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Original poster

What would you do?

22 replies

Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 07:15

HI all, I really need your advice as expert property people.

We’ve had a rough time with 2 houses falling through in the last year. The first vendors pulled out on us after 8 months because they couldn’t find anywhere, and the second had illegal building works. We were very upset about the first one especially, and feel like they wasted most of our year, and now the market is even more crazy.

All through this time we’ve been paying 2k a month in rent since we sold our flat last year, which we had to do for numerous reasons.

Fast forward to today, we’ve now got a new place under offer as of 3 weeks ago. But again, the vendors need to find somewhere, and to keep ourselves sane we’re already assuming the worst. We’ve been told they’re looking near a large town in the SE, so not a village, but we have no insight on how urgent the search is, or how flexible, or the reason they’re moving.

People advised us to keep viewing so we’ve done that, and have now found a different chain free house. The issue is it’s much smaller, not in the area where our DD goes to school and it also backs onto a city farm.

So what would you do? We can’t subject ourselves to another x months of waiting for these vendors, living every day worrying that they’ll pull out again. I don’t think we could face it.

I also looked into having both under offer but it would require some sleight of hand like deliberately delaying the chain free one or going all out with multiple solicitors and mortgage offers.

Thanks in advance everyone!

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 13/03/2022 07:19

Keep viewing because the second one doesn’t sound ideal.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 07:32

Thanks. When I say “much smaller” I mean 10m2. My OH is more concerned about the farm. You can see and smell animals from the garden!

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 13/03/2022 07:35

You’ll probably get flies in the summer then.
I suppose you need to think if you’d want to sit in your garden and have a BBQ in the summer.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 08:03

Great point... hadn’t even thought about that!

OP posts:
Lastqueenofscotland · 13/03/2022 09:08

I grew up on a farm… one word. Rats.
I’d avoid.

AnxiousHeffalump · 13/03/2022 09:24

Personally I’d prefer the animals as neighbours than people!

caringcarer · 13/03/2022 09:33

I would just keep looking. Can you widen your search a bit?

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 10:04

@caringcarer

I would just keep looking. Can you widen your search a bit?
I wish. Unfortunately we are limited by school locations.
OP posts:
Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 10:05

@Lastqueenofscotland

I grew up on a farm… one word. Rats. I’d avoid.
Eek. Thanks!
OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 13/03/2022 10:07

Can't you make your offer conditional on them exchanging by a set date?

The City Farm wouldn't bother me.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 10:42

@RosesAndHellebores

Can't you make your offer conditional on them exchanging by a set date?

The City Farm wouldn't bother me.

Thanks! can you elaborate a bit? They accepted our offer only three weeks ago, would you already email the agent and say we will pull out if they don’t exchange by a date?

My worry is the vendors will just tell us to naff off, and find another buyer. Especially while they haven’t even found a place.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 13/03/2022 10:48

If they tell you to naff off they aren't serious about selling. If they are serious about selling and relocating they will sell and rent.

I'd have been clear upfront. We can offer x providing we can exchange by y and move in by z. If not, we can't commit.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 11:05

In the market we are in, every house has 50 viewings and 15-20 offers. It was made very clear to us, that attempting to set conditions would be an easy way for us to be filtered out.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 13/03/2022 11:10

Depends on the level of your offer.

Mizydoscape · 13/03/2022 12:56

@RosesAndHellebores

If they tell you to naff off they aren't serious about selling. If they are serious about selling and relocating they will sell and rent.

I'd have been clear upfront. We can offer x providing we can exchange by y and move in by z. If not, we can't commit.

This isn't necessarily true. Moving your family, maybe some pets and all your belongings is an absolute PITA. Not wanting to move into rented and therefore having to move twice doesn't mean you aren't serious as a seller. I wouldn't have done it but I definitely wanted to sell my house last year.

Where we live there is a massive shortage of rentals as well so it's not always the easy option people make it out to be.

OP I'm sorry you've had a tough time with the market at the moment. It sounds like the new house isn't the right choice for you. I'd keep looking if I were you.

