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Original poster

Buyer already asking if we will move into rented!

34 replies

homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 16:57

Sold our house quickly a few weeks ago to buyer who has family nearby and is moving long distance. We are also moving long distance and had been looking at properties online so knew which we were interested in. Offered on a property after about 10 days and offer accepted. Seller now looking for somewhere to buy but they are very motivated as already had sale fallen through and lost onward purchase. Similar they already know what area they want to buy and already have viewings booked.

Our buyer has already had surveyor booked and wants to do second viewing for measuring up. Thought it was unusual to do those when chain not complete but seems anything goes at the moment.

Now today buyer has asked us to move into rental as she doesn't want a chain! We never advertised to the property as chain free. We were clear to agent we would be buying another place, and they even asked us when signing contracts. At no point has anyone said we would go into rented.

Obviously we have said no chance and just really annoyed that if she didn't want a chain then to have bought a chain free property?

If she pulls out we should sell again pretty quickly as nothing much coming on market here and lots of demand. But feeling really stressed at the moment.

Anyone else had this to deal with?

OP posts:
TheFunBus · 01/06/2021 17:03

She may just be asking to see what her options are?

We offered yesterday in somewhere - I've already booked 2nd viewing in for measurements and sorted out the surveyor and our chain is not complete. I think buyers are trying to show they are serious as there's a lot of competition out there!

crimsonlake · 01/06/2021 17:09

She can ask and you can say no, but to be honest some people agree to go in to rental but much later on change their minds, infuriating.
As for measuring up, I never understand this request, people should just wait until they move in. In all likelihood people just want another excuse to visit, which creates more tidying around for you. Personally I would offer to provide the measurements yourself.

TheFunBus · 01/06/2021 17:21

Also I called a few surveyors today and some couldn't do a survey till mid/late July so I don't blame anyone for booking one in!

@crimsonlake why wouldn't people measure up? You're just about to make the biggest purchase you'll make in your life most likely - don't think a 2nd viewing is that out of order!!

rubyslippers · 01/06/2021 17:24

If you’ve accepted the offer and things are moving then it’s reasonable she has a second viewing etc
Re a surveyor - it took us weeks to get a survey as they are so booked up so getting sorted sooner is sensible

However it is not reasonable to expect you to move to rented - it is reasonable to ask the question tho

Itscoldouthere · 01/06/2021 17:30

Cheeky to ask you to go into rented, just say no, maybe your EA suggested that it could be possible? Only saying as I’ve been told that several times by various EA.
As for second viewings of course that’s ok, currently you often only get 15 mins to view, it’s crazy, I spend my time choosing clothes!
I wouldn’t be measuring up if the chain wasn’t complete but I’d certainly want another viewing.

Livingintheclouds · 01/06/2021 17:49

Maybe you should ask your vendor if they will go in to rental as that would complete the chain for you too.
As for 'measuring up', I would never normally put an offer on a house I've only seen once (I don't think two or even three viewings is unreasonable with such a huge financial commitment) but this is such a fast market that if one waits one misses out. Im moving 70 miles and met my surveyor at the property for a verbal report and took the opportunity to measure (I had of course asked the agent of it was ok) just as well as my bed will not fit, the desk I had earmarked for an alcove will not fit, but relieved to see there's enough room for a bath in the shower room.
As the seller presumably tidied up for the surveyor and as I had only seen the place once but had already paid for a survey, I certainly felt fine requesting it. Now I know what bits of my furniture I have to sell!

Africa2go · 01/06/2021 17:49

I don't think its cheeky at all to ask. If you don't want to do that, just say no.

Surely its because she wants to complete before the end of the stamp duty holiday? It obviously depends on your area, I think the SD holiday has artificially heated the market - lots of people trying to move to benefit from a SD saving - and after that, prices will level out / correct afterwards. If she drops out, are you confident you'd get the same price 2 or 3 months down the line, when SD is payable again?

Just say no if you're confident you'd sell again at a similar price if she drops out. No need to get stressed out with it.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 01/06/2021 17:51

@crimsonlake

She can ask and you can say no, but to be honest some people agree to go in to rental but much later on change their minds, infuriating. As for measuring up, I never understand this request, people should just wait until they move in. In all likelihood people just want another excuse to visit, which creates more tidying around for you. Personally I would offer to provide the measurements yourself.
It most likely is an excuse to come back, but what wrong with that? It's most likely the biggest purchase of your life ...I spend more time than 15 minutes picking out shoes!
Original poster
homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 18:05

I can understand getting surveyor booked given the lead times. And second viewing isn't an issue to do it, I guess in normal times I would expect either a second one before offer or do a measuring up later on. But these sure aren't normal times.

Of course she can ask, we can say no (and have). But if you don't want a chain, why try and buy a property that isn't chain free? That's the bit I'm more miffed about.

OP posts:
huuuuunnnndderrricks · 01/06/2021 18:10

Just say no , my buyers waited 9 months and I told them clearly I wasn't moving to rented ! Aside from anything else it's chuffin expensive! Just be clear and if they pull out then they pull out ! You can't be dictated to !

UpTheJunktion · 01/06/2021 18:15

At the moment it is taking a long time for vendors to find an onward purchase...and you have found one, but with a vendor who also needs to find an onward purchase.... until someone buys chain free the chain will not be complete - so I can see why your buyer is concerned.

