Buyer messing around updated 7/6/08 ....whoooo!!!

brock-cruse

Hi all
2 weeks ago my Dad sold his bungalow to a couple who are a lot further on in their sale (being pushed to move out July!). Anyway as they offered really low Dad had to find a place that would do the same and after a frantic weekend found a place with no chain and had his offer accepted. Now Dad is waiting for survey on his place before getting one done on the place he is buying. Anyway Dads agent says his buyer wants his daughter to come view before commiting to survey. Daughter is currently in Pakistan and wont be able to view until next Fri! Thing is this couple have done 3 viewings already and last time brought their son. While negotiating price they kept telling Dad they had found a cheaper place down the road etc etc (dad didnt fall for this tho). Dads agent is also this couples agent and the agent told Dad that this couple have viewed lots of bungalows but that Dads is the only one they have expressed interest in. Plus the agent says that they are still doing viewings on other bungalows!
What do you think? Dad is afraid they may pull out anyway. Is there anything he could do? Thing is that he is still marketing, there are 2 other people interested but yet to sell theirs. The place my Dad is buying has sent Dads sol all the paperwork and Dad is frightenend this will be his second property that he will lose (lost last one when chain fell down and cash buyer bought Dads place he was buying a week later).
What do you think? Anything he could do to try and speed this up?
Thanks.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

Remind the agent who is paying his commission - assuming he wants to get paid.

Tell them to move into the cheaper place - it's obviously more suitable.

whiskywhisky

The potential buyers are most likely messing your Dad around, but he still is marketing the property and 1 week in todays market it worth the wait.

So from your message what you are saying is that the potential "buyers" NEED to move in by July and are also digging their heels in getting the survey done? Seems abit odd if that is right?

Doozergirl

Don't like the sound of it personally. Your dad is right not to make moves on his purchase until his buyers show some sign of commitment.

Personally, I would inform the buyers that the house goes back on the market until such time as the survey is booked. The fact they are still viewing other houses sets alarm bells ringing for me big time.

You just know when someone is properly committed. Most people buy with their hearts first. All the talk of other houses cheaper etc is not something I like. I believe people should always be open and honest about their intentions and I don't have any time for people who seem unable to do so.

PasturesNew

I'd suggest that your dad holds fire on this one and doesn't progress his purchase.

If the worst comes to the worst he can put his stuff into temporary storage and either stay at yours for a couple of weeks, or find some short-term renting. That would be cheaper than paying out for surveys/solicitor only to have the buyer pull out in 2-3 weeks' time.

I'd keep the property on the market just in case another buyer comes up.

brock-cruse

Thanks for your replies...

whiskywhisky wrote: »

The potential buyers are most likely messing your Dad around, but he still is marketing the property and 1 week in todays market it worth the wait.

Yes, very true...will tell him this.Perhaps the vendors of hisplace will take this point of view too. Dad just doesnt want to mess the lady he is buying off around.

So from your message what you are saying is that the potential "buyers" NEED to move in by July and are also digging their heels in getting the survey done? Seems abit odd if that is right?

Yes...as Dad says whose to say they will actually go through with the sale? Its all really odd isnt it?

Doozergirl...yes completely agree... Dad has told his agent to keep marketing anyway unless it was specifically asked for it not to be by the potewntial buyer. He lived through my nightmare house move where after 7 months the chain broke down and I was back wto square one. He at least would have backup which he has but being the market it is they too cannot sell.

As for the agents..Dad calls in everyday to jig them up and has said that he wants the manager to get things sorted as the others are all "young kids"!!! I believe he is getting a bit fed up of them now and is thinking of going down the double agency route.

As I said lots of interest just nothing concrete happening.

Doozergirl

Lots of interest is better than nothing, especially in this market.

I think we had nearly 40 viewings on the house we just sold; took four hard months of marketing and it did go eventually for more than we were ever expecting from it. One of those things but take heart from the interest. People are certainly holding back and doing a lot of window shopping but we heard on the grapevine that one couple who tried to play hardball on the negotiations were gutted that they didn't get our house. Hopefully we'll get the contract on renovating the house they did buy in addition to getting an extra £21k on our house a week after their best offer

brock-cruse

Well as expected the buyer pulled out this morning! This is the second time my parents have lost their sale. First time was the FTB at bottom of chain couldnt get mortgage and now the reason why this latest couple pulled out after all this messing around....there is an issue on the street???!!! Not quite sure what this means as its a very quiet cul-de-sac. Only thing we can come up with is a religious one...buyers were muslim and one of my Dads current neighbours is hindu??! Seems very strange after 3 viewings to suddenly come up with this as an issue.
Its just really frustrating for them. One of my dads other potential buyer has just reduced yet a further 5 k this morning...totalling 35k off original asking price.....will have to see but according to the agent there just arent the viewers/buyers around at the mo.

RHemmings

brock-cruse wrote: »

Well as expected the buyer pulled out this morning! This is the second time my parents have lost their sale. First time was the FTB at bottom of chain couldnt get mortgage and now the reason why this latest couple pulled out after all this messing around....there is an issue on the street???!!! Not quite sure what this means as its a very quiet cul-de-sac. Only thing we can come up with is a religious one...buyers were muslim and one of my Dads current neighbours is hindu??! Seems very strange after 3 viewings to suddenly come up with this as an issue.
Its just really frustrating for them. One of my dads other potential buyer has just reduced yet a further 5 k this morning...totalling 35k off original asking price.....will have to see but according to the agent there just arent the viewers/buyers around at the mo.

I think there's an issue with the whole market.

brock-cruse

Well parents got a call from agent this morning...the buyer that pulled out this week due to "issues on the street" wants to view with his son on Saturday next week again!!!???? He now says that his son or daughter may be interested in buying!?? Thing is my mum talked to the buyers wife last time they viewed and found out their son is a solicitor in London and has already viewed with parents, their daughter is married and lives in a massive house (including servants) in Pakistan. So what is this bloke playing at? He has also said again that he would not pay more than 240k (10k below asking) for it. My parents feel like telling them to stick it but I am more inclined to get them to tell him that suddenly their offer is not acceptable and that it is now full asking or nothing....nothing quite like cutting your nose off to spite your face is there! As my mum says they (my parents) have already told the place they are buying that the chain has fallen through and do not want to mess about the woman they want to buy off. I say that if this bloke really wants Dads place then he can now pay full asking price and that Dad does nothing until survey on theirs done (if it happens). According to agent this bloke has been viewing properties left right and centre and keeps going back to them saying "want to see this one", they say, "you have already seen it and said no", he says "cant remember so book me another viewing"!!!!..absolutley unbelieveable eh???

Doozergirl

My view is that they are either mentalists or they are palying hardball with your parents.

Constantly knocking their expectations in the hope to continue knocking the price down, winding up the agent by viewing lots of different properties, trying to show that they are not commiting to the purchase.

Personally I would refuse any further viewings. If it starts this way, it most certainly does not get any better.

If there were an issue on the street, they really wouldn't be interested anymore. Lord knows what they are playing at but whatever it is, it isn't playing straight. If this does get any further, you can almost guarantee them gazundering at the last moment. People who start that way don't stop. It happened to my H's sister and you could just see something was coming.