Two failed house purchases

gadget88

So last year my purchase fell through as seller pulled out and this year I pulled out. So two different agents but both have now gone quiet and don’t seem to want to help with my house search. Obviously after two failed sales I may take a break and perhaps do more work on this house. Obviously I can use another agent to sell but they handle 50% of sales here. What would I do in future if I really have to move and need to deal with them? Even if it was a small flat or something? Would I hope they have moved on and have new staff? Otherwise it could be more limiting in my property search.

Herzlos

You wasted one agents time pulling out of the last house after agreeing a price, over a stupid reason. You'd need to try and convince them you won't do the same again later, but I don't know how you'd do that beyond possibly offering a deposit.

Do you have a house to sell, too?

RelievedSheff

You are wasting peoples time.

Why should the agents take you seriously?

I certainly wouldn't and I wouldn't be happy if my agent was sending around time wasters to view my property.

You have given yourself the black mark I'm afraid!

gadget88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885182#Comment_81885182

Yes have one to sell.

What about waiting off a few years? Perhaps if they don’t see my name coming up for houses this may change things?

WIAWSNB

I don't know the background to this, Gadget (tho' I guess I could look it up), but if you still want to sell sooner rather than later, then choose a different selling agent, one ideally you know is a 'competitor' to the other - ie you hear they don't like eachother...

Around here, most sales are by Webbers, but having tried to buy through them in the past, I consider them to be unprofessional and even dishonest. (Happy to back that up with evidence, by the way.)

I would not consider them as a selling agent due to their lack of integrity - and this wasn't an individual, but staff in different branches (my in-laws also tried to buy via them).

Anyhoo, fortunately there are a few other agents to choose from, and we have a pretty good handle of which are more straight to deal with, and which to avoid (oh yes, there's the other agent here who 'sold' the same bungalow 5 times in a row, all purchases falling through when the potential buyers discovered it suffered from subsidence, which the EA never declared...)

So, clean up your own act if you need to, be frank and honest, and go visit a good alternative EA. When they ask about previous attempts to sell, be upfront about your possible contribution to the issues, but that you've learned from it.

Have you found the house you want to buy? If not, obviously view any through the old agent too - if suitable, they are obliged to pass on offers.

Jemma01

I too don't know your background, so with a pinch of salt...

I would have thought they have accounts for clients they have notes about 🤔 so now or a year probably won't make a difference!?

Honestly I wouldn't stress about it, if you see something you like on their website contact them for a viewing. Plenty of other agents. The first one "sounds" like it wasn't your fault (unless you did something the seller reported you on?).

Yorkie1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885383#Comment_81885383

I would have thought that retaining such accounts for anything beyond a fairly short period of time would be in breach of GDPR (duty to only hold data for as long as required - that cannot be infinitely!).

twopenny

From what I understand of your other posts you are making viewings and offers on houses but haven't yet sold your house.

Is that still so?

Tiglet2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6655382/two-failed-house-purchases

An agent wants to sell, so they will put their energy into those sellers and buyers who are keen and motivated. It obviously helps when a potential buyer already has a sale agreed on their property, if they are relying on their sale to be able to purchase the new property.

It doesn't sound like you were motivated, nor were you sale agreed on your current property. Only when the 'chain' is complete with buyers and sellers in place, can the transaction proceed.

I believe you may be in Scotland where the rules are different, so I don't know if it is common to view properties before you are sale agreed on your own, so apologies if that is the case.

However, you are coming across as someone who doesn't know what he wants, is unrealistic about the condition of the property and has a strange way of assuming that agents should allow you to view other properties without yours being up for sale, because you state it will sell in a day. Maybe you should just view other properties online or by driving by, to get a feel for what is out there and to be ready and prepared once you have a sale agreed on your current property.

As for agents not being very helpful now after two failed attempts, I can only assume that they feel you're wasting their time and energy and until you are proceedable, they are not going to put themselves out for you.

Bigphil1474

If they think they'll make any money out of you, the EA's will still help you next time. If they think you are flaky, they probably won't be interested. You need to be committed to selling, the buying part is step 2.

user1977

I don't know if it is common to view properties before you are sale agreed on your own

Not that uncommon if a buyer is confident their own property will sell quickly. They do however need to be upfront about what their position is.