at the level they wished.

They must tell you if it's survey related. But no way would or should they tell you the previous offer. You must realise that such information would give you an advantage over their client who is paying them to sell their house!

Just be careful that the previous sale has actually fallen through - permanently. Quite often vendors will put the house back on the market because the buyers are not acting quickly enough (i.e. unless we receive contracts / you instruct your surveyor / you're ready to exchange next week, we'll put the house back on the market). Obviously if the buyer then pulls its socks up and moves things quickly, the sale will usually proceed with the original buyer. You obviously don't want to be incurring costs (instructing a solicitor / surveyor etc) only for it to be wasted.

So yes, I would ask why the sale fell through and whether there is any prospect of it resurfacing. I would expect an answer to that, although if it is to do with the house / vendor, the EA won't tell you that and will spin the answer. You can also ask the question about what the agreed price was. I wouldn't expect a truthful response.

you have to chatter and dig dig dig!! Chatter to the EA, the receptionist, the neighbours and the vendors!

It's like an interrogation, keep it light, airy and then prise some vital info out of them without them even realising you asked.

There are lots of reasons why the sale might have fallen through not all of them bad!

you have to chatter and dig dig dig!! Chatter to the EA, the receptionist, the neighbours and the vendors!

Be careful how you behave to the vendors. If there was an issue with the buyer's finance (very common) they really won't thank you for keeping on about it as if they're trying to pull a fast one.

Ha!
No way will they tell you the truth!
We wasted ££££ on a survey for a house that had fallen through 3 times due to poor survey!

Where we live (village), the neighbours seem to know absolutely everything.

Legally they are meant to tell you if you ask them a specific question. So "Please tell me why the last offer didn't proceed" is too vague but if the house failed its survey then "Did the last offer fall through because the property survey revealed a lot of problems?" should mean that they fess up. Should mean that they do that . As pp's have said, get answers in writing.

EA gave a plausible reason for buyer dropping out. They said the buyer hadn't even instructed a solicitor so no survey done. Obviously they were cagey about the offer!