Should buyers already have mortgage in principle and proof of deposit?

[Lunchtimehelp]

We had some people view our house on Thursday night, Friday they submitted an offer. The estate agent are waiting for them to provide their proof of deposit and mortgage in principle.
I asked the EA today if they have a Mortgage in Principle already or if they need to apply for one? She said she is still waiting for for them to reply to the call and text. (Unsure when this was).
I am starting to think this won't happen. We only have a grace period of 2 weeks from our sellers as our other buyers pulled out!
I am so worried we won't get the house we want.

I would have thought they would be on it straight away!

No mortgage in principle and proof of deposit then no offer is acceptable. They are playing you for idiots. If the market was good there wouldn't have even been a viewing.

We didn’t even allow viewing unless they could prove funds

My ea wouldn't bother arranging viewings for people who didn't have a mortgage offer and proof of deposit. Didn't want to waste their and my time. If prospective buyers don't have them, they are not serious.

This is what we will need to do from now on.

So...how long do we wait?

You don't wait. It's not a viable offer.

Yep, there's no accounting for some people's behaviour - I'm all over every email the instant it drops. But, keep calm. Your next step is the memorandum of sale-this is produced after your buyer has been checked out by the EA and ensures they are, on paper at least, in a position to proceed. So ID confirmed, details of their conveyancer, and MIP or proof of funds. That can take a couple of days at least. Unless you've stipulated that these checks are done before viewings are arranged, you're inevitably gonna get some people who are a stage behind. But nothing to stop you continuing to accept viewings (and definitely continue to advertise) in the meantime and then you can decide who's most likely to proceed to completion.

I wouldn’t wait , still except viewing and see if you get any other offers .

I think I am trying to gauge weather this will actually happen and the buyers are just not doing anything as it's the weekend?

I know a few EA's in the area won't see funds until an offer is put in. We viewed many houses ourselves with different agents and they did not ask if we were proceedable.
However I am aware other areas in the UK won't show people around unless they have the proof.

We won't be taking it off the market until the proof is there, I just want to know if it's normal to wait a few days for them to provide the documents as we sent our offer hours after submitting our offer to the EA that we are buying from.

You're definitely doing the right thing by continuing to market your property. People are insane if they think they can just gain access to someone's property but not then have to prove their financial credentials. Put it this way, if they really are serious buyers and really committed to buying your property they would be eager to prove they have the ability to pay with the deposit and mortgage offer. Or give a clear plan to your EA where they're getting their mortgage from and where they have the deposit money. It really isn't hard.

I just want to know if it's normal to wait a few days for them to provide the documents as we sent our offer hours after submitting our offer to the EA that we are buying from.

Id give them the benefit of the doubt that it's slow atm because of the summer holidays, keep your property on the market so they know they need to get their information ready pdq or they risk losing your property,

we had someone wanting to view our property when they aren't even on the market and they then claimed they didn't need to be with an EA because "we're cash buyers". EAs are desperate to drag people off the street to view at the moment, and said let them come and view, but we're not prepared to have time wasters out for a jolly on a Saturday, we need some proof of intent. They've now done a disappearing act, how predictable. It proves they aren't serious. Anyone can claim they are cash buyers! We're going to have to prove our credentials to our Developer in due course, because we're serious about buying so we'll make sure they have no doubts.