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

UnderOffer

Our buyers provided solicitor details, booked survey and had their mortgage confirmed via EA, all very promptly, they then separated after Christmas so pulled out of purchase. 

Was I also to ask how long they had been in relationship, we’re they confident they’d stay together, can they prove the stress of house buying won’t make them separate?
Things happen and are not guaranteed you just have to move on. 

Skiddaw1

As @UnderOffer says. I think all you can do is to rely on your gut feeling and hope for the best, and even then circumstances can change. We lost a clearly committed buyer following unexpected redundancy.

Sunsaru

lookstraightahead said:

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.

In my case I'd viewed 2 (or 3) times before I put in my offer, which was under asking price. It took a week or 2 for the offer to be accepted so I guess they wanted to see how serious I was (they really needed to sell). The vendor was spot on throughout the process and even spent a few pennies on the the electrics when I requested. That was before I'd even instructed my solicitor so it was more about good faith than pressurising.