Our buyers might have found another house just before we were exchanging *weep*

[Scrunchcake]

I'm not really expecting any replies but just need to vent somewhere sympathetic.

We've been on the market for 18 months and had a purchase fall through last summer. We finally have (had?) buyers and found a perfect-for-us house. Had the usual roller-coaster getting to this point but we were 24 hours from agreeing a completion date, probably next week, and had a call from our EA. Apparently our buyers have seen another property that they think they might like better. And they'll let us know in 10 days whether they still want to go ahead.

Property buying in England is the pits, isn't it? Arrrrrggghhh.

[NancyJoan]

Rude, rude arseholes. Sorry, OP.

[Scrunchcake]

The cash buyer I mentioned came via a different agent so if I say I'm going back to them our EA might suddenly pull something out of the bag so they don't lose their commission. Worth a shot.

[NoSquirrels]

Exactly scrunch. All’s fair in love and house selling!

[Dinosauraddict]

So sorry you're in this position @Scrunchcake - yes the English system is shit and most of us on this board have experienced a shit buyer at some point who have made us cry/want to pull our hair out. Just want to say you're not alone!

[mencken]

hope it works out but that's the system, sorry.

always amused that on knee-jerkingly anti-landlord MN there's always the reaction 'buy another and rent yours out'. Like it is an easy goldmine...

[slipperywhensparticus]

My aunt and uncle got messed around like this they left theres empty and moved anyway if it had gone on longer they would have rented it out 🤷‍♀️

[MiniCooperLover]

Tell your RA they absolutely can not have 10
Days, you aren't 'hanging around'. They can have say 2 as goodwill after that it's back on the market

[Scrunchcake]

Thanks again for the supportive replies. I'll just have to keep fingers crossed. Feeling a bit more positive after talking to our (v good) solicitor earlier :)

[Scrunchcake]

Good news: they got back to us sooner than they had said they would.

Bad news: it was to tell us they're pulling out.

Ugh. I'm gutted.

[Blue5238]

Urgh that's gutting Scrunch. So sorry that happened and fingers crossed some of the others interested still are and are procedable

[Curtainly]

Argh OP sorry to hear that, house buying is so frustrating; and we neither of us were in a chain! So I can't even imagine how annoying it is in this situation. I hope one of your other interested parties want it.

[Rolypolybabies]

How frustrating. Good luck with getting something else going quickly

[DocusDiplo]

. I have no experience of house buying or selling but that sounds really horrible for you. In sorry. I hope you have a surprise buyer pop up

[Beasmamma]

Sorry OP that is rubbish, we have had a similar thing happen to us only our buyers pulled out to buy the house next door.

Fingers crossed someone else will come along and buy your house soon 💐

[Dinosauraddict]

Sorry @Scrunch!

[madeyemoodysmum]

Barstards. I’m selling too. Early stages but it’s very stressful.
We have sold but can’t find a house we like that will take an offer. 😫

[Scrunchcake]

Thanks everyone and sorry to those who have had to put up with similar stuff. It's so bloody stressful.

@Beasmamma next door??? You don't still live next to them, do you?

The house we were buying is going back on the market tomorrow. Waaaah.

[Beasmamma]

They haven’t moved in yet but will be soon. Unfortunately we haven’t found another buyer yet so looks like we will be living next door for a while to come 😬

[Scrunchcake]

@Beasmamma That's so awkward. Really hoping you get a buyer soon.

[Beasmamma]

Thanks @Scrunchcake, you too!

[Loopytiles]

V sorry this has happened, shit of the buyers. Anything can happen until exchange.

[Scrunchcake]

@Loopytiles Yes, you just always hope it won't be you it happens to!

[Scrunchcake]

I thought I'd just post a wee update that might encourage other people who have found themselves in a similar situation to us...

The other couple who had liked our house back in the summer came to view again. They still loved it and were now in a proceedable position. They made an offer quickly enough for us to still go ahead with the purchase we'd hoped for. The end result is that we exchanged contracts on Friday, moving at the end of this week 😊

[PleaseNoFortnite]

Just a glimmer of hope for the sellers - we're putting our flat on the market later this month and literally every single EA we've talked to has said that loads of buyers are now piling into the market since New Year.

In case you think that's because they wanted to get the instruction, we're also selling and the estate agents in sales are saying the same thing - lots of buyers now coming on, still not many sellers (we're hoping people buying might also be selling?)

[MrBobLobLaw]

Fantastic update OP! It all worked out for the best in the end it seems.
It's such a shit system though isn't it?

Our buyers made us hang on an extra week before eventually agreeing to a completion date in Nov last year. Not usually too much issue but I was due to give birth any day.. ended up completing when I was 4 days over due stressed is an understatement!