Moving!!

If you really want something, and it’s the only thing you want after you’ve looked and looked, you have to pay what they want I’m afraid. That’s how an open market works.
Ask what they would take in order to move quickly.

Or it maybe that emotionally one or the other of them doesn’t really want to move, in which case it will go on and on.

Think hard about renting with nothing to go to. You could find yourself pushed into buying something that’s not really what you want.

Oh how worrying. Does your buyer have a reason for being desperate to move in other than wanting to get it all over with? Can your estate agent placate her for a bit longer?
The sellers of the bungalow you want must know that if they lose you they may not get another buyer for ages and presumably they agreed at least a guide price with their agent and are already incurring costs over the sale, so my inclination would be to hang on in there but keep looking around. Good luck!☀️

Such a tense time all around poor you,I would tell the EA that you must put a time scale on the decision time from the sellers of the bungalow and see if that makes them make the decision on your offer.

They’re holding out for a better, higher offer. We’ve had this done to us in the past. Tell them you’re pulling out unless the exchange is in X amount of weeks. I wonder why it’s been on the market for over a year? It sound like a long drawn out dispute and could go on for ever! Especially as they are both living in the house.

Continue to sell your house and look at other properties, maybe two stories with a down stairs bedroom?

We’ve always sold and bought later, it much less stressful and puts you in a good position, with cash. In the past we’ve rented short term holiday lets, putting our furniture in storage.

I was going to say renting. You’ll have somewhere for your furniture and time to find what you want. You’ll be in a great position to go in with a firm offer.
We were in the opposite position once with a couple of real ditherers, one day I told the Estate agent that they had to sign by the end of the week. They didn’t, they ended up buying another house that we didn’t even know was in the running. They kept our house off the market for months so if you give them an ultimatum then be prepared for an result that you may not expect! At least you’ll know where you stand.
We sold straight away when it was remarketed.

I agree with others. Issue an ultimatum - either they agree with your offer and proceed immediately or you'll pull out.

Have you considered buying a house that could easily accommodate a stairlift? Our house already had a defunct stairlift, which we had removed, but at least it meant that we knew our stairs could have one fitted if needed in the future. Plus, we had a downstairs loo installed for when we can no longer make it upstairs in time!

We moved last year in November. There was only our buyers and us in the chain and they consistently messed us about.

In the end you do have to give them an ultimatum and you have to be prepared to follow through I'm afraid. I always think if you don't get this house then its not meant to be- we were seduced by an amazing garden in a house we lost but looking back now we would have been mad to take on such a project.

So the right house is out there. We like you didn't want to rent as you're just eating up your equity but losing your buyer might mean extending the whole sale process so only you can weigh up the pros and cons.

Good luck...its the most stressful thing we ever did but oh so right !!

I don't think the owners of the bungalow really want to move and agree with all those who say issue an ultimatum. We had an offer accepted on a house which was being sold through Purple Bricks so we couldn't have a frank discussion with the agents and had to email the sellers instead. They didn't respond and had already said they hadn't found a new home so we looked at another house and fell in love with it. They were really put out when we pulled out of the purchase but have taken the house off the market so we feel vindicated in believing they were not really serious about selling.

The house we are buying is not a bungalow but has a straight staircase so could easily accommodate a stairlift when the time comes. Stairs are very good for you so buy yourself a house instead of a bungalow and you will find you have a lot more choice.

A keen buyer is a good thing to have, don't lose them for a bungalow which will probably never be yours.

Rent or stay with relatives and look for something else less complicated Bazza we did that very thing ourselves ten years ago.Found an even better bungalow!
Good luck, don’t lose your buyer, then you will be in a good position when you do find a house.

bazza if you have your dream buyer then move out, into rented if necessary.
Not only are the bungalow owners messing you around, they also have to find 2 properties, which could take months to find, so you will end up losing your buyers and having to start all over again. Not only that but until you have exchanged on the bungalow, they might drop you for someone with a higher offer.
my daughter exchanged and completed and then moved all on the same day, she was so afraid that her buyers would pull out at the last minute or offer her less. This seems to be happening more often ( exchange , completion and moving on same day)

Whilst not able to offer any advice to Bazza, just wanted to join in as the whole thing of selling and purchasing property in this country is a nightmare.
I have a nice house in a London suburb, want to sell it so that I can purchase a flat in Somerset, close to one of my children.
Three years ago tried this and - foolishly - then put in an offer on a flat, and then put the house on the market. House had a reasonable offer within a few weeks and I thought all should go through easily - vacant possession in flat i wished I purchase, and my buyers were staying with in-laws so had no property to sell. Six months of hell for me - making me quite stressed out and ill. Seems purchasers had no told whole truth as to their situation to agents. Eventually, I told them that if I lost the flat I was after I would pull out of the sale, which I did. Cost me money for legal fees, but the relief of it all being over was wonderful.
So, starting again now, I decided to wait to get a reasonable offer before actually looking for a flat. House has been on the market for a month now with local agents. A very slow market, (time of year, weather, etc. etc.), they insisted on originally marketing it above the price I felt it was worth - got four viewings - no offers. I have now reduced the price to what I think is about correct and had just two more viewings.
I have no particular time-table, but would like to get on with the next stage of my life - at 77 not sure how long I may have for this!!! Trying very hard NOT to get stressed, and it is no problems for me (living by myself) to keep the house clean and tidy. But do wonder how and when there are going to be more viewings. Am tied into this agents until nearly end of September - perhaps I have the wrong one.
Although I am downsizing considerably, due to personal circumstances only 50% of the house sale will be mine to spend on the flat, so cannot reduce too much.
Seems daft that I am living in a good size family house (3 beds plus loft room), with all good facilities which could be used by a family - and am beginning to feel trapped here.
Just wish there were other ways of realising the more or less full market price of this property.

