Considering pulling out of house purchase

Hmaz_2

I'm currently purchasing a property for myself and my 3 children.  Our family home was sold recently as part of my divorce and I'm now staying with family. 

I had been looking for a house for months but the market here was flat with very few properties avaliable.  10 weeks ago I saw a house I liked, but the lack of garden (it's just a small paved area, although it's been done very nicely) was a huge compromise for me and the area wasn't quite the one I wanted.  I gave it a lot of thought as it was the best thing I had seen and put in an offer at the absolute maximum of my budget, which a week or so later was accepted.  I've had the search results back, they're all fine, and the survey only flagged up a few minor things.  I'm chain free  and the vendors are buying a new build, which should have been ready last month, so I was expecting to be close to moving by now but It's been taking ages to get answers to queries back and their new build isn't actually complete yet.  I've asked the EA for an estimate of timescales and it is all very vague!

In the meantime I've been having a lot of doubts, the garden is a huge worry for me, and I don't really know if the open plan space in the house would work well for me and my children. There's very little storage and I think I'm paying a lot for the decor and finish of the house more than anything else. 

I've seen something else this week, better location, same price, beautiful garden and great space in the house, although does need new kitchen, carpets, bathroom etc.  I'm not sure what to do, if I do want to pull out from the one I'm purchasing and go for the other do I just let my solicitor and the estate agent know that I'm withdrawing? I don't even know what reason I would give, other than I've got a niggling doubt that it would be a mistake to buy it. 

I feel awful to potentially do this after 9 weeks but I know that if I decide it's not the right house for me I can't buy it purely out of guilt for how the seller would feel.  I'm a bit of a people pleaser and dread the thought of having to do anything like this. 

Has anyone had doubts but still gone ahead with the purchase? If so did it all work out or do you wish you had withdrawn from the purchase? 

bobster2

You can change a lot about a house - decorate renovate, extend etc.

But some things you can't change - e.g. location and if it doesn't have a decent garden space.

Hmaz_2

bobster2 said:

You can change a lot about a house - decorate renovate, extend etc.

But some things you can't change - e.g. location and if it doesn't have a decent garden space.

This is my big worry.  The location isn't the ideal but it is ok and is near enough to woek/school etc.  I love gardening and the kids loved the outside space in our last house, I have a feeling I will regret buying a house without it if I go ahead

HillStreetBlues

Hmaz_2 said:

I'm currently purchasing a property for myself and my 3 children.  Our family home was sold recently as part of my divorce and I'm now staying with family. 

I had been looking for a house for months but the market here was flat with very few properties avaliable.  10 weeks ago I saw a house I liked, but the lack of garden (it's just a small paved area, although it's been done very nicely) was a huge compromise for me and the area wasn't quite the one I wanted.  I gave it a lot of thought as it was the best thing I had seen and put in an offer at the absolute maximum of my budget, which a week or so later was accepted.  I've had the search results back, they're all fine, and the survey only flagged up a few minor things.  I'm chain free  and the vendors are buying a new build, which should have been ready last month, so I was expecting to be close to moving by now but It's been taking ages to get answers to queries back and their new build isn't actually complete yet.  I've asked the EA for an estimate of timescales and it is all very vague!

In the meantime I've been having a lot of doubts, the garden is a huge worry for me, and I don't really know if the open plan space in the house would work well for me and my children. There's very little storage and I think I'm paying a lot for the decor and finish of the house more than anything else. 

I've seen something else this week, better location, same price, beautiful garden and great space in the house, although does need new kitchen, carpets, bathroom etc.  I'm not sure what to do, if I do want to pull out from the one I'm purchasing and go for the other do I just let my solicitor and the estate agent know that I'm withdrawing? I don't even know what reason I would give, other than I've got a niggling doubt that it would be a mistake to buy it. 

I feel awful to potentially do this after 9 weeks but I know that if I decide it's not the right house for me I can't buy it purely out of guilt for how the seller would feel.  I'm a bit of a people pleaser and dread the thought of having to do anything like this. 

Has anyone had doubts but still gone ahead with the purchase? If so did it all work out or do you wish you had withdrawn from the purchase? 

Bottom line is the three most important people to please are your children.

Emmia

I'd pull out of the first house, lack of storage and no real garden would be deal breakers - I'd expect you'll regret not having a real garden quickly, and will then want to move again - with all the costs and disruption involved.

You can fit a new carpet, kitchen etc. what you can't alter is the location and lack of outside space.

gwynlas

You do not know that you can get the 2nd house until you put an offer in.

It sounds as though the 1st house would be a compromise in terms of lack of storage and garden.

Go with your heart and what suits your family best as a home, refurbishment and redecorating can be done as and when.

Smalltownhypocrite

Have you posted before, I'm sure I have read this before (possibly on MN - property & DIY if not here?)

housebuyer143

Don't buy something you know you are compromising with and are not happy with. Something else will always come up so don't feel like you need to buy the first thing that is suitable.
Withdraw and buy something you are excited about. 

teaselMay

If you love gardening buying without a garden is a massive compromise, only worth making if it's impossible to buy with a garden.

DOI love my garden, about to move to a new garden, with a house attached

Hmaz_2

Thank you everyone for the advise and comments.   I think I'm going to withdraw and put an offer in on the other property I've seen 

Myci85

Maybe the delays with this house happened for a reason, to give you the opportunity to find a more suitable house. It is clear this house is too much of a compromise, and you wouldn't be happy there. A garden I feel is so important for children to play out, and even more so if gardening makes you happy too. I doubt your vendors would hesitate to pull out if they changed their mind about moving, it's understandable you don't want to do this to them, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to buy an unsuitable house.