How to make sure I'm dealing with serious and keen buyer right from the start

itayshap

Hello,
When trying to sell a house is there a way to make sure that the buyer is serious and committed to process right from the start  (let's say 1 week from the moment the offer was accepted).
For example:
1. may i ask him to provide me a searches purchase receipt, 24-48 hours after his offer accepted?
2. can i ask him the same with mortgage valuation receipt?
What i mean can i ask him to show me some sort of proof that he's serious, and by proof i mean any expenses he had to pay for the conveyance process. 
How can i screen out slow/not serious right from the start?
I'll appreciate some tips from someone who had experience in that regard.
Thank you,
Itay

davidmcn

It would be a bit weird to start asking for "receipts", especially as such things don't necessarily even exist. If solicitors are instructed then his can confirm to yours that they've ordered searches.

Irishpearce26

I can guarantee a buyer will not have any of those 1 week after an offer has been accepted. The searches are usually carried out by their conveyancer and often don't take place until other elements of the process are carried out such as mortgage offer received, valuation complete etc.

They also don't have to show you any of this. What you can ask is how proceedable they are. Cash buyer/DIP in place, FTB/how big is the chain etc.

pinkteapot

The buyer won't have receipts. What normally happens is your estate agent will chase up the chain regularly (often weekly) and ask solicitors what stage they're at. The EA's job isn't just to find a buyer - it's also to progress the sale and make sure it's moving forward. This is assuming you use a decent EA. Solicitors tell the EA what's happened (e.g. searches ordered) and EA can update you.

Alternatively, as above, you can ask your solicitor to ask the buyer's solicitor what's happening.

Alter_ego

The serious ones usually have 2-3 viewings before offering, often with a tape measure. Not in London of course.
They ask serious questions, broadband speed, water pressure, etc.

AdrianC

itayshap said:

When trying to sell a house is there a way to make sure that the buyer is serious and committed to process right from the start  (let's say 1 week from the moment the offer was accepted).
For example:
1. may i ask him to provide me a searches purchase receipt, 24-48 hours after his offer accepted?
2. can i ask him the same with mortgage valuation receipt?
What i mean can i ask him to show me some sort of proof that he's serious, and by proof i mean any expenses he had to pay for the conveyance process. 
How can i screen out slow/not serious right from the start?

Nobody places an offer on a house thinking "Ha, this'll wind them up! I'll be as slow as I can - then pull out at the very last minute..."

It doesn't happen.

Start throwing your weight around like that, and all that'll happen is buyers go "Oh, gawd, one of them" and keep looking.

grumiofoundation

itayshap said:

Hello,
When trying to sell a house is there a way to make sure that the buyer is serious and committed to process right from the start  (let's say 1 week from the moment the offer was accepted).
For example:
1. may i ask him to provide me a searches purchase receipt, 24-48 hours after his offer accepted?
2. can i ask him the same with mortgage valuation receipt?
What i mean can i ask him to show me some sort of proof that he's serious, and by proof i mean any expenses he had to pay for the conveyance process. 
How can i screen out slow/not serious right from the start?
I'll appreciate some tips from someone who had experience in that regard.

The likely result of you doing this will be you will put a lot of 'serious; buyers off because unless they will have to debate whether it is worth dealing with a nightmare vendor. 

1. Our solicitors didn't instruct searches until vendors solicitor sent though their legal pack. So if you are going to demand searches are instructed within a week you had better be ready on your end.
2. So to clarify you will pull out of the sale if the mortgage company doesn't instruct valuation within a week ?

How are you going to convince the buyer you are a serious seller? Are you in an onward chain (if you are you can't expect your buyers to spend money before you've found a property). 

If your buyers have applied for a mortgage and instructed a solicitor, why wouldn't they be serious?

Sunsaru

My vendor asked me to book survey to show my intent. Once dates were confirmed they took it off the market. 

sgun

itayshap said:

Hello,
When trying to sell a house is there a way to make sure that the buyer is serious and committed to process right from the start  (let's say 1 week from the moment the offer was accepted).
For example:
1. may i ask him to provide me a searches purchase receipt, 24-48 hours after his offer accepted?
2. can i ask him the same with mortgage valuation receipt?
What i mean can i ask him to show me some sort of proof that he's serious, and by proof i mean any expenses he had to pay for the conveyance process. 
How can i screen out slow/not serious right from the start?
I'll appreciate some tips from someone who had experience in that regard.
Thank you,
Itay

You can ask but to me this smacks of "I'm better than you, I'm more important than you, my sale is more important than you doing due diligence before spending a huge amount of money on my house".
I had a seller like you, I found them overbearing and offensive. It was really only due to my conveyancer being grounded that I didn't pull out on several occasions. Also - don't ask your estate agent to hassle the buyer either. They will hassle them enough during the process anyway without you adding extra unreasonable timelines into the mix.

[Deleted User]

itayshap said:

I'll appreciate some tips from someone who had experience in that regard.

The best tip is not to do any of the weird and creepy stuff you suggested in your OP.

lookstraightahead

Sunsaru said:

My vendor asked me to book survey to show my intent. Once dates were confirmed they took it off the market. 

That would put me off as well. I would want to check out other things before paying for a surveyor.
i think the problem is Op, no matter how serious someone is, either party can't pull out at any point. Often it's the serious buyers who pull out later because they've done proper due diligence.