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

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

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 :-)

To clarify the Scottish system, which hasn't legally changed btw. You are legally bound to the purchase once the missives are completed, which normally takes about eight weeks now. It used to be a lot quicker, which is possibly where the misunderstanding comes in.
You are legally liable for the property (ie needing insurance in place etc) on entry day.
What you may not do is alter your offer price once submitted, and offers are done via a solicitor.
If you offer and pull out of purchases for no good reason your solicitor will probably not continue to work for you.

I think having a home report done up front on the property by the seller also lessens the amount of sales falling through, as I'd imagine a lot of the English ones do once the buyers see the survey.

But what happens if the searches throw something up? That often happens fairly late in the process in England.

That’s all done before the missives are concluded. We just go faster in Scotland, they do all the check and you agree the move date (which can be changed if needed) and then the missives are completed. You are then bound to the property, can’t pull out or change your offer the way the English can.

So so sorry that you have lost your Dad.
House problem probably seems less compared but horrible thing to do to you.

Just what may be obvious to you anyway, a healthy plant or two , books on book case and a couple of simple ornaments that go with decor. Fruit in kitchen pot of herbs? Good luck.

I see. Sort of…..

Sounds remarkably similar though if, as suggested further up, it takes about 8 weeks to get to that point.

And surely you must still be liable for solicitor costs that have been accrued?

Missives sounds like exchanging to me.

• see. Sort of…..

Sounds remarkably similar though if, as suggested further up, it takes about 8 weeks to get to that point.

And surely you must still be liable for solicitor costs that have been accrued?

Missives sounds like exchanging to me.*

It can take up to eight weeks but can be done significantly faster if needs be.

The conclusion of missives is similar to exchange but not the same. For one thing they don't actually really tell you when it happens. Also, in England, after exchange you are liable for the property and need to have insurance on it from that date. In Scotland it remains the seller's liability until entry date.
In Scotland you also have five days to report any issues with with water, heating and drains and can get the seller to pay for any rectification necessary.

Thank you, that helps clarify things.

My brother bought a house in Scotland and I know it was a pretty quick process but it had also fallen through twice before he bought it and I didn’t think that really happened.

That is so mean, they knew they were going to pull out of the sale before exchange day, you must be so disappointed.
I don't think you can improve anywhere except, perhaps jet wash the patio area and cut the grass? ...l hope someone snaps up the property quickly for you. Good luck

So basically it's nothing to do with your house, if they aren't sure about the neighbours then there's absolutely nothing you can do about that!

Not very clever to post the link and declare to everyone that googles the house that the neighbour’s are so bad that people don’t want to live there. I wonder if this is why OP has moved too.

The OP specifically said that there WEREN'T issues with the neighbours though.

Yeah but she is also saying the buyer suspected problems with neigbour. It must be severe if you pull out on exchange day.

So sorry this has happened to you op, absolutely awful behaviour from your buyer. I think I would do what others have suggested and make the garden office more of a feature in the description. It could probably do with a good tidy/spruce up to make it a more appealing space. How is the market in the area? Selling your house quickly, for asking price 7 months ago may not reflect what is going to happen now. Does your estate agent think this is still a realistic price? I hope you are able to get the house sold soon, it must be so stressful.

Nothing really wrong from the photos as such to make it less appealing….
If I was to buy it though, there would be a couple of layout changes I would make - the kitchen/diner/utility all knocked through and open plan. There’s no point you doing the work as the vendor as the new owners are likely to put their own stamp on it.

Personally, just get EA to refresh photos. Sorry this happened to you OP. So frustrating!!

Yes I would do the same with the layout.

Hopefully OPs EA will be suggesting it to viewers as the house definitely has potential to have a better layout.

@Maysurvive If you are still looking just to let you know FiL house went up for sale yesterday. We have the inheritance tax code and probate was applied for yesterday. The solicitor yesterday said based on her very recent experience probate is coming through closer to the 6 weeks now. Whereas when we first started the probate process back in early May she was quoting 16 weeks. I'm aware the gov.uk timeline is still showing as 6-16 weeks and there is always a possibility of a problem. I just thought you might like to know. If you want details let me know although I'm sure you can find it on all the portals.

It's a lovely house so hopefully wont' be on the market much longer.
a few things I would change: Paint the unit in the lounge white instead of blue. Take down the curtain n you kitchen/utility room. Declutter as much as you can moving things out so it shows the good size of the rooms. Mow the lawns & jet wash the paved area.

once you've got it how you like it ask for further photos to be taken & pay to have it as a priority posting on Rightmove. It keeps your property at the top of the page when people do a search.