Thoughts on how to proceed......Or run a mile

Pok3mon

We have accepted an offer on our house and actively seeking a downsize. 
We viewed a house we like and offered full asking price yet to be accepted see below.
The house we want was First listed in November a offer was accepted but was told by the agent after 4 months the buyer pulled out.
We asked for a viewing of the house agent took 2 days to get hold of the woman (not answering phone) and us told she only does viewings on Sundays after 4pm. Fine this was on the Tuesday but agreed to wait for the viewing. The viewing went ahead and was a little abrupt and awkward but we like the house and ended friendly enough told the lady we would be putting in full offer.
Offer officially put into agent Monday morning the agent is the same agent selling our house so we have a relationship. Again took all day to get hold of the woman she refuses to give a answer as she has not found a property. 
At this point the agent told us she has been a issue in the past trying to find a property for herself and if she refuses our offer he is removing her from their books or she accepts offer and instructs solicitor by Friday.
She has responded with she is viewing a property Thursday and will make a decision then.
We are of the opinion this is a forced sale kids turned 18 child support stopped, divorce or debt and she is dragging feet or she wants a 500k house for 250k so can't find anything.
We asked her on the viewing her position and she said I don't know?
However it could be she has become disillusioned with the process after the last buyer pulled out?
My buyer is in free rental and cash buyer so is very chilled, I am also giving him and his builder full access to the house as he wants to start planning a extention.
So my questions are:
1, Can I force some form of financial commitment via solicitors so if she does muck about it costs her money as well as myself? By this I don't mean a penalty just a legal process that needs to happen when selling a house.
2, We like the house so do we roll the dice and try our luck. (we are struggling to find anything else in 3 weeks)
3, Run a mile!
Thanks 

Slithery

1) Yes, you exchange contracts.

Pok3mon

Slithery said:

1) Yes, you exchange contracts.

What i was more interested in was getting my solicitor to ask questions I want answered so her solicitor would have to start doing some work thus creating a cost.

Thrugelmir

Chicken and egg. Hasn't been easy in the past months to either view or find property. Some peoples work restricts them from being available during the working day. If you like the property. Don't shoot yourselves in the feet by expecting her to immediately find a property to purchase. 

ss2020jd

It does sound like she is not quite ready or eager to get things moving. I suppose it depends how long you (and your buyer, in effect) are willing to wait. Once she instructs solicitors and starts the paperwork there is still no guarantee until exchange, as mentioned, but she will have incurred costs by getting and completing the relevant forms from her solicitor. 

I’m going to view somewhere which I think may have similar issues. From looking on Zoopla I can see it has been listed twice before, the last time not that long ago, and then about 10 years before that. When I tried to book the viewing they were not going to be accepting viewings until about two weeks later. I asked the circumstances of the seller and was just told they haven’t started looking yet and do not wish to be pressured. Whilst not in a massive hurry I don’t think I would feel comfortable with a seller or endless waiting situation like that unless there was good reason or I really had no choice. I suppose you have nothing to lose in the meantime but if it continues without any commitment in the meantime you could decide to cut your losses and move on.

Pok3mon

Thrugelmir said:

Chicken and egg. Hasn't been easy in the past months to either view or find property. Some peoples work restricts them from being available during the working day. If you like the property. Don't shoot yourselves in the feet by expecting her to immediately find a property to purchase. 

I get this, I just hope the other guy did not pull out after 4 months because of waiting.

NameUnavailable

The answer to question 1 is no.

Did you ask the agent why the previous buyer pulled out? What was the answer if so?

The vendor sounds 'wooly' to say the least. I would leave it as it stands (you have offered and they've not declined) and keep looking for something else in case this one doesn't proceed any further.

Pok3mon

NameUnavailable said:

The answer to question 1 is no.

Did you ask the agent why the previous buyer pulled out? What was the answer if so?

The vendor sounds 'wooly' to say the least. I would leave it as it stands (you have offered and they've not declined) and keep looking for something else in case this one doesn't proceed any further.

This is how we are playing it. However I feel guilty looking around and possibly making offers while waiting for her. We have stopped viewings until she gives answer.

Justonemorecupoftea

Keep the offer on the table with her, but don't start progressing the sale until the chain is complete and make it clear there will need to be a memorandum of sale on the property she is buying as well as solicitors instructed before you do anything. In the mean time keep looking.

gettingtheresometime

A house nearby to us has been on the market numerous times and each the sale has fallen through.
Now it might be bad luck and it may have been an issue with the buyers but in each case there is that common factor.......
It has recently sold (yet again) and we're all waiting to see if they do actually move ...but we're not holding our breath.