Fran I believe the London market has slowed considerably and people are not getting the price they would have got a few months ago. It may be that you have to reduce it further to get a buyer. Sorry, not being negative but it is better to know and accept reality. Suggest you go into the agency and have a frank discussion with them. Some agents inflate the value of a house in order to get the business.

Perhaps you could look on Mouseprice for sold prices in your area. They are always a bit behind the market as they have to waitf for the Land Registry to release the figures. Good luck

Re Mary’s post at 13.27, How is it poss to exchange contracts, complete and move in one day? My DD looks like being in the same sort of rush, but their EA advises them not to book removal people, junk clearers, cleaners etc until they’ve exchanged contracts, and none of these people will hold an unconfirmed dates. Are there some tricks of the trade that she hasn’t cottoned on to?

winterwhite it’s more common than you would think, the solicitors say that it’s because it takes so long to get the searches done, I think it’s a pain, in the old days you could lock a buyer in with the deposit on exchange, nowadays they don’t want to be locked in.
It can also be use as a bargaining tool, after all you have to book removal companies etc. So if the buyer comes to you and says that they have decided to offer you 20k less than the agreed price what can you do?

My daughter was so stressed, the money went through just as her removal men finished packing the trucks, fortunately they were going into a rental, which they signed up in the hope that the sale went through. It makes a stressful time worse.

Thanks, Mary. Crumbs it’s an anxiety-making business.

You are going to have to issue an ultimatum to find out what their intentions are. If they don't fall in line you will know you have to look for something else. As you seem to have a good buyer its probably best to continue with her and then either rent or take up one of the offers of temporary accommodation. If you just leave it you could be in the same position for ages, its possible one of them doesn't really want to sell for some reason, that is not your problem and you might be better off out of it.

When I bought my current house I exchanged and completed on the same day but I wasn't moving in till a month later so just picked up the keys and set about getting the windows and doors replaced, decorated, carpets laid etc. Great way of doing it if you can. didn't sell my previous property till 2 years later when the market peaked.

bazza bizarrely, we are contemplating the opposite of you - moving from a bungalow to a town house! I have reservations but DH seems besotted with the new place. I had to point out there was not even enoug room to put a washing line in the courtyard,and no room for the tumble drier in the kitchen. However, it may all come to nothing as today’s valuation of our bungalow produced a price that would mean the purchase would not be possible. Crash go our dreams!

Hi Bazza and welcome to Gransnet! I really enjoyed your first post - just the right amount of information and background info .
Although we've moved house several times, we have never had a situation like this (maybe we're just lucky!) I agree with what others have said, you need to know by a certain date (and I would think the end of the week is long enough to give them), whether or not they are accepting your offer.
If it is accepted, be prepared for a long wait as they are obviously not the most motivated sellers and will have to find two properties. Maybe other prospective buyers have got wind that they are going to be messed about and not made or withdrawn offers because of this.
How about a frank face to face discussion with the EA to lay out your concerns and see what they advise?
Good luck!

Many thanks to all who replied to my moving dilemma! Really trying not to get too stressed about the whole thing. My sister used to be a legal executive involved with conveyancing (spelling of that looks wrong) for many years, and she says that people ALWAYS end up with the right house even if it may not seem so at the time. Incidentally she took early retirement as the job was so stressful!

NonnaW, how bizarre you are doing the opposite! Is it brand new? New houses are so seductive! Ours was new when we brought it, and it was bliss to move from a large and slightly shabby family house into something so new and shiny. But....after buying all the things you need for a new house we didn’t have nearly as much cash left as we thought. No regrets though.

Yesterday we have slightly raised our offer, as Eglatine 21 said, that’s how an open market works. But that is it, if they refuse we are going to let our sale go through and see what turns up! We have always been very gung ho, but as we lurch into our seventies we’ve become far more cautious. Something will turn up!

Incidently the man is going into rental and the lady has found somewhere. Allegedly.

So thanks again to all who cared enough to take the time to give an opinion. I’ve taken all your advice on board.

Its much easier to sell, rent, and buy. So much less stress. I would be more unclined to try for a six month rental than holiday rental. Gives you time. Would cost approximately same as 6 weeks holiday rental ( in N Ireland at least).

As long as they know you are so keen they will drag it out until you meet their price. As others have said tell them unless they exchange contracts within a set time you are withdrawing your offer. The first rule of negotiating is to show a willingness to walk away.

Yes, we’ve decided this morning if they don’t accept our final offer we will withdraw it and see what happens. It’s not as if we will ever be homeless. When did we become so cautious?! Twenty years ago we would have looked on it as an adventure!

Watch this space.

NonnaW. Maybe we should just exchange!