How will you feel if your vendor takes ages to find a new place to buy...and that is probate, or they need to find somewhere?

They may have a mortgage offer that will expire within a set time frame.

Would you be prepared, in a couple of months, to go into rental to keep your buyers, and be ready with cash for your purchase?

Is there a limit on the amount of time you are prepared to wait for your vendors, and their vendors, to find somewhere?

Are tyour buyers FTBs?

I would get the EA to talk to them - say that it is very normal atm for people to need to wait for the chain to be in place, and that you will ask if your vendors or others further up the chain might be prepared to go into rental in order to keep the chain progressing / complete.

Negotiate pleasantly but without conceding anything you don't want to concede. They do sound very committed buyers if they have already paid for a survey - but they sound as if they don't fully understand the process or potential timescales involved in buying.

UpTheJunktion · 01/06/2021 18:17

As for measuring up, I never understand this request, people should just wait until they move in.

I think it is really helpful to be able to decide what furniture you can bring and what you will get rid of, ditto curtains. A ,ot of expense can be saved like that.

If someone is about to pay you 100s of thousands of ££ it isn't such a big deal to let them plan their move, surely?

Diamondnights · 01/06/2021 18:21

The finer details of the conversation and request may have been misrepeated by the ea. The buyer may have said 'would they go into rented, it would be lovely not to have a chain', sort of thing.

Original poster
homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 18:24

My buyer has a FTB buying her house. I can understand why she might be concerned of course that a chain is forming, but that's always the risk isn't it? If you don't want an onward chain, then the only want to guarantee that is to buy a property that is clearly marked as no onward chain.

I could understand asking to go to rented if hadn't found anything after a while but within 10 days we had an offer accepted. I know the buyer had looked at property near to me that sold a few weeks before as it was with same agent who mentioned it.

OP posts:
Original poster
homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 18:28

@Diamondnights

The finer details of the conversation and request may have been misrepeated by the ea. The buyer may have said 'would they go into rented, it would be lovely not to have a chain', sort of thing.
Maybe, the exact words the estate agent used was she doesn't want a chain, so it could be that.

I guess just have to wait and see now what she decides.

OP posts:
SunshineCake · 01/06/2021 18:32

We asked to visit for a measuring reason after we had had our offer accepted but it was really to have a second look at the house to be sure.

EShellstrop · 01/06/2021 18:50

I went for a 2nd viewing with my house, as the EA told me the vendor wouldn't proceed unless we used their solicitor. I asked the vendor myself, and of course it was a lie.

BluebellsGreenbells · 01/06/2021 19:06

Maybe they’ve had a chain collapse already and are worried.

I think some reassurance that things are progressing and you intend to move would help.

pussycatlickinglollyices · 01/06/2021 19:31

Now today buyer has asked us to move into rental as she doesn't want a chain!
My buyer has a FTB buying her house.

Why doesn't she go into rented then? That would break the chain. Smile

Original poster
homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 20:41

@pussycatlickinglollyices

Now today buyer has asked us to move into rental as she doesn't want a chain! My buyer has a FTB buying her house.

Why doesn't she go into rented then? That would break the chain. Smile

Haha yeah that would solve the issue. But it always seems people want other people to break the chain and not themselves!

I've got a big glass of wine and chilled a bit now. What will be will be.

OP posts:
sst1234 · 01/06/2021 21:08

@Itscoldouthere

Cheeky to ask you to go into rented, just say no, maybe your EA suggested that it could be possible? Only saying as I’ve been told that several times by various EA. As for second viewings of course that’s ok, currently you often only get 15 mins to view, it’s crazy, I spend my time choosing clothes! I wouldn’t be measuring up if the chain wasn’t complete but I’d certainly want another viewing.
Why is it cheeky if a buyer is expecting to get possession of something they intend to buy, sooner rather than later. Not sure why OP is annoyed, her complex move is not the buyer’s problem. Scarcity of the type of house OP wants to buy is also not the buyers problem. It’s absolutely ok to ask when a vendor is prepared to hand the house over they have agreed to sell
Original poster
homebuyerstress · 01/06/2021 21:27

@sst1234 Hardly a complex move, it's quite normal to build a chain.

My point is more that if you don't want a chain, then buy a house that is clearly labelled as chain free. Otherwise accept that a chain is likely to form.

OP posts:
reallyreallyborednow · 01/06/2021 21:32

Calculate 6 months rent and furniture storage, plus deposits etc, and tell them you’ll happily move into rental if they drop their price by that much so you aren’t out of pocket.

Willing to be bet they may find waiting’s not so bad :)

reallyreallyborednow · 01/06/2021 21:37

*up their price

Itscoldouthere · 01/06/2021 23:58

I’m sorry but this whole ‘going in to rented’ isn’t how the normal market usually works. It’s something that happens when sellers know they are getting a good price in a high market, being in a chain is pretty normal and what many people experience.
I don’t think buyers can make such demands without understanding the impact, going into rented isn’t an easy option for most people and involves an amount of risk and expense.
If the buyers wanted chain free they shouldn’t have offered on a property that was obviously in a chain.