House 1 or 2...need to decide today

[Eastie77Returns]

We've had a bit of a nightmare after the vendor of the property we originally had an offer accepted on couldn't find an onward purchase so restarted our search. Have now had offers accepted on two properties (offer on House 1 originally not accepted but EA just came back and said they want to accept now - a day after we offered on House 2)

House 1:

• 3 bed with driveway, lovely quiet street, next to beautiful woodland area, 15mins walk from tube/overground and a school suitable for DC.
• Probate property but apparently that is all resolved. However house is still full of all of the deceased owner's furniture and his children live 200 miles away.
• One bathroom that currently doesn't have a shower but it is big enough to install one.
• 1930s style which I love.
• Worried the vendors might be a bit flaky. EA seems chaotic and have had different versions of why they came back to our offer.

House 2:

• 3 bed with driveway and 2 bathrooms. Downstairs one is nicely tucked away with a shower room. Upstairs one spacious.
• Not such a nice street (but nice enough). Garden is bigger but backs onto a development of new build houses.
• Longer walk to tube and DC school. 10 minute walk from the beautiful woodland area.
• Vacant, no onward chain. Vendors clearly ready, house cleared out and they have already bought somewhere. £30k more than House 1. Lovely EA, family run and very friendly professional service.

Leaning towards House 2 as practically it is better and I can't bear the thought of being messed about again but it is not the 1930s style I've been hankering over for so long and I'm worried about noise from the development behind. The extra £30k is doable but a stretch.

WWYD?

I would stick with house 2 the drama with house one sounds too stressful.
And I would prefer the bigger garden anyway.

This is why I voted for house 2!

Fucking hell - that’s madness. What a shocking estate agent.

I think I’d want to talk directly to the owner.
Yes, I know it’s ‘not the done thing’ but I’d want to speak to them myself at this stage or pull out. Because obviously the estate agent has lost your trust.

Then I’d decide once and for all.

I think I’d seriously be considering house 2. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the squabbling over the sale of house 1 rumbled on for weeks.

In the middle of all this chaos I told the EA for House no.2 that I wanted to proceed with that house and so now have to pull out if I continue with House no1.

Just worked out this means that you never pulled out of House 2 in the first place, which was a tad naughty, but thank god given the revelations. I don't see how you can possibly continue with House 1 now, can you? What possible scenario could have led to it being put up as probate, with the kids in charge, when the guy is alive and able to take over the sale of it? Either his kids are correct and he's not got full capacity - in which case, run. Or he's with it, but has a nightmare family situation and can't be trusted to make decisions, in which case, also run. House 1 would be totally off the table for me. I'd proceed with House 2 as if the other never existed and be relieved I could rule it out so fast and clearly.

pinkdelight I did pull out of House 2 but as mentioned previously it is still for sale. So as soon as I was told House 1 was no longer for sale I called the EA for House 2. I’ve been upfront with them from the beginning about this whole situation and they have been very understanding, stressing I should go with the house I really want.

I am going to ask if I can meet the vendor of House 1. It may be that he is not of ‘sound mind’, (EA claims he is but I have zero trust in them) and his children use that to prevent a sale.

Thank you everyone for the advice.

Ah makes sense. Easily confused! What a mad situation you're in. But you must really want House 1 to be pursuing it now so good luck and hope it all works out one way or another.

How on earth did it get described as ‘probate’ when the owner is alive and kicking?
I’ve been dealing with selling parents house and it’s taken months be bl.... sister1 decided she’d make everything as difficult as possible. Thankfully the buyers have hung on but I would never get involved if there are warring, squabbling sisters like mine 😡

yantan I have no idea how this has come about. The EA is a large, well known agency. The sales negotiator told me that she spoke to the vendor for the first time a couple of days ago. They didn’t even have a number for him previously. I don’t know who originally instructed them, why they believed it was probate in the absence of proof (death certificate?), if all of the children are trying to derail or just one/two of them.

I’ll see how it all pans out I guess. And yes, if I hadn’t fallen completely in love with this house I wouldn’t even consider putting up with this nonsense for a moment longer.

House 1 sounds the better option, close to school & transport

What's that saying, best house on the worst street kind of thing!

LOL I meant worst house on the best street!

Q: When is a probate sale not a probate?
A: When the property owner isn't actually dead

Good grief. What a bizarre saga.

Good luck with House 2.