WWYD - house not selling

[OMarina]

We put our house on the market in the summer. Lots of viewings. Had an offer very quickly which was then abruptly withdrawn within days. The EA told us to reduce, which killed interest stone dead. About six weeks later we finally got another offer. They had a survey done within a week and then radio silence. We assumed all fine whilst we carried on trying to find somewhere. The market is dead where we are with very little coming to market. Our agent has been in very intermittent contact but knew we were viewing
places and had (unsuccessfully) made offers on a few houses.

Fast forward to now. EA casually mentions our buyers have enquired about another property they’re marketing. We tell them we have just made another offer on a house and are waiting to hear back. Within 24 hours our buyers have viewed, offered, and had it accepted. Cue them pulling out of ours.

I can’t shake the feeling our EA did nothing to protect the sale. No deadline for us to find somewhere, no attempt to keep the buyers on board. Our house is now back on with zero interest whatsoever at our previously agreed sale price. We are no longer proceedable so have had to leave our offer on the table for the house we wanted to buy. I can’t understand why you’d commit to money to a full survey and then walk away from purchase without at least giving an ultimatum or warning.

We are absolutely screwed as we need to apply for school places in January and are hoping to move to a different part of the city, so completely different catchment areas. I suspect the agent will push us to reduce again which will make an onward purchase next to impossible. I’m so tired to hearing it’s the budget and Christmas!!

I don’t know whether we should come off the market and try again in the new year, switch agents, or give up. It’s the school application which is really worrying me the most probably.

Sorry for the rant!

@HangryShaker ’I had an email from Right Move saying that Boxing Day is one of the busiest days for people looking for houses!?’

Bored People with nothing else to do, just surfing.

Are you sure your buyers really had a survey? That was extremely quick . Normally solicitors would be instructed as the first thing. Definitely switch agents before trying again. They should have explained this and let you know how long the buyers were willing to wait for you to find somewhere.

You can’t expect them to wait months for you to find an onward purchase - you should have made that a priority instead of offering on houses that were out of your price range and therefore refused - I don’t blame them one bit

It’s possible that your buyers were fine waiting, and then something happened for them - pregnancy, inherited a bit of money so could bid on a bigger place, job change etc. Or that your place was always a “good” and then an “excellent” came on the market.

My EA was on my case within 10 days of accepting on offer on my house to find somewhere. This is the second round after the chain broke at the six month mark and having to re-market. Had a very stressful 3 weeks - but did find something which I liked. My buyers were hassling at the 2 week mark. I would query a Vendors desire to move, if they took months to find a house.

No it’s not, it’s totally normal to instruct solicitors while seller is still looking

I didn’t say anything about not instructing a Solicitor. But you’d be foolish to spend out a lot of money on legal fees without their being a complete chain in place. Completely the sellers fault for not getting on with buying somewhere quicker.

You aren't going to sell it in Dec. I'd defo change agents.

A family member made an offer on a house early December and also accepted an offer in early December on a flat. Sometimes I think you are in a better position as fewer buyers around but at the same time your choice can be limited.

Solicitors move the sale along. You need to get yours on board at the earliest opportunity. You'd be better using a local high street EA with a good knowledge of the area and who also knows the area to which you'd like to move. You need to show them you are keen and proactive about moving. You may have zero interest until the New Year, so now you can concentrate on getting your act together. I've bought and sold 7 times moving from house to house. When I want to move, I do whatever is necessary to sell/buy. Good luck.