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Original poster

Handhold? our buyers just pulled out on exchange day :-(

242 replies

MissCherryCakeyBun · 18/07/2024 11:34

just had a call from the agents and our buyers have pulled out.... I feel sick 😥
we were due to exchange today and we have already moved into our new house so have been playing a juggling act to cover everything and now this.
7 months since we went on the market and everything was fine and this just out of the blue. The female buyer (Married couple) has decided she isn't sure about the neighbors.

if I put up a link could you have a look and see what we could do to make it more appealing?

Worth noting its now totally empty of furniture in the house so those photos are a bit different and we have asked for new Garden photos to be taken showing it in the summer

We don't have the funds to dress the house with furniture and we had all the walls repainted and the carpets cleaned after we moved so its all fresh....Its also more expensive than others locally due to new wiring/heating floors etc. in the last 5 years and the very large home office/studio in the garden

I have some nice pots with plants and flowers to go by the front door for more curb appeal too.

sorry for the rambling post just needed to vent
Original Listing.... check notes above about changes :-)

OP posts:
ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 18/07/2024 11:37

oh bollocks.

I’ve nothing constructive to add like the good people here will, but your lemur wallpaper is amazing!

What is her concern with the neighbours?

OatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 18/07/2024 11:39

Get your estate agent to update it to for sale again asap as most people will not see it as marked sold.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/07/2024 11:39

It’s too expensive.
ultimately, it’s always about price.

Tharshe · 18/07/2024 11:42

Oh no I'm so sorry OP, that's devastating. I really feel like there should be some penalty for buyers who do this. Your house looks lovely to me. Good luck on getting a speedy sale

startingoveragainagain · 18/07/2024 11:44

I've nothing helpful to say, but I know how you feel. Our buyer pulled out about a month ago. We'd set a completion date, and were just about to exchange (10 days before the completion date) - we didn't get a reason.
I'd sold lots of our furniture, we hadn't moved out yet, but it's terrible. I was buying a new build and will lose a lot of money and i'd emotionally moved in (picked tiles, carpets etc). H and I are divorcing as well and living together so it's really pants - I feel for you.
Our went straight back on the market, we've had two offers (10/15% lower than the asking price (which was what the previous people were going to pay)) - I can't afford to move for that amount so... here we are...

Hope you get a new buyer soon.

ImAMinion · 18/07/2024 11:44

I mean where I live that house would be a bargain and I would snap it up - but obviously I don’t know the prices where you live.

Have you got a copy of the survey they would have had done - as in are you aware of any structural needs (any damp in the walls / anything wit( the roof etc) - when you say wiring, I’m assuming you mean that’s all been done fairly recently? If the house will only need cosmetic work that’s a big plus - it certainly looks solid from the outside,

I think that’s the big push for selling again - surveys been done, no damp, no damage, just needs cosmetic touch up. Crtainly if I buy again, I would be asking more questions like this - I’ve spent a fortune sorting my house’s roof, gutterings, wiring, boiler and having it re rendered to stop damp…..if this is all stable and it’s been retired recently I think these are key poin5s that need pointing out and pushing at people, through the listings and by the estate agent at viewings.

Otherwise I don’t have much thought apart from the simple things like reed difusers to give a nice scent….or use the oven to bake a cake just before a viewing! Keep the lawn mown etc…..nothing that you wouldn’t know.

RoachFish · 18/07/2024 11:51

I think it would be good if the home office was a part of the floorplan so people see straight away that there is more usable space.

Otherwise a freshly cut lawn for the new garden photos and any viewings is probably all you can do to make it look loved whilst it sits empty.

I don't think you can charge a premium for having updated wiring and heating in the last 5 years. I think most people expect that to be up to date unless they are buying a project so maybe the price is too high if you have raised the price partly because of it.

Original poster
MissCherryCakeyBun · 18/07/2024 11:52

@ImAMinion they didn't have a survey done...we have had the house 6 years and when we moved in did a full refurb, had the whole house rewired new floors upstairs the loft reinsulated and boarded out. I agree will ask them to make sure that this is put in the listing as its a big thing to not have to worry about. We have had all the annual servicing done and the certificates for the fire and electrics etc too. Thanks for being understanding

OP posts:
RoachFish · 18/07/2024 11:54

Also, is there no fridge or freezer in the kitchen or are they built in?

Tupster · 18/07/2024 11:59

Sorry, no words of wisdom, but huge sympathy - that's a really shitty situation.

Propertyshmoperty · 18/07/2024 12:01

So sorry it's fallen through OP. Xx

Couple of notes, I would take down the curtain on the door of your utility, also is the catflap still covered in ducktape? Can you remove that and just lock the catflap it looks like there's a problem with it.

In your main bedroom the wardrobe looks like its in the middle of the bedroom instead of up against a wall.

In the spare bedroom theres lots of mismatched furniture so it would be better if it was just empty of furniture xx

In the garden the patio looks like it could do with a jet wash and mow the garden. Also theres lots of tables with rubble on them and bits of wood stacked up against walls. Get rid of all that stuff people son't want to feel they're going to have to hire a tip and clear the garden.

Also with the garden office declutter a bit theres random buckets under tables etc.

