Sale fallen through

One of my friends’ elderly neighbour died a few weeks ago and her bungalow is for sale.
The estate agent will not let anybody view who hasn’t already sold or is in a position to move now.
I didn’t believe it at first but reading these replies has changed my mind.
It is a wonder any house sales go through.

Yes ann - that is how things are at present. Buyers are only shown round if they are in a proceedable position. My buyer (who has just dropped out) was in such a position - or so I was told. It was not true.

We've sold our house three times in the past two years ...each sale fell through just weeks before completion.We want to move and downsize but I'm so fed up with it I'll probably stay where I am.
Our estate agent calls regularly with people who are keen to view but unless I can get someone without any chain I'm staying put.
I hope you manage to get sorted ,especially in your circumstances where a move nearer family is important ,Good luck ,best wishes for a good outcome in the enar future

I am so sorry this has happened Luckygirl I don't believe your buyers could do that here in Scotland once the contract is signed it's final. I'm glad your house is back on the market. Good luck for an honest buyer this time

So sorry to hear this Lucky.
My son is in rented accommodation and had an offer accepted on a house. The owners said they were going to move into rented accommodation so there was no chain. They were hoping to move in a couple of weeks but now they hear that the owners have put an offer on another house and want to wait until that house becomes free. Meanwhile the 10per cent deposit is with the solicitor.
They are beyond upset also.
It seems house buying is ever easy.

DD1 sells new houses for a National House Building Company. They are ‘flying off the shelves’ but due to Covid viewings, there are no casual visits and prospective purchasers are pre financially checked to ensure they’re able to proceed. She always says every sale is ‘cash’ whether that comes from a previous sale, a mortgage or a windfall.
Hopefully you should get an offer soon,?.

Georgesgran -yes that term 'cash buyer' is very misinformed. To many of our untrained minds it means that the purchaser has the full price of the property in their bank account, ready to hand over. To the Estate Agents it means that they are (A) likely to get that amount from a mortgage application - assuming the property they wish to purchase has no problems - or (B) they will be selling their existing property for an excess amonunt to the one they wish to buy.

Why on earth English (and welsh and North Ireland) law on house purchase cannot be brought into line with that of Scotland so that this dreadful stress and costs involved = nobody has every explained. Perhaps there are just too many Conveyancing Solicitors ensuring the government does not take away this so very lucrative source of money!!!!

They say that house moving (purchase and selling) is one of the three most stressful things in our lives (other two being divorce and the death of someone close). I have been through both of of those (sadly my youngest son died aged 25 yrs), but, at least, with both of those I had some sort of control over what was happening - but with the house selling I had none. I would not wish it on my worst enemy - and will NEVER, EVER do it again.

I am fortunate that it did finally all happen - and I can look back and say that it worked out very well and I am so happy where I am now living. But I finally actually moved some four and half years after I first started the process. Did have one very long break of two years and a further one of nine months in between. But, when I started it all up again for the last time in April 2019 - I then experienced three purchasers drop out (one really very late in the proceedings), and had offers accepted on three different flats for me to purchase.

Stick in there Luckygirl and hope to hear from you within next couple of month of triumph and success.

Very sorry to hear your disappointment and every sympathy for your difficult situation.
Can you instruct your estate agent that you only want offers from cash buyers? i.e. those who have already sealed a deal on their property? I know some local agents who work on that basis only. It might be a longer wait for an offer but it would be a smoother journey when it happens. Good luck?

In my time as an EA cash meant exactly that, cash in the bank. We always asked for proof before stating that they were a cash buyer. A buyer with nothing to sell but who requires a mortgage is NOT a cash buyer.
I am surprised to hear that some agents are calling them cash buyers.

I'm very sorry to hear this, Luckygirl.

The builder of the house I want has said he will give me "a couple of weeks" and the estate agent wants me to give my buyers time to sell again. But I have said I want my bungalow back on the market now and if the original buyers manage to sell quickly then they can still buy. I do not think agent is best pleased with me, but I need to take the right steps so that the builder knows I am seriously trying to move things forward.

I'd try to negotiate a bit longer with the builder of the house you're hoping to buy.

