Last week, I was all excited as it seemed we were finally going to move into the house we put an offer in for back in September. On Monday, my solicitor phoned and confirmed that we were all set to exchange and complete (i.e. move) on Friday. We got all excited, started packing, booked time off work and got ready to transfer our deposit, only to be phoned on Tuesday and told that the owner had change her mind and didn't want to move after all. After six months and numerous opportunities to reconsider, she decided to wait until three days before moving day to just pull out of the sale with no explanation or apology.
Aside from the massive disappointment (we're first time buyers and had been saving for years for this), the worst part is that we still have to pay solicitor fees and mortgage application fees that come to thousands of pounds. The owner has to pay hardly anything at all.
So we both spent most of the week angry and disappointed. I just can't comprehend how she didn't have the decency to tell us earlier if she didn't want to move. We jumped through every single hoop necessary and did everything we needed to but there's nothing to stop her from doing what she did. It's frustrating because we did nothing wrong, yet we are still the ones losing all of the money.
Anyway, by the weekend we decided to pick ourselves up and look at some other houses. Our rental contract expires in April, so we need to find somewhere quickly. Yesterday, we looked at eight houses (that must be some kind of record!) and found one that we like. It's bigger than the one we were going to buy (three bedrooms rather than two), there's no chain (so hopefully no disasters like last time) and whilst it needs some serious modernising, it's structurally sound and in a good location. If we are able to secure it, we'll end up with a better house than we were initially going to have, so I'll be able to look back in the future and think it was for the best after all. Tomorrow I'm going to ring and put in what we think is a very fair offer, hopefully it will be accepted as we need our luck to change!
I've got quite a lot of reading done this week as it's been an escape. I've read:
Reviews posted:
I am now three reviews behind, which is unheard of for me. I've not been a very involved blogger this week but I'm hoping to spend more time blogging and visiting blogs this week.
Oh, wow!! We are selling our house and hoping to move on Friday. Our apartment manager keeps telling us that she needs one more bit of documentation. We have made four trips to her office to submit each item that she is "remembering" that she needs. If it is not approved, we have to find another place to move to very quickly. I have bought and sold houses four times and each time, we seem to get bad sellers or bad buyers. This is the only time that the buyer has been decent to us. I will be so glad when this stress is over and hope so much that we can move on friday to the apartment that we selected.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you. I hope that this house that you have selected works out fine. Some people are nightmares to deal with!!!
Wow. I hope she knows all the pain she's caused. I hope this new house is all you want and more, and that the deal goes through quickly.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry - you must have been devastated. Good luck with your next choice and I hope there will be no more disappointments.
ReplyDeleteWhilst it might be the best thing, it is very frustrating especially when money is involved and the person pulling out has relatively little to pay. Good luck for the offer on somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteAw, Sam, I'm so sorry. That's awful - I can't believe it's even allowed! Good luck for tomorrow and the new offer, I'll keep my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteSam I am so sorry to hear about your house problems. It has amazed me that when we went into the whole buying and selling thing we did so with such openness and good intentions only to have people mess us around or try and exploit us. I know the whole process can be so stressful, just want to wish you the best of luck with your on going efforts to find a home.
ReplyDeleteThat's awful, Sam - what a pain. As you say, maybe it's for the best in the long run and the alternative you find could be better...not that that takes the sting out of dealing with the fallout right now.
ReplyDeleteAs the executor of my aunt's will, I'm in the process of trying to sell the unit she 'owned' that's within a gated development for retirees. The governing body have been anything but helpful, and there have been so