How to move on when a purchase falls through

Welshspacechick

Hi all some advice please as I really feel like I've been through the ringer the last few days.

My vender has been increasingly flakey for the last few weeks - setting unreasonable deadlines (eg 2 weeks to complete the week we got a new buyer) and ultimatums. On thurs we were told they had pulled out of the sale. On Friday we were told that they were committed to the sale and promised no more threats or ultimatums.  So imagine my surprise today to get an email withdrawing out of the blue! We were weeks away from exchange, have spent a fortune on the solicitor and survey etc and I had already redecorated in my head.

My other half has gone straight back onto rightmove and lined up some viewings but I'm struggling to get motivated. I'm hoping one of the new ones will make me excited again but right now feel a but numb :-(

nimbo

I’m sorry it’s fallen through. But you will find something better. 

I struggled when my first offer couldn’t be followed through as the bank said not on that house. (Still look at it online still). But I’m looking forward to completing on the one  im hopefully buying now. 

paulj2021

I think, based on their behaviour, that you might have dodged a bullet, they sound very flakey! Try and remember what motivated you in the first place, it may seem a bit dark right now but there is a property out there waiting for you!

sheffield_soldier

It's got to be heartbreaking. We are buying at the moment and if something happens with this I don't think I will see any house the same. Maybe take a couple weeks to reset and then start looking again.

badger09

Happened to us, exactly a year ago. Its absolutely horrible and I really feel for you.

We were moving after 20 years in the same house, anxious & excited at the same time. A couple of weeks before scheduled exchange, vendors of our 'ideal forever home' pulled out (with valid reason). We were devastated, but determined not to lose our chain, so bit the bullet & moved into temporary accommodation as we couldn't secure a rental.

Hastily viewed more properties and very quickly found a totally different, but more suitable house, albeit in a less ideal location. Both 70+, in the middle of lockdown, moving twice with 2 countries' lockdown rules, was not a great experience. 

Like you, I'd mentally furnished and redecorated the house we lost and still feel a tinge of regret. But we're very happy here and making it our own.

I won't tell you something better will come along, but I do believe something different will turn up, where you'll be just as happy. Good luck.

PS, leave the virtual decorating until you've exchanged
 

Skiddaw1

OP, happened to us with both of our previous house moves. First time we were gazumped quite a long way into the process. Shortly after, a much nicer house on a road we'd both alway wanted to live in came on the market at a price we could afford. Lived there for the next 20 years very happily. Second time our buyers pulled out (unexpected redundancy) and we lost the house we wanted. Came off the market, went back on a year later, found a new buyer, found a wonderful house in Cumbria and the rest is history. So glad in retrospect that both the sales fell through. Honestly, things really do have a way of working out... good luck!

TheJP

Bottle of wine some crisps and looking at Right Move with some learnt experience would help i guess.

v_rouge

We had the same thing - our vendor pulled out close to exchange because they decided to get a divorce instead and keep the house for one of them.

We were gutted and I jumped straight back on Rightmove but my partner wasn't ready to even look at any suggestions.

We booked in for a few later in the week (to give my partner some time to get around the idea of not comparing everything to the first house) and within a week we had our offer accepted on a house which we've now moved into and absolutely love.

Its so much better than the first house in everyway so it was the universe's way of telling us the first house wasn't the right one for us.

So having gone through that I'm a huge believer that there is a better house out there for you once you're ready to find it (which could be tomorrow or later). 

Ramouth

I still feel a bit sad about the house we had to pull out of.  It had amazing water views.  I just have to remind myself of the things that weren’t quite right (in addition to it not being mortgageable!) and focus on the things that are right about the house we bought.  

There is no such thing as a perfect house and you will find something else you love.

Ramouth

P.S. I loved looking for houses and actually miss the 11am tea break and Rightmove checks we had every day during lockdown - try and enjoy the possibilities!