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Original poster

Stressed about making our buyers wait

39 replies

AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:11

We have an offer on our house from first time buyers. Very excited to move in obviously.
Through the whole process we made it very clear we hadn't found anywhere yet.

We accepted the offer 6th Jan. We have been looking but not yet found somewhere. We are relocating 50 miles away and every spare moment going to viewings. It's obviously a huge decision and we are trying our best to move the process forward.
One potential house we may put an offer on but... im not 100% still.

Spoke to solicitor today who said it would be unlikely that we would exchange before the stamp duty break now even if we find a house chain free tomorrow.

if they pull out that's OK. We'll, it's not. It's stressful but I would understand.

I just.. feel bad. How long is acceptable for them to wait?

OP posts:
Itsanomen · 04/02/2025 20:14

Hmm if I was them I'd continue to look for houses and offer if I found one that was more likely to proceed. I think a month is fine but much more is pushing it.

myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:14

When we were FTB we pulled out after waiting 5 months which I now think was way too long and we should’ve pulled out earlier.

It would have helped if we’d been kept updated on their search. We didn’t know if they were going to viewings or making offers - we only found that info out if we chased repeatedly.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:15

Itsanomen · 04/02/2025 20:14

Hmm if I was them I'd continue to look for houses and offer if I found one that was more likely to proceed. I think a month is fine but much more is pushing it.

Yeah I totally get it. Would be sad but accepting if they pulled out.

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myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:15

Also if you’re relocating is there any way you’d consider renting at first? Means you can live in the area before you commit by buying.

Depends if you’re porting a pre-madness mortgage rate though I realise.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:17

myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:14

When we were FTB we pulled out after waiting 5 months which I now think was way too long and we should’ve pulled out earlier.

It would have helped if we’d been kept updated on their search. We didn’t know if they were going to viewings or making offers - we only found that info out if we chased repeatedly.

Wow 5 months?! We have been totally honest with EA. Updated them on our viewings twice a week.
It's just hard with full time jobs and DS in nursery to drive 50 miles every day. We did 5 at the weekend and are really trying.

I guess we just keep comms up as much as possible and accept its up to them

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:17

myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:15

Also if you’re relocating is there any way you’d consider renting at first? Means you can live in the area before you commit by buying.

Depends if you’re porting a pre-madness mortgage rate though I realise.

Yeah we are porting and would be messy to rent first. Want to avoid it as much as possible really...

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myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:20

AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:17

Wow 5 months?! We have been totally honest with EA. Updated them on our viewings twice a week.
It's just hard with full time jobs and DS in nursery to drive 50 miles every day. We did 5 at the weekend and are really trying.

I guess we just keep comms up as much as possible and accept its up to them

Show quote history

We loved the house, and mortgage rates had shot up so we wanted to go with this house and the mortgage offer we had.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:20

I guess we keep pushing ans updating them. It's all we can do.

My own experience as a FTB was exchanged and completion was a week! Or 2, can't remember but it was literally what was legally required as they could move immediately as could we.

Just feel bad for them. But, at the same time, can't move my family to a maybe and regret it...

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WimbyAce · 04/02/2025 20:22

Our buyer last year waited for us for about 6 months. We had found though but our vendor had not. I guess it depends how much they want the property and what else is about.
We waited for our vendor for 6 months. Ironically it was our vendor who remarketed when our 2nd buyer pulled out, the cheek of it!!

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:25

Well hearing 5 and 6 months makes me feel a little bit better...

Guess all we can do is be honest and update regularly. I know they really want this house. Said they have been searching a long time and it's the house for them.

Either way, I would understand if they pull out. Just hope they don't think we are taking the piss. We really aren't

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Gettingbysomehow · 04/02/2025 20:25

My DS is in the same situation reversed. He is a first time buyer and the sellers still haven't found a house after some months. He is seriously considering g pulling out as his his mortgage offer has run out twice and is about to run out again. He's had enough.
Trouble is there is very little on the market at this time of year.
Maybe you could consider renting for a while while you look.
I did this last time I moved. I was selling to first time buyers who would not wait so I .moved into a short term. Rental until I found a house I wanted. It worked out very well.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:28

Gettingbysomehow · 04/02/2025 20:25

My DS is in the same situation reversed. He is a first time buyer and the sellers still haven't found a house after some months. He is seriously considering g pulling out as his his mortgage offer has run out twice and is about to run out again. He's had enough.
Trouble is there is very little on the market at this time of year.
Maybe you could consider renting for a while while you look.
I did this last time I moved. I was selling to first time buyers who would not wait so I .moved into a short term. Rental until I found a house I wanted. It worked out very well.

