What would you do?

AmyShepherd

We started our house search properly in Jan 2019. There was not a great deal in our price bracket (£410k roughly), which fit our criteria. We stumbled across a property on Zoopla or Rightmove which was £450k which we loved and it was a 5 bed but WAY over budget and it had only been on a week so we discounted it completely.

Roll on another month and we found a 4 bed property which we liked and had our offer accepted for £385k. We've had a lot of ball ache from the EA in the fact they didn't disclose certain important info (pre fab property for example). Fast forward another 2 months and we've got our mortgage in place, just about to exchange and we were dropped a bombshell that they were not going to leave the property until September! We're both chain free, so came as a bit of a blow but we re negotiated the start of August instead (still a lot longer than I would like), but meh... It is what it is I guess. Our structural report also came back yesterday and it wasn't amazing, a bit of damp, but for a house of that age, it happens. No biggie really...

I noticed last night the original house we loved has been reduced to £400k, so we arranged a viewing this morning and we love it. The area is much better, street is pretty, nearer the station just all round a bit more convenient for us.

Now, we don't know what to do. I don't want to cause loads of agro really but do I buy the house we've already got the ball rolling with to save faffing people about or do I go for the home we love? Part of me thinks I need to just suck it up and if it was meant to be, it would've been cheaper back when we first saw it...

I'm also worried that if an offer is accepted on this new place, we pull out of the original sale and then we're gazumped or the survey is awful we'll be left with neither because we've, in my eyes, been greedy!

Ultimately I need to get a grip, but I really do not know what to do.

Thought I'd add the links to the houses.

Link 1 is the first house we're nearly exchanging on:
https://www.flaggs.co.uk/property-details/4545/hertfordshire/hemel-hempstead/stronsay-close-1

Link 2 is the house we originally wanted but it was over budget but now it's within budget:
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/50879934?search_identifier=4d258233a6ea8fc21f5b582294f898bd

Friday1989

I'd go for the one I loved. You spend a lot of time in your home, so it's important it's right.

jonnygee2

You haven't exchanged so there is no legal obligation to follow through on the other purchase. And in my mind, a house purchase is a business transaction and your legal and moral obligations are equivalent.

Play the game to your advantage.

Albala

Sounds like you have been comprehensively messed about by the sellers of the house you offered on (and/or their agents). If they didn't tell you upfront they were not planning to move for another five or six months, and had claimed to be chain free (which gives the impression of a reasonable quick transaction, or why say it?), how do you know they won't just back out later on and leave you in the lurch? I don't think you owe them anything. And I don't think people ought to buy a house they realise they don't want just to be polite to people who have mucked them about.

It sounds like you are well out of love with it too. I don't think it's being greedy in this case at all. You aren't suggesting gazundering or deceiving anyone. You've paid out for surveys etc. in good faith.



Perhaps you could at least sound out the agents for the second house to see if they might accept what you were willing to offer on it? If it looks possible, then you'll have to jump one way or the other. But on the face of it, House #1 looks like it could fall through at any point even if you stick with it, unless there is a well defined and good reason for the delay (and in your case, I'd certainly want an explanation for it).


If you plan to live in it for years, I think you need to go for the one you want, if it is within your budget. Your sellers have had their chance to sell to you, they are the ones putting it off, not you. But if you do offer on the other and get it accepted, I'd say it's only fair to withdraw the original one and not string them along. You'd just have to risk the survey on the second one being okay.


But whatever you do, there are risks. #1, they may drop out of the sale or lengthen the timescales again. #2 might get a bad survey, or other problems might emerge, and you get caught between the two and lose both. Which would you be more gutted to lose?

Finchy2018

Similar situation we had an offer accepted on a property, we even sent over our deposit for exchange but then we got informed that further up the chain decided to change properties and were back to square one . Viewed other properties fell in love with one and even posted on here about my moral dilemma.

We pulled out of the previous purchase and love love love the house we are in now. This is more a forever home than the previous one. So go with your gut. Don't feel bad, sales fall through about 33% if my figures are still accurate.

Davesnave

There is no way you will ever be happy with the house you intended to buy now. Dump the entitled sellers and go with the one you originally couldn't afford.


Yes, who knows, you may be gazumped, or there may be hidden history in this one too, but faint heart never won fair property.


I say this as someone who lost 3 buyers in succession in the Crash and about £60k on paper as a result. I got over it quickly and it didn't ruin my life, though it certainly woke me up!

warby68

Try for the one you love

TBH, with your lack of enthusiasm for the current one and the difficult vendors, I'd be pulling out anyway, regardless of chances with the other property.

Unless you have a really strong reason to be in your own property by a deadline, take some more time. I really believe that a house has to 'feel' right to be a happy home.

lookstraightahead

You need to split your actions into two parts.

I would forget the one you were going to buy - of course the owners can move out earlier they just don't want to. So walk away and be happy with that decision (don't make the other house the reason for dumping this one).

Then wipe the slate clean, look elsewhere and include the one you love. You might get it you might not.

I can't cope with sellers like this I would tell them to sling their hook!

babyblade41

Ditch the first, it will always be a choice you regret.. this new one may throw up hidden problems but as long as they aren't too horrid they can be overcome

I always get a feel for a house and know instantly if it's right

Oxon

A similar thing happened to me too, although the decision was made easier by a bad survey on the first house. Another argument for pulling out of buying the first house is that if it’s not the right house for you you will want to move again soon, meaning more moving costs, stamp duty, hassle etc...

comeandgo

You can't buy a house you don't love. Go with your gut feeling.