CheltenhamLady · 13/03/2022 16:48

I have just exchanged and we had a lot of issues with our buyers along the way, but I wouldn't have continued with a sale with such a condition.

It would pressure the seller into either going into rented (double upheaval) or to possibly make a mistake by buying what was available rather than what they actually wanted. Not agreeing to that doesn't mean that they are not serious sellers.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 13/03/2022 17:16

@CheltenhamLady

I have just exchanged and we had a lot of issues with our buyers along the way, but I wouldn't have continued with a sale with such a condition.

It would pressure the seller into either going into rented (double upheaval) or to possibly make a mistake by buying what was available rather than what they actually wanted. Not agreeing to that doesn't mean that they are not serious sellers.

Thanks. What would you suggest in our situation? We don’t want to annoy the seller, we understand it’s not easy, but we need a way to know a) they’re serious and b) how realistic they are. It’s not enough just to say “we’re looking”, the criteria need to be realistic.
OP posts:
MadeForThis · 13/03/2022 17:25

You don't have to tell the seller of your condition. Make it a personal one and be prepared to walk if they haven't found a property by a certain date.

CheltenhamLady · 14/03/2022 11:34

I don't think you can tar your current seller with the issues you have had previously.

I mentioned we had issues with our buyer and when it all came to a head these stemmed from their experiences with a previous seller. They were completely irrelevant in our case, but the hoops we were made to jump through to allay the unfounded fears of our buyer almost cost them the house.

We came to a point where we pushed back big time and said a simple no to the latest demand. We did not enter into communication beyond that and they came running back and agreed to exchange. It could so easily have gone the other way because we were not prepared to budge.

If possible I would try and get a direct form of communication going -phone/email and stay in touch with them that way rather than going via the EA or Solicitor, who caused endless problems in our transaction.

Open a friendly dialogue and gently probe them on what stage they are at/ current properties/ areas etc.

It worked in our case and we managed to get it over the finish line by working together to fact check and challenge what the professionals were telling us. They were playing us off against each other and all blaming the other side's people for delays. When we worked in tandem they could not do that.....

Good luck.

Original poster
Housebuyingfamily · 14/03/2022 13:32

@CheltenhamLady

I don't think you can tar your current seller with the issues you have had previously.

I mentioned we had issues with our buyer and when it all came to a head these stemmed from their experiences with a previous seller. They were completely irrelevant in our case, but the hoops we were made to jump through to allay the unfounded fears of our buyer almost cost them the house.

We came to a point where we pushed back big time and said a simple no to the latest demand. We did not enter into communication beyond that and they came running back and agreed to exchange. It could so easily have gone the other way because we were not prepared to budge.

If possible I would try and get a direct form of communication going -phone/email and stay in touch with them that way rather than going via the EA or Solicitor, who caused endless problems in our transaction.

Open a friendly dialogue and gently probe them on what stage they are at/ current properties/ areas etc.

It worked in our case and we managed to get it over the finish line by working together to fact check and challenge what the professionals were telling us. They were playing us off against each other and all blaming the other side's people for delays. When we worked in tandem they could not do that.....

Good luck.

This is probably the most constructive and most well informed advice we’ve received. Thank you!
OP posts:
CheltenhamLady · 14/03/2022 14:30

You are welcome. The whole process is horrible and fraught. I really hope it works out for you.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 16/03/2022 14:44

@Housebuyingfamily, I am in a similar situ to you. Have had purchase fall apart a year ago (illegal building works). Also had an offer accepted three weeks ago, love the house but trying not to get too excited as the vendors are yet to find although I know they are looking. They are selling with local high st agent who has a good coverage in the area, and I do wonder whether the agent will prioritise them with regards new listings, as surely it is in their best interests to complete the chain?
I had my mortgage offer a few days ago and obvs the clock is ticking. Trying to stay level headed. I have also exchanged contact details with vendor (as @CheltenhamLady suggested) as I too have experienced the lying from agents, telling porky pies and trying to play people off against eachother (this happened on the house I was due to buy last Summer). I know it is a difficult market (it has taken me a year), but I really hope it does not take my vendor that long!

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