As far as the agent is concerned, you are the one paying him, not your buyers, and he should be working in your best interests.
He needs to put the bungalow back on the market immediately; you cannot afford to wait for them. That should spur them on, too. He's just being lazy.

You may find, in a buoyant market, that a cash buyer could come along.
Many years ago we had two potential buyers for a house, one couple tried to gazump the cash buyer but we chose the cash buyer as we needed to move in a hurry.

Good luck ?

She always says every sale is ‘cash’ whether that comes from a previous sale, a mortgage or a windfall.

I think that someone who has a firm offer of a mortgage is a potential "cash buyer" but that is dependent on the lender carrying out a survey which meets their satisfaction.

But cash buyer should mean money in the bank and in a position to proceed without delay.

I think we all need to ask the right questions and not assume that just because we think something that everyone else agrees with our thoughts.
To an EA cash is money coming in, to me, cash means money already in their bank and not subject to any delays due to lending issues.
A Survey to me is a full structural survey, not a Mortgage Survey.
And a Proceedable buyer is one who has already exchanged on their property, or is not in a chain and will put down a deposit.

Oh Luckygirl my heart goes out to you, you've been so brave and tried hard to look on the bright side. This blip is very sad but please believe it is only a blip. I'm sure you've done the right thing in putting your house back on the market and we all have everything crossed for you. Good luck and big hug.

I have every sympathy - a dreadful situation to be in. Hope it resolves itself quickly.

I was just sitting on a wall outside the fishmonger in a small coastal village in Cornwall. Enter fisherman who asked his mate about such and such a house. Answer, "someone came and said, whatever the asking price is, I'll pay £50k more!"

Luckygirl persevere. Things will happen. Good luck!

On the bright side, as it's a bungalow you are selling it will be popular with older folk who are often genuine cash buyers.
What a lot of heartbreak and nonsense goes into buying and selling these days.
Your story Franbern is dire reading but at least there was a happy ending.

Just wondering how you are Luckygirl.

Shandy57 - that is very sweet of you to ask.

TBH I am not great - I have suffered from depression in the past after surgery and it is back with a vengeance. The mornings are spent weeping, and I feel physically drained as well. I am struggling to keep going really.

GP has given me medication; and yesterday I went to lunch with DD3, and then stayed the night with DD2 - both actions a bit of a covid risk, but I am at rock bottom, so that risk seems a mere nothing really.

DD2 has set up a room for me and I can go and stay whenever I want - they only live 10 minutes away. I have come back home today and will stay here tonight, but probably go back tomorrow.

I am in lots of pain as well from assorted physical ailments, so life feels very burdensome at the moment. I am trying to stay on top as I know the girls worry about me and I do not want that.

House-wise I am still waiting for my buyers to complete on their new sale to folk with a mortgage offer. I do not think there is anything at all that I can do to move things forward. My bungalow did go back on market and there was quite a bit of interest and one cash offer, which I refused as it was so low that the whole move could not have taken place. At the moment I am sticking with original buyer (number 3) as they are advanced in the whole solicitor routine so could potentially move speedily once their sale is sorted. I am just letting it all wash by me at the moment as I do not feel well enough to deal with it at the moment.

I appreciate your kind enquiry.

Not a good time for you lucky, I’m so sorry. and a hug from me.

Try and put a positive spin on things, Lucky. You are in a safe and comfortable home which, although you know you will have to leave one day, that day is in the hands of fate.

Your DD has set up a refuge for you when it all becomes too much but you still have your own place to go back to where you can weep and grieve in private without upsetting your family.

You WILL get there. xx

hi, oh what a pain! Selling houses is so traumatic......but if you do hate living where you are, then bite the bullet and stick with it.

Is there no chance of part exchange as there often is with new builds\? Maybe worth asking your builder, eh?

Good luck sweetheart xx

I know this is not the best option but could you sell your house at auction but putting a minimum price on it so that you are not giving it away.

Good luck.

Sorry you are feeling so bad Luckygirl. I'm not surprised as you have such a lot going on. Your DDs sound very supportive of you and it is great that DD2 is near you and can let you stay. Hope the load begins to lift soon x

Arghh Lucky, I am so so sorry to hear things are so tough for you at the moment. Thank goodness your daughters are so close and have space to have you around hugs