Wanting to buy a different property

kjs31

Slinky said:

Be wary of the EA trying to suggest that you are an 'unreliable' purchaser, and pushing the vendors to accept one of the other offers. They could suggest that the delays in the sale of A are down to your side messing about (for all you know). Be honest with the vendors of B, tell them that you have been delayed by vendors of A and that you are genuine in your offer.

Yes that did occur to me TBH. The sellers still haven't provided all of the information requested (their solicitor seems to be particularly useless). 

Is there something else I could do to provide intent? A holding deposit prior to exchange or whatever? 

I knocked on the door last night. The guy seemed quite taken aback. He said that he thinks the estate agent is on holiday at present and is often 'difficult to get hold of'. He had no idea that I was trying to arrange a second viewing and said that he would call the estate agent today. I left them him the note that I was planning on putting through the letterbox if there was no one at home that stated that I am chain free having sold my house a few months ago. I'm a cash buyer too as it happens although I didn't mention that part. 

EssexHebridean

Your best way of proving good intent is to be polite, respond quickly to anything you need to do, and ensure that the sellers are fully aware of your position - which is good, let's be honest.

As far as house A goes, then you avoid the risk of awkwardness if the sellers of that one call your bluff when you say you are pulling out by being honest - the delay in the process on their property has given you time to reflect, and that reflection has shown you that actually, the property isn't for you after all. If you are sure though, do the decent thing and pull out promptly now - don't drag things on with them none the wiser that they are about to lose their buyer!  

kjs31

Apparently I can’t have a second viewing until 26th. That’s fine but is there a way of noting interest in the property so it doesn’t go under offer in the meantime? Long time since I bought a property in England and notes of interest are common in Scotland. 

CSI_Yorkshire

No.  It can be "under offer" at any time.  The term is meaningless though.

Are you going to continue leading on the seller of the first property for another week then?

kjs31

CSI_Yorkshire said:

No.  It can be "under offer" at any time.  The term is meaningless though.

Are you going to continue leading on the seller of the first property for another week then?

No I’m going to pull out of the other purchase tomorrow. TBH the seller of the other property has been giving me the runaround for weeks, deliberately slowing progress so that it delays exchange / completion. Had they progressed to the timetable we originally agreed I would have exchanged by now and not even looked at the other property. 

kjs31

I’ve pulled out of my current purchase. Regardless of whether I manage to secure the other one I viewed they have timed out now anyway as the agreement when I offered was to complete before end August. They haven’t even suggested an exchange date yet. So fingers crossed for the second viewing / offer and if that doesn’t work out there will be another house. 

gallifreyangirl

Hope you get your second viewing. Sounds like you did the right thing pulling out of the first property. 

kjs31

All change now. The property I preferred has been withdrawn from the market (sellers had a change of heart apparently). There is now another similar property on the market that I am going to view on Saturday. Vacant possession (owner has had to go into a care home), needs more work (more dated and cream carpet everywhere, even in the bathrooms), garden is north facing and not south but definitely worth a look. It's also 25k cheaper which will pay for a lot of flooring .... Different estate agent so that's good. Think my starting offer might be a bit lower for this one but we shall see. I do prefer the position of the now withdrawn house but you can't buy a house that's not for sale. 

Despite me pulling out of the other purchase last week the estate agent didn't tell the sellers until yesterday evening which I think is bad. I think he thought that the other property might be withdrawn and that he could persuade me to continue with the other one.