Buyer has gone quiet...

CC89

Hi,

My other half and I agreed a sale on our house back In October and had an offer accepted on a new house. Our buyer was adamant that she wanted to be in before Christmas but due to paperwork and both our solicitors being off for the holidays it wasn’t possible. Shes been a keen buyer and on top of things the whole time. She’s had surveys done and asked lots of questions which we have answered including fixing an issue she had a problem with. We have also been on top of emails, paperwork and responding quickly as the place we’re buying is chain free and ready to move into too.

Suddenly, since just before Christmas she has gone quiet and no one has heard from her. The solicitors and estate agents have chased her up and she hasn’t responded to anyone. Lasts we heard she was supposed to be checking that she’s okay with the last answers to questions she’s asked last. We’re worried that because she’s gone quiet for over two weeks that she’s going to pull out of the sale and we’ll lose our place. It just feels like a strange situation and we’re not sure what’s happening. We’re all at the point of agreeing an exchange date and everyone has invested money now.

Any advice as to what we should do? Or if there is anything we can do?

Thank you!

Skiddaw1

To be honest, there isn't a great deal you can do other than to set an ultimatum (if you hear nothing by a certain date you'll put your house back on the market). Hope she emerges now Christmas is properly over. Perhaps give her until the end of next week?

Bossypants

If she only went quiet just before Christmas and was proactive before then, I'd give her at least until the end of next week before you worry too much. People frequently get overwhelmed during the last two weeks of December through to the first few days of January. I had a similar situation with my buyers this time last year, but they popped back up soon after and everything was fine.

kdotdotdotdot

A possible combination of Christmas/New Year with holiday travel and possibly the flu?

davidmcn

Is everyone involved back to work? Plenty won't be until Monday.

G_M

She's paid out for survey and legals so unlikely to decide to withdraw without a good reason.


Far more likely to be the time of year: Xmas, maybe away (though you'd expect her totell her solicitor) but still,people get distracted at xmas.


Don't start jumping to conclusions till middle next week at least.

bspm1

kdotdotdotdot wrote: »

A possible combination of Christmas/New Year with holiday travel and possibly the flu?

The buyer is female, we females don't do man flu, she would have to be very very poorly to not answer.
But she may be away, may have had an accident, may be in hospital and lord forgive may be dead!

Thrugelmir

Probably just enjoying the break. A few days isn't neither here nor there.

Nebulous2

Maybe a pre-Christmas entry really was a dealbreaker for her, and rather than believing it wasn’t possible she believes her requirements were over-ruled?

Bossypants

bspm1 wrote: »

The buyer is female, we females don't do man flu, she would have to be very very poorly to not answer.
But she may be away, may have had an accident, may be in hospital and lord forgive may be dead!

Speaking as a 'female', this has got to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever seen on this website. Of course women, being individuals, get sick and unresponsive at different rates, and unless you know your buyer well, you are unlikely to know hers.

kuratowski

In addition to illness or a long holiday (especially antipodean?) as mentioned above, a family bereavement is another possibility. Almost all the deaths in my family seem to have been in winter, shortly before or after Christmas. It does tend to change your priorities.