Latest stage I can pull out of a purchase?

mrchuckbass

Long story short, I want to buy a property, but my girlfriend is out of the country for the next few weeks

Can I put a bid in (after my viewing), and then when she does her viewing, retract the bid if required?

AdrianC

Yes.

You can pull out for any reason, right up to the point of exchanging contracts - which is sometimes the same day as completion and moving...


But don't be surprised if EAs start to treat you as a time-waster if you do it too often.

25_Years_On

Officially up to when contracts are exchanged (or afterwards if you're happy to lose thousands of pounds). If accepted you'll need to get a conveyancing solicitor fairly quickly so you'll have to pay the costs of their work.

Unofficially you shouldn't go around !!!!ing sellers off and wasting their time by putting in an offer you're not sure about.

PasturesNew

That's a bit rotten of you to consider that. You're messing everybody about and if your gf says "no", the agents might write you off as a loser.

Nobody likes to have their time wasted, especially sales people who might lose the sale AND their client AND get a telling off from the boss ... might even get the sack if that goes pear shaped.

If you like it, tell your GF, be honest with the agent that she needs to see it before you can say "yes"....

theartfullodger

You can pull out up to completion but that's v expensive

MysteryMe

Yes you can, but I think you'll need to be upfront and honest about the status of your offer if you make one. If you stay quiet and just put an offer in that is accepted the expectation will be that you start the buying process not do nothing for a few weeks and then all of a sudden want to start viewing again.

The vendor will also potentially be committing themselves to expenses on their intended purchase as well although I'd be very suspicious of a buyer who offered and then did nothing.

Why not just do some viewings to identify some likely candidates until the girlfriend returns instead.

Kidder81

Some people seem to lack basic decency.

Why don’t you hold off viewings until your girlfriend is available to view? Have some manners and treat people how you’d like to be treated and don’t mess people about.

gycraig_2

Why completely waste peoples time looking round houses when you need to bring partner anyway ?

SeasideSally

mrchuckbass wrote: »

Long story short, I want to buy a property, but my girlfriend is out of the country for the next few weeks

Can I put a bid in (after my viewing), and then when she does her viewing, retract the bid if required?

You can do that if you're comfortable with deception.

Stop for a moment and consider the fact that there are human beings involved in this process other than yourself. The sensible (decent) thing to do is to wait until your girlfriend returns and begin viewing properties then. Until she does return, you're not in a position to proceed.

theartfullodger

Your girlfriend can also tell you that after your posting this question and displaying your morality she no longer wishes to have anything to do with you: No time limit on that one.

Reed_Richards

Shouldn't you consult your girlfriend? Even out of the country she should be able to view the agent's listing online and you can explain to her why you liked it. She might then give consent for you to make an offer but she might consider it high-handed of you to even consider this without giving her the opportunity to view the property herself.