Renting wouldn't be ideal for a number of reasons I won't go into.

Sorry your DS is going through that. Couldn't blame him for pulling out.

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JoyfulSpring · 04/02/2025 20:50

If your buyers pulled out, could you sell again quickly? Did you get multiple offers? Just thinking you can't make offers if you have no buyer so it's worth trying to keep them.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 20:54

JoyfulSpring · 04/02/2025 20:50

If your buyers pulled out, could you sell again quickly? Did you get multiple offers? Just thinking you can't make offers if you have no buyer so it's worth trying to keep them.

We had 2 offers. One just under asking and one at asking. Totally get what you're saying though.

I think we leave the ball in their court. Here is our situation. Doing what we can to speed it up but want to make the right decision

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minitigs · 04/02/2025 21:01

I'm really surprised at some of the responses here. We're in a similar situation - we accepted an offer on the 2nd Jan from a first time buyer. Within 5 days he organised a surveyor to assess our property and had his mortgage agreed.
We've looked every single week since, up in double figures on viewings - we are looking at relocating too, but to the next town along 😅
We have put an offer in on a house today, and are waiting to hear.
Our buyer enquired with our estate agent about our progress at the 3 week mark.
Suffice to say, he seems very keen.
But to have found a purchase within a month of being under offer, I feel is highly unrealistic!
It's our (and yours!) estate agents job to keep the buyer happy and informed whilst we search!

OverwhelmedAndUnderprepared · 04/02/2025 21:10

Remember that spring is usually the peak time for the housing market; it's likely that more houses will go on the market from late Feb to April, and 2-3 months is not a long time to wait in the grand scheme of things. If they're FTB with a periodic tenancy they have a lot of flexibility and probably won't mind waiting for the right house, especially if there's not a lot on the market. If I were you I would try not to feel too pressured and panic buy something that isn't right, but also be realistic about your options, try and think about what's a deal breaker and what isn't.

We put our house on the market last June, had several offers and accepted an offer from FTB in rented, but asked the agent to make it very clear that they would have to wait until we had found a house, and it might take a while (due to the market in the area we want to move to - there's very little available and a lot of competition). They kept chasing for updates which I found really annoying to be honest. I did tell the agent when we were viewing a property we thought we might want to offer on, and when we were putting in offers, but I didn't see the point in constant updates when there was nothing to tell. Anyway, predictably the buyers pulled out after waiting for 6 months. We put our house back on the market and have more offers to choose from, sadly not quite as good as the first buyers, but still good enough.

I have two young children (one with autism) and two cats, so renting would be extra stress and disruption for them, and tbh I don't know if I could even find a rental that would accept the cats. I'm starting to consider renting if we don't find a house to buy in time. But it's harder for us than it would be for others without pets. So I won't feel too guilty if our new buyers have to wait a bit.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 21:12

minitigs · 04/02/2025 21:01

I'm really surprised at some of the responses here. We're in a similar situation - we accepted an offer on the 2nd Jan from a first time buyer. Within 5 days he organised a surveyor to assess our property and had his mortgage agreed.
We've looked every single week since, up in double figures on viewings - we are looking at relocating too, but to the next town along 😅
We have put an offer in on a house today, and are waiting to hear.
Our buyer enquired with our estate agent about our progress at the 3 week mark.
Suffice to say, he seems very keen.
But to have found a purchase within a month of being under offer, I feel is highly unrealistic!
It's our (and yours!) estate agents job to keep the buyer happy and informed whilst we search!

Thanks hun x

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 21:13

OverwhelmedAndUnderprepared · 04/02/2025 21:10

Remember that spring is usually the peak time for the housing market; it's likely that more houses will go on the market from late Feb to April, and 2-3 months is not a long time to wait in the grand scheme of things. If they're FTB with a periodic tenancy they have a lot of flexibility and probably won't mind waiting for the right house, especially if there's not a lot on the market. If I were you I would try not to feel too pressured and panic buy something that isn't right, but also be realistic about your options, try and think about what's a deal breaker and what isn't.

We put our house on the market last June, had several offers and accepted an offer from FTB in rented, but asked the agent to make it very clear that they would have to wait until we had found a house, and it might take a while (due to the market in the area we want to move to - there's very little available and a lot of competition). They kept chasing for updates which I found really annoying to be honest. I did tell the agent when we were viewing a property we thought we might want to offer on, and when we were putting in offers, but I didn't see the point in constant updates when there was nothing to tell. Anyway, predictably the buyers pulled out after waiting for 6 months. We put our house back on the market and have more offers to choose from, sadly not quite as good as the first buyers, but still good enough.

