Seller backed out of sale due to requesting a survey

youth_leader

So sorry but I agree you have had a fortunate escape from 'buyer beware'. 

My joy at being 'chosen' out of the four offers received by my vendor ended when I realised she probably chose me because I was a cash buyer - and might not have chosen to have a survey. 

As it turned out the L3 surveyor didn't find that the floors here were rotten with wet/dry rot and woodworm, as well as serious mould, it was definitely buyer beware for me.  A huge amount of disruption packing my possessions again to go into storage and the floor replacement cost £15K which I could ill afford.

Nic275h

Debbie9009 said:

I think you have had a lucky escape.

You were prepared to use the estate agent’s solicitor and mortgage broker, even though the mortgage broker would cost you more, and you arranged a survey for next week, you sound like a very motivated buyer to me.

Any seller refusing an offer because you want a survey is not a seller you want to deal with, they really do sound like they are hiding something.

Don’t be upset, be pleased that you no longer need to deal with them.  The right house for you is out there.
And as others have said, use your own solicitor and mortgage broker, as they will only be working for you, so will put your interests first.

Thank you. You’re right & I will definitely do that when I finally find my home. It’s all just a learning experience.

Nic275h

youth_leader said:

So sorry but I agree you have had a fortunate escape from 'buyer beware'. 

My joy at being 'chosen' out of the four offers received by my vendor ended when I realised she probably chose me because I was a cash buyer - and might not have chosen to have a survey. 

As it turned out the L3 surveyor didn't find that the floors here were rotten with wet/dry rot and woodworm, as well as serious mould, it was definitely buyer beware for me.  A huge amount of disruption packing my possessions again to go into storage and the floor replacement cost £15K which I could ill afford.

Thanks. I’m really sorry that happened to you. I’m surprised that wasn’t picked up in a L3 survey. What a nightmare.

MalMonroe

This was a red flag for me - 'sellers wanted to move quickly as they have had two sales fall through'. Why did they fall through?! And what's the rush now?

Another red flag  - "I agreed to do everything through the estate agent - went with their recommended solicitors & with their mortgage broker even though that would cost me more".

I'd never go with anyone recommended by any Estate Agent, even if they were working for me. Been there, done that. Regretted it.

Agree with turnitaround, above and think that they were trying to take advantage.

From what you say, and as upset as you are, I think you've had a very lucky escape this time, I really do.

It's not in vain, though, it's a learning curve. Learn from this and move on to find a house that suits you better. And don't let it put you off using a surveyor. Even the thought of surveyors turned this particular seller off. The biggest red flag of all. They won't want to discuss it if they have something to hide and it sounds like they do. Better for you to find out now though, than further down the line. 

Most house buyers - and sellers - go through similar traumas at some time. They learn from them though and they are often really glad that there was a blip along the way. In this case, you could have ended up with a real money pit.

All the best in your search for the right property for you.    You will find it.

robatwork

You're holding the money = you're holding the cards.

You dictate what happens in this sale, not the vendor. No survey = no sale. Make this quite clear. Then run away.

Nic275h

MalMonroe said:

This was a red flag for me - 'sellers wanted to move quickly as they have had two sales fall through'. Why did they fall through?! And what's the rush now?

Another red flag  - "I agreed to do everything through the estate agent - went with their recommended solicitors & with their mortgage broker even though that would cost me more".

I'd never go with anyone recommended by any Estate Agent, even if they were working for me. Been there, done that. Regretted it.

Agree with turnitaround, above and think that they were trying to take advantage.

From what you say, and as upset as you are, I think you've had a very lucky escape this time, I really do.

It's not in vain, though, it's a learning curve. Learn from this and move on to find a house that suits you better. And don't let it put you off using a surveyor. Even the thought of surveyors turned this particular seller off. The biggest red flag of all. They won't want to discuss it if they have something to hide and it sounds like they do. Better for you to find out now though, than further down the line. 

Most house buyers - and sellers - go through similar traumas at some time. They learn from them though and they are often really glad that there was a blip along the way. In this case, you could have ended up with a real money pit.

All the best in your search for the right property for you.    You will find it.

The sellers only told me they had one sale fall through. It was the EA who let it slip they’d had 2 sales fall through later on when they were messing me about wanting to do more viewings when they had told me they were going to accept my offer that day but didn’t.

They told me one of them dropped out because they couldn’t verify their deposit because it was gifted from abroad. And the other was a ‘change in circumstances’. I asked the EA if there was anything wrong with the property & if something had come back in the other buyer’s survey. They said they came back fine & told me they were legally obligated to tell me if there was something wrong. However I didn’t trust them which is why I went for the structural survey.

100% agree. I am disappointed & really feel like they have taken me for a ride but better a bit of disappointment now than an expensive one later down the line.

Thank you for your reply & words of encouragement. 😊

propertyrental

I agree with all the above comments - they had something to hide.

But just to add for next time:

 went with their recommended solicitors & with their mortgage broker even though that would cost me more all because they told me that would make communication easier & make things move faster.

Rubbish. The EA gets a commission that's why they recommend.

It does not make communication easier, nor faster. But it does make the solicitor less likely to ask awkward questions on your behalf as they won't want to jeopardise the EA/solicitor relationship....

Find your own professionls.

BikingBud

Nic275h said:

MalMonroe said:

This was a red flag for me - 'sellers wanted to move quickly as they have had two sales fall through'. Why did they fall through?! And what's the rush now?

Another red flag  - "I agreed to do everything through the estate agent - went with their recommended solicitors & with their mortgage broker even though that would cost me more".

I'd never go with anyone recommended by any Estate Agent, even if they were working for me. Been there, done that. Regretted it.

Agree with turnitaround, above and think that they were trying to take advantage.

From what you say, and as upset as you are, I think you've had a very lucky escape this time, I really do.

It's not in vain, though, it's a learning curve. Learn from this and move on to find a house that suits you better. And don't let it put you off using a surveyor. Even the thought of surveyors turned this particular seller off. The biggest red flag of all. They won't want to discuss it if they have something to hide and it sounds like they do. Better for you to find out now though, than further down the line. 

Most house buyers - and sellers - go through similar traumas at some time. They learn from them though and they are often really glad that there was a blip along the way. In this case, you could have ended up with a real money pit.

All the best in your search for the right property for you.    You will find it.

The sellers only told me they had one sale fall through. It was the EA who let it slip they’d had 2 sales fall through later on when they were messing me about wanting to do more viewings when they had told me they were going to accept my offer that day but didn’t.

They told me one of them dropped out because they couldn’t verify their deposit because it was gifted from abroad. And the other was a ‘change in circumstances’. I asked the EA if there was anything wrong with the property & if something had come back in the other buyer’s survey. They said they came back fine & told me they were legally obligated to tell me if there was something wrong. However I didn’t trust them which is why I went for the structural survey.

100% agree. I am disappointed & really feel like they have taken me for a ride but better a bit of disappointment now than an expensive one later down the line.

Thank you for your reply & words of encouragement. 😊

Give them your very fondest wishes and encourage them to carry on with any one of the potential buyers banging down the door. 

lookstraightahead

Silly sellers. Find something else. They'll probably come back to you.
did you say they had 10 offers ? 😂

Sunsaru

Nic275h said:

The sellers only told me they had one sale fall through. It was the EA who let it slip they’d had 2 sales fall through

I sat up like a prairie dog when I read that,

Nic275h said:

And the other was a ‘change in circumstances’. 

Probably after they had a survey done.

Congrats on successfully dodging that bullet 👍🏾