I think its okay to leave the house empty and clean, just make sure you get rid of all the cluttery bits and mismatched furniture. Xx

It looks like its a fab house though with bags of potential. Hopefully it will shift soon. Xx

Lincoln24 · 18/07/2024 12:01

How long was it on for before it was under offer first time around? I don't think it needs anything major, just get it back on the market asap. Available now can be a draw for some buyers.

I do wonder about your reasons for it being more expensive than others locally - having the office is a fair reason, but new wiring/heating/floors I wouldn't expect to pay much of a premium for unless it was compared to houses that were very unloved.

You need to make more of the home office if that's the reason for a higher price. It's not on the plans and you have to scroll down to see it in the listing.

Edited to add: I'm sorry about your buyers, it is such a shitty thing to do.

pikkumyy77 · 18/07/2024 12:04

This is so crazy to me? How can this happen? I am in the US snd Im pretty sure we have a binding contract with massive fees and money held in escrow that prevents this from happening. Or rather it is infrequent because very costly. I know its just a different legal regime, and I principally read these property threads out of curiosity, but its nuts thst the system is so Full of these weak points and choke points.

Ivehearditbothways · 18/07/2024 12:06

Did you have other interest? Other offers? If you onto got one interested buyer then it’s just too expensive.

Grandmasswagbag · 18/07/2024 12:06

That's such an awful thing to do. Sorry op. I'm really staggered at the price though. I'm fairly close by and always assumed my town was more expensive than Yeovil and you would get a similar house but a 3 bed for that price. Maybe I'm out of touch with the Yeovil market though !

Ivehearditbothways · 18/07/2024 12:08

Yeah, it’s just too expensive and the bathrooms both need ripped out done over.

AlohaRose · 18/07/2024 12:13

Get the agents to retake all the photos if they are coming back. Some of them are fine but the utility and office ones are not great and would probably actually be better cleared out. I do think the price is too high though. You moved in in 2018 and regardless of the amount of work you say you have done the property was bought for £155k and 6 years later you are selling for £265k. That's a huge leap especially given that the previous sale before yours the price only went up £5k in 12 years!

It's not an area I am familiar with but a quick look at similar properties for sale suggests that there are houses very close by which on the face of it represent better value. There's one around the corner 3-bed/2-bath with much more modern decor and fittings and a garage for sale for £5k more? So on that basis also I think yours is too expensive.

Smartiepants79 · 18/07/2024 12:13

To me both the bathrooms and kitchen look dated and I would be looking to replace them to my taste.
It’s a nice house with good space and garden. Others are right. In the end it will be all about price. Sadly I think that you may not be able to ask for more than other similar properties are on sale for.

Newgirls · 18/07/2024 12:14

Ah that’s rubbish.

def jet wash the patios and mow the lawn. It does look tired and like it needs a lot of work such as kitchen, bathrooms, kitchen flooring and is that a textured ceiling in lounge? If so it does need to be priced with that in mind

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 18/07/2024 12:15

I’ve nothing constructive to add like the good people here will, but your lemur wallpaper is amazing!

I agree - I think you've seen the same Pinterest bathroom photos as me as that's what I'm using in our (literally being fitted this second) understairs loo!

So sorry this has happened, moving is so stressful.

Deargodletitgo · 18/07/2024 12:16

So, honest feedback (going off the listing). The curtains need to be floor length, especially the ones in the living room which look like they are about to fall down frankly). Get on amazon, about £20 a set.

Redo the garden pics, with lawn cut and with the trees now with leaves, you are really overlooked but a few more leaves might lessen that a little.

If you have bold colours on the wall, paint white. The loo wall paper would look much less in your face against a more neutral background.

No point putting in a new bathroom etc, but price for buyers to want to do so.

Tulipwood · 18/07/2024 12:16

I’m sorry, that sounds so stressful.

Is there a reason to be worried about the neighbours that could come up again?

MeAgainAndAgain · 18/07/2024 12:17

On the next road there is a 3 bed for only £5k more.

There is also a 3 bed for £5k less.

No office or outbuildings on the plan.

Utility looks uncared for eg cardboard on the cat flap (?!).

Photo 2 the carpet by the window looks blackish. It’s probably the nap (or do I mean the pile?), the way it’s been vacuumed, but looks dirty.

You say there is room for a fridge but don’t show the space. Is it in the utility? Does this mean an under the counter fridge only?

Very confusing outdoor pictures, it’s not really clear where the outbuildings are. One of those drone pictures from above with your plot of land in colour and the neighbours greyed out would be very useful.

You say you’ve got a boarded up loft but don’t have any photos.

You are asking us for advice so I’ll give it - one of you works for Connells so I’m not sure why these things were not already addressed?

And the biggie - what about the neighbours???

VaccineSticker · 18/07/2024 12:19

It’s time we impose hefty fines when the exchange date is so imminent.
That is ridiculous.

MeAgainAndAgain · 18/07/2024 12:19

Grandmasswagbag · 18/07/2024 12:06

That's such an awful thing to do. Sorry op. I'm really staggered at the price though. I'm fairly close by and always assumed my town was more expensive than Yeovil and you would get a similar house but a 3 bed for that price. Maybe I'm out of touch with the Yeovil market though !

There are two three beds for 260 and 270 on the very next road!