Sold house to 1st time buyers but...

[Dollymixtureharibo]

Hello,
We have accepted an offer on our house a few weeks ago. The buyers are 1st time buyers and wanted to be in at first by the end of June then before September and then when the memorandum of sale was about to be completed they asked to be in by the beginning of August regardless of our onward purchase. Was all to do with schools apparently. When we said no and this was also agreed by the EA and a bit of explaining about school places they decided all was good and they would wait for our new property to be ready.
Now another property has come up on our road a smaller one but similar and it has no onward chain! My fear is that the EA will tell them (if they haven’t already seen it on rightmove) and they will view and pull from buying ours. It is 10k cheaper but smaller bedrooms and only one en-suite.
In my negative nelly mind I just see more positives on them buying the other house now 😔
Do I call the EA and ask what the likelihood of this happening is or just sit and stew waiting on a call that may or may not happen.
Our potential new home is not ready till August and I really do not want to lose it and my kids would also be gutted.
Also the thought of having to get up earlier to make sure the house is viewing ready again feels me with angst.
Any advice greatly received.

Is the other house for sale with the same agent? If so, you’re probably safer than if it’s up for sale with someone else.

Your EA will be invested in your sale going ahead as is, because they’re closer to receiving the commission on that than any new transaction being set up. If its with another agent then your EA absolutely WILL NOT tell them about it.

But if your buyer is still checking Rightmove or has registered themselves with other agents, including one who is selling this other house then they might well get their heads turned. There’s really nothing you can do about it so the anxiety isn’t going to serve you in any way.

Certainly don’t draw anyone’s attention to this other house by ringing anyone though. Just carry on as you are progressing your sale.

How close are you to exchange OP? Have they instructed solicitors etc? It may be that the other house will have an even longer wait (or more unstable chain) than yours so they’d be in no better position.

Worry about the things you can control - your side of the purchase, making viewings go well and look their best , answering questions and having information ready.
If you worry about the stuff you have no control over and second guess other people's actions , the only thing you are going to do is stress yourself out.

@MindatWork

How close are you to exchange OP? Have they instructed solicitors etc? It may be that the other house will have an even longer wait (or more unstable chain) than yours so they’d be in no better position.

The buyers have instructed a solicitor. Our mortgage application is in. All documents required by our solicitor have been sent. Unsure on the buyers position, hoping they have applied for the mortgage by now. Have not had anyone out to do the survey yet on ours.

The house is up with the same EA as ours and at the time of accepting the offer in ours (we had a cash buyer also offer) the EA said she knew the 1st time buyers well from when they looked last year and knew they loved the area making me think her loyalty lies with them over us. (this sounds awful I know but when you have to pay them to sell your house you kind of hope the loyalty lies with the seller) worried she will call them and tell them. (Seen in another forum that this has happened before, know you should not tarnish all with the same brush)

I know I shouldn’t fret over it as there is nothing I can do apart from keep on top of everything. It’s just so frustrating. Also a lot of houses have been sstc and then come back up again with the same EA. Such a strange market at the minute

I will pull my big girl pants up and forget about it.....for now
Thanks everyone

If it's with the same EA then I think you're safe! She may like them, but it would be very strange for her loyalty to lie with them over you. The EA is always on the side of the seller.

I do sympathise with you, we’re in a similar situation but our house isn’t going to be ready until October .

We’re giving our buyers a cash incentive on exchange to make up the money they’ll lose by not completing by end of September - they’ve said they’re prepared to wait so I’m just keeping my fingers crossed they don’t see anything else they like in the next month or so

@MindatWork

I do sympathise with you, we’re in a similar situation but our house isn’t going to be ready until October .

We’re giving our buyers a cash incentive on exchange to make up the money they’ll lose by not completing by end of September - they’ve said they’re prepared to wait so I’m just keeping my fingers crossed they don’t see anything else they like in the next month or so

It’s horrible not going to lie. It’s just all the money we have just had to pay out that makes me feel sick and that the buyers could pull out at anytime.

When did you accept the offer on yours was it recently?
Have just spoken to the solicitor who is dealing with our sale and she said she will need to work at our purchase pace - if that makes any sense. She was calling to introduce herself to me as we have another solicit dealing with the purchase - so confusing

I’m trying my hardest to not be negative and then also trying to not fall more in love with the new house.
Tomorrow I will be positive again I’m sure but today not so much 🤪

You need to be as tough as you can be to get through the process. You never know quite what will happen. Good luck!