What do you reckon to this? <<raging and (I think) gazundered>>

[WomanInTheMoon]

A bit of back story..we found the perfect house, put ours on the market asap had 4 viewers & 2 offers within 5 days. We took it off the market as soon as we got the asking price (v quickly) & sale agreed on our dream house. Going all too swimmingly...
That was eight weeks ago.

We have been waiting and waiting for our purchasers (ftb - no chain, cash buyers ...perfect you'd think ) to sign the contracts which have been ready with their solicitor, ready, for almost 2 weeks.
The ea and our solicitor has been trying to get in touch with them & their elusive solicitor all this past fortnight with not much luck, they finally did (rang the ea) last Tuesday saying they had been away on holiday. The ea stressed we need to sort out schools & kitchens need to be booked 8 weeks in advance so the completion dates would be set once they had signed.
They have over the past few days become quite difficult to get hold of but stated they were waiting for a completion date from their solicitor but stated there was no problem and they would make an appointment to sign but it has always been 'tomorrow'.
We and the EA decided to contact the underbidder on the off chance they may still be interested, and yes, keen is an understatement but we let them know the sale agreed couple were still going to sign.
Today an appointment was made for tomorrow 10am for the original couple to sign. Since then they rang the EA with some convoluted excuse they need £5k off the asking price (something to do with money - how come now?) Swinging the lead, somewhat. We immediately went back and said 'No'. We feel we have been strung on long enough to be not messed around any longer. They have acted in my opinion naively throughout, eg, no survey carried out (said they didnt want one), no second viewing, and when they were bidding they said they 'needed to know asap as they were bidding on another property' . There are other examples.

gaaaaa i am raging! Why do people do this? I'm so cross at having feeling like I have wasted the last 2 months on these idiots who think nothing of messing our and the ones up the chain around, without a second thought, not to mention the 2 surveys we have had done on the property we are still hoping to buy.

As an aside the purchaser is a solicitor (although didnt do any of the conveyancing), can I put a complaint in to the Law Society? Trying to think karma instead of wrecking revenge....

Why would they make an appointment with their solicitor and then decide to ask for 5 grand off?

What do you think they'll do in the morning? The EA told them we said no. we genuinely cannot afford to take any off the price of our house.

And what would you do?

Thanks for reading this rant! Sorry its a long 'un

[WomanInTheMoon]

update!

i still am unsure but their solicitor has emailed ours claiming the contracts are signed and on their way over to our solicitor. i'll believe it when i see it, but it is looking better. i'm worried they will sign the contracts for the 5 k less though.

we will see, when it arrives, our solicitor is going to phone & we will go down..

my head is exploding...I can't wait

[stressed2007]

mmmm...this sounds odd. An exchange is done by one solicitor calling the other and literally saying "we are exchanged" - they will also confirm address, price and any other important details such as completion date. It has nothing to do with contracts being signed (which they need to be before exchange) or being sent. The solicitors need to agree an "exchange" has taken place. Your solicitor exchanges without being in receipt of the buyers contract - this follows later.

[hullygully]

Good luck! (It sounds fine...)

[stressed2007]

I am sure all will be ok.... just make sure you know what's what by ths evening so you can sleep.

[GeneHunt]

I hope all is well.

[WomanInTheMoon]

It's all good - we have signed the contracts this afternoon!

They had signed their contract for our house for the asking price, which is a total relief all round. My husband picked up the contract and brought it to our solicitors at 4.30pm where we signed and exchanged. Now it goes to the vendor of the house we are purchasing but I am sure that will go well - they had been trying to sell their house for 2 years, so they are keen to get it all done.

I am so relieved and still a little annoyed at the purchasers of ours chancing their arm so close to the deadline. Whatever the market it feels like such a mean thing to do, we had priced our house to sell so it really felt like they were/are getting a bargain.

Its a small thing but I think I want to leave them the squashed fly thats on the kitchen window.

Thank you everyone for your support today, it really has meant a lot and given me/us the confidence to stick to our guns.

There's a large glass of wine with my name on it, chin chin & thanks again x

[GeneHunt]

Delighted for you!

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

I wouldn't bother cleaning if i were you

[LovingTheSunshine]

Yay congrats