Advice on gazumping

Red1987

So I realise I probably won’t come across as very nice here, but please bare with.
We’ve been wanting to move house for several years - my husband owned the house prior to me, and we both would like to start somewhere fresh together. We’ve kept our eye out for about five years trying to find the right place, and finally, we found it. My husband doesn’t want to move out our village, so options have been very limited. Anyway, because we didn’t want to mess anyone around we weren’t on the market for those five years, when we found the house we wanted we went on. We made an offer on the house, which was accepted. This was six weeks ago. Anyway, we didn’t get a buyer quick enough (within two weeks) so they went back on the market. We’ve had an offer today, went back to the house we wanted but they’ve now accepted another offer. We tried upping our original offer (hubby has had a promotion in the last couple weeks) but the vendor has said no, as the new buyer has paid for a survey, and our buyer has a chain.
I’m now devastated - near the beginning of the year our baby was still born and I’m quite desperate now to get out a house filled with difficult memories. I can’t stand the thought of potentially another five years waiting for something else to come on. I am willing to do anything to get the house we saw, but I don’t want to be awful to anyone. My dad has suggested posting a letter through the houses door asking if there is anything we can do, but I think that maybe that’s a little aggressive and puts him in an awkward position? And obviously the new buyers have done nothing wrong at all and it would be very unfair to them, but honestly it means a lot to us, and we would offer to pay back their out of pocket fees if that would make any difference!
Do you think there is anything we could do?
Also, there is another property that is on for sale in our village, which is perfectly nice, but not the dream home. Would it be ridiculous to move there instead? I also am worried about letting our buyers down or messing them around, as they are in a chain and really loved our house!
Sorry for sharing our life story! I’m finding it all quite stressful!

Browntoa

If the vendor is doing the decent thing and sticking with their existing buyer there is not much you can do

Thrugelmir

This title is misleading.

How to gazump a gazumper!?

You weren't in a proceedable position when you made your original offer. The property went back on the market. Open to offers again. You lost out.

kingstreet

Unfortunately, you made an offer on a property when unproceedable. You were given an exclusion period and didn't sell during that opportunity and outside that, a proceedable buyer has come along.

The vendor has been absolutely spot-on, IMHO. Nothing to suggest.

Red1987

We were clear about our position when we made the offer, which was subject to sale. Our village has quite a quick turn around so we did request time to sell, which was agreed. But you’re right I just didn’t know how to word it. I’ll change it.

xylophone

Also, there is another property that is on for sale in our village, which is perfectly nice, but not the dream home. Would it be ridiculous to move there instead?

Could it be made into the dream home with adaptations/ renovation?

ReadingTim

You weren't gazumped - you weren't procedable, so the vendor went with someone who was, and is sticking with that person. You messed them around once, who's to say you won't do it again? Also, from your perspective, if the vendor is willing to go back on their word and accept a higher offer from you, who's to say they won't also accept a higher offer than yours from someone else?

Fact is, this house is gone, so get over it and move on. If there's another for sale in the village, and you won't leave that village, then that's the one you're going to have to buy. If you don't want to buy it, you're not going to keep living in the village - you can't have it all, so choose which you want more.

Red1987

Xylophone - it couldn’t unfortunately - it’s more location as the original is very rural.

ReadingTim- we didn’t mess them around, we were very upfront and open from the start. And you’re right, we weren’t gazumped and could be ourselves - I know it isn’t nice but it is something that happens.
Thank you for your advice.

middleclassbutpoor

its a difficult situation.

I have had someone put their house on the market as they want our house. I won't take it off the market or provide exclusivity to this buyer as I don't have an emotional attachment to any potential buyer - its who can offer the money and is in a position to proceed that will have my attention.

You clearly have a situation where you are looking to move out of a property with difficult memories so if this is causing you an issue then you can only look at what your realistic options are. As far as I can see, these are - remain where you are because location is most important, change location and possibly rent to make sure that you are in a position to buy (if you can't find anywhere else).

We took the decision to go on the market so we were attractive buyers for when we found our next house. When you start looking, its amazing how your outlook may change. Go and view other houses in different locations and you will soon get a feel of what is right or not.

What we thought we wanted and what we have actually liked have been quite different from our experience so far.

Red-Squirrel_2

If you want to be proceedable and ready to go the next time a ‘dream house’ comes up then you should continue with your sale and move into rented.

CocoLouie

My sympathies for what you have been through but you can't know the new buyers personal circumstances or how long they have been looking for what could also be their dream home so they may want/need it more than you.


You tried to gazump and failed so time to move on. If there is nothing available that is suitable to buy then you could sell your home and rent. It would get you away from your bad memories and put you in a better position to proceed for when a dream home comes up again. Or look at other available properties in the village which can be altered to make your dream home.