Our buyer said they were changing last week. They didn't should I be suspicious

[flaf]

I have never sold a property before. I'm finding it, as I'm sure many do, quite stressful.
We accepted a lower offer on the basis our buyer was exchanging last week.

I rang our agency to say what is going on because I've had no confirmation that the exchange went ahead and according to our agency they couldn't get hold of the buyer despite contacting them.
I then got a call late yesterday to say our buyer has not exchanged on their property.
Not sure what to do now. Have been told it was probably just a solicitor mishap so wait and see on Monday.

Can this be true? I don't really trust anyone to do with the whole thing right now. I'm seriously considering letting go of the buyer and putting house back on the market but it's so tough at the moment I don't know what to do.

Title should read exchanging *

Exchange very rarely happens to a schedule set out at the start of the process, and it will often take several attempts

Your solicitor will have to phone you on the day of exchange to get your permission to exchange, and then will need to tell you when it is done. Once exchanged the day of completion is fixed and cant be changed.

As I understand you accepted a lower offer because the buyer seemed very close to selling their house?

I would imagine they need somewhere to live when they sell so it’s probably just like any other chain now?

Sorry, to make it clear our buyer was supposed to exchange on the sale of their house last week and now haven't so I am wondering if I continue to accept their (lower than I would accept if they aren't in a 'sold' position) offer or re market my property and start again.

I don't understand if exchanges are regularly moved as my estate agent is telling me. Thanks

Where are you planning on moving to? The whole chain needs to exchange on the same day, agreeing a completion date? Unless you're not buying so no upper chain?

I'm not buying, only selling.

It’s your solicitor who can get accurate information about this, from your buyer’s solicitor. Speak to your solicitor on Monday.

Thank you @CarrotInATree

Usually everyone exchanges on the same day. Are you ready to exchange?

You can't trust anybody in house dealing. They might or might not exchange on the date they say. Sometimes they will do it after a short time, sometimes they will (try to) fob you off for months.

If they won't speak to you that is not a good sign.

People often claim they will exchange quickly to induce you to accept an offer. if it turns out not to be true, reconsider their offer.

Be mentally prepared to return to market.

Thanks @PigletJohn I am planning to do just that despite my disappointment!

I am giving them until tomorrow after I contact my solicitor to see if I can get any realistic response and if I get a bad feeling about it all I think I will give up on the buyer and start again.

flaf many years ago I was moving in with my then boyfriend so sold my flat to a first time buyer without a chain. It should've been an easy exchange / sell but it dragged on for months and he viewed the property four times looking for faults. In the end I told him if he didn't exchange I'd pull out. We exchanged and completed about two days later. Some people just like to mess you around. Good luck with this, I know how stressful it is.