Page 3 | Would you disrupt a chain for another house?

Amerimoon · 2020-12-10T21:49:01+00:00

We offered on a gorgeous house a few months ago (at asking price) but were rejected as they had higher offers. We’ve now agreed to buy another house, nowhere near as nice, and the sale has progressed through surveys and most of the searches. Our house is being sold too and the chain is due to complete in January, although so date yet. Today we received a call saying the house we love is back up and the vendor wants to know if we’re still interested at that price, apparently they’re willing to go into rented. What would you do?

mountains76 · 12/12/2020 10:18

I honestly don't understand how someone could put an offer in for a house, perhaps the biggest purchase of there life, have decades of debt on a mortgage, use decades of savings on a deposit only to flit and change thier mind of another "dream forever home" which comes up. Surely when you make an offer on any house, it has to be somewhere you can see living for the next 10 years?

Disrupting your chain would be a selfish thing to do, and I hope you think of the others before you cause a load of people agro.

Original poster

Amerimoon · 12/12/2020 10:18

Thanks everyone! We won’t be going into rented ourselves, for many reason, it just wouldn’t work for us. We are fully accepting that we may lose our buyers and have to start again though. We aren’t desperate to move though, we just want to move. If it takes more time then so be it.

OP posts:

mountains76 · 12/12/2020 10:24

@Amerimoon

Thanks everyone! We won’t be going into rented ourselves, for many reason, it just wouldn’t work for us. We are fully accepting that we may lose our buyers and have to start again though. We aren’t desperate to move though, we just want to move. If it takes more time then so be it.

did you tell your buyers that you're not desperate to move? I bet you the EA didn't.

LaceyBetty · 12/12/2020 11:06

There is no way I would buy a house when one I wanted more came up. Selfish maybe, but this is the biggest and most important purchase of your life (usually) so I will be selfish.

Original poster

Amerimoon · 12/12/2020 11:32

@mountains76 are you only allowed to sell a house if you’re desperate?? How strange. We aren’t enamoured with the one we’re buying but saw it as having some potential for us for the next few years. We’d have to move again from there though. The other house we like a lot more and wouldn’t have to move again from that’s all.

OP posts:

madcatladyforever · 12/12/2020 11:37

Everybody would go for the house they really want. Nobody in your chain would go for 2nd best because they are worried about the chain.
Its not the most pleasant experience but this is going to be your home for the foreseable future. You have to do whats best for you and your family.
And yes the other people in the chain will be pissed off. Pretend the other house had chronic woodworm or something and you couldn't go through with the sale.

lemonsquashie · 12/12/2020 11:45

Can you view again but also ask to meet the vendors in person whilst there? Maybe it will be easier to get a feeling from them directly And you can air your fears to their face? The EA obviously wants the sale and not impartial

Original poster

Amerimoon · 12/12/2020 11:47

Hmmm we aren’t planning to view again only because we’re quite certain we like it and don’t want to get even more attached! There’s potential for us to be hugely disappointed already. We do have the vendor’s telephone number actually because they texted us before when we made an offer originally. Should be contact them directly?

OP posts:

NotABeliever · 12/12/2020 17:52

@Amerimoon

Thanks everyone! We won’t be going into rented ourselves, for many reason, it just wouldn’t work for us. We are fully accepting that we may lose our buyers and have to start again though. We aren’t desperate to move though, we just want to move. If it takes more time then so be it.

I think you have answered your own question! Go for the house you really like, of course. If it takes a bit longer because you have to find a new buyer, it won't be the end of the world. In 10 years' time you won't even think of the fact you had to wait another 6 months to move in but you'll be glad you got your dream home!

lemonsquashie · 12/12/2020 19:53

@Amerimoon

Hmmm we aren’t planning to view again only because we’re quite certain we like it and don’t want to get even more attached! There’s potential for us to be hugely disappointed already. We do have the vendor’s telephone number actually because they texted us before when we made an offer originally. Should be contact them directly?

Why not? If I were the vendor, I'd be happy to chat

MirandaMarple · 12/12/2020 21:38

You can't go ahead with a purchase just because you're worried about upsetting the chain. It's not illegal. It's business, go and see the other house, you are buying a HOUSE.

YankeeDad · 12/12/2020 21:50

I would agree with the PPs who suggested to prioritise the house that you like better. You have a good reason to disrupt the chain. It’s bad luck for everyone else, but that’s how chains work. The chain you are in could also still get broken by anybody else in it.

I would also strongly support the idea of speaking directly with the vendors of the house that you like. I could by mistaken here, but I imagine you are more likely to get the truth from the vendors themselves than from the Estate Agent.

It would be a good idea to view the preferred house again just to make sure it has not deteriorated in any way, and also to make sure it matches your current expectations: after not getting it, your mind could have “bigged it up” a little bit.

hihihihihihihihi · 13/12/2020 07:34

Offer on the dream house, you don't particularly like the one you're buying. Unfortunately the chain will just have to like it or lump it. I say this sitting in my rental as I completed 4 weeks ago and buying and selling is emotional and hard work but don't make a huge financial mistake, you will aways wonder what if?

Seaswims · 17/12/2020 18:38

What did you decide in the end OP?

mountains76 · 17/12/2020 21:02

[quote Amerimoon]@mountains76 are you only allowed to sell a house if you’re desperate?? How strange. We aren’t enamoured with the one we’re buying but saw it as having some potential for us for the next few years. We’d have to move again from there though. The other house we like a lot more and wouldn’t have to move again from that’s all.[/quote]
Sure you can, but really, you should be fully committed to moving house, else you may waste your buyers time.

LondonMiss · 18/12/2020 13:20

I had a very similar problem! I’d seen the dream house on Rightmove but it was quite over my budget and it has sold by the time I decided to view.
I’d proceeded to purchase something quite different, 3 bed and a tiny kitchen that could not be extended vs a 4 bed with a kitchen to die for! Landscaped garden and a double height hall way.(They were around 50k difference in price)
In some crazy twist of fate, the dream house sale fell thought I went on a drive by the day it came back up, bumped into the owner and bought it then and there!! We completed 21 days later, it costs a little more but in the long term I have made a better investment and I’m really happy I didn’t settle even though I do fell bad for the first house as it was on the market for months.

SeeyouontheothersideofCovid · 18/12/2020 13:46

OP, it sounds like you don't like the house you're currently buying all that much, so why are you doing this anyway? Is it because you want to take advantage of the stamp duty savings? In which case I think you would be bonkers to go with a house you're half-hearted about for a few K savings.

If I were in your shoes I'd ditch the current purchase and consider again the other property that clearly you prefer with your heart. But do take some of the other posters' advice on here too. Best of luck!

goona · 22/12/2020 17:05

Go for the one you love.

NameChangeforArmageddon21 · 22/12/2020 17:53

What did you decide to do OP?