I have two young children (one with autism) and two cats, so renting would be extra stress and disruption for them, and tbh I don't know if I could even find a rental that would accept the cats. I'm starting to consider renting if we don't find a house to buy in time. But it's harder for us than it would be for others without pets. So I won't feel too guilty if our new buyers have to wait a bit.

Edited

Thank you hun x

OP posts:
2025willbemytime · 04/02/2025 21:17

I sold mine and offered on one within a few days. Waited five months for my vendor's vendor to find. In the meantime I had two buyers pull out. Got another three days later. All good to go except above me wasn't. Within two days of this I viewed and offered same day on another and pulled out on original place. They were Not Happy. But I wasn't happy at being lied to. From putting on the market to moving in will be eight months if it happens as currently expected.

Sold mine three times.
Offered on two.

ThoroughlyModernNotMillie · 04/02/2025 21:20

Last year my son's FTB waited a year and a fortnight after making an offer to completion day.
They viewed my son's flat and offered 2 days after it went on the market. Son and wife found a house within a week or 2, offer accepted and went almost to exchange 5 months down the line and the sellers pulled out. FTB loved it so much they were prepared to wait, and it took a further 7 months for my son to get to completion on another property. FTB probably could even have negotiated a reduction as prices had decreased slightly, but they didn't.

Icanflyhigh · 04/02/2025 21:29

We are FTB and had an offer accepted on 8th Oct last year - no chain at either end, our mortgage offer is in and valid and we expected to move before Xmas.

Now transpires there is a tiny parcel of unregistered land in the garden and the vendor has submitted an adverse possession order to land registry.

This was expedited as there is a pending transaction against the property, expedited with a 10 working day time frame just before Xmas.

We're now into Feb, it sits with land registry senior review team and there's been no update for weeks.

We're ready to pull out as the waiting is killing us, even though its our dream house and ticks all our boxes.

The stress is beyond belief and the powers that be at land registry along with solicitors and estate agents just don't understand there are real people at the end of these trails.

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 21:30

ThoroughlyModernNotMillie · 04/02/2025 21:20

Last year my son's FTB waited a year and a fortnight after making an offer to completion day.
They viewed my son's flat and offered 2 days after it went on the market. Son and wife found a house within a week or 2, offer accepted and went almost to exchange 5 months down the line and the sellers pulled out. FTB loved it so much they were prepared to wait, and it took a further 7 months for my son to get to completion on another property. FTB probably could even have negotiated a reduction as prices had decreased slightly, but they didn't.

A YEAR?! Wow. I guess it is all about jow much they want it.

These replies make me feel better that we aren't be unreasonable. We have been totally honest every step and updating where we can. Only fair to do so.

Guess we wait and see.

Appreciate the replies. Thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 21:31

Icanflyhigh · 04/02/2025 21:29

We are FTB and had an offer accepted on 8th Oct last year - no chain at either end, our mortgage offer is in and valid and we expected to move before Xmas.

Now transpires there is a tiny parcel of unregistered land in the garden and the vendor has submitted an adverse possession order to land registry.

This was expedited as there is a pending transaction against the property, expedited with a 10 working day time frame just before Xmas.

We're now into Feb, it sits with land registry senior review team and there's been no update for weeks.

We're ready to pull out as the waiting is killing us, even though its our dream house and ticks all our boxes.

The stress is beyond belief and the powers that be at land registry along with solicitors and estate agents just don't understand there are real people at the end of these trails.

Sorry to hear that. We are totally trying to move it forward to avoid that kind of stress

OP posts:
SherbertLemons · 04/02/2025 21:32

I could have written your post. Save for we accepted an offer on ours on October from FTB. We are looking for a rental to move into so we can complete ahead of the stamp duty change (for them). Like you, we just haven't found anything we like to purchase. We are finding it hard to find an affordable rental (landlords want double our mortgage cost for a half as nice house). Its very stressful

Original poster
AlexisP90 · 04/02/2025 21:35

SherbertLemons · 04/02/2025 21:32

I could have written your post. Save for we accepted an offer on ours on October from FTB. We are looking for a rental to move into so we can complete ahead of the stamp duty change (for them). Like you, we just haven't found anything we like to purchase. We are finding it hard to find an affordable rental (landlords want double our mortgage cost for a half as nice house). Its very stressful

It is stressful. The rental thing has crossed our minds but it's just a total last resort.

I really hope things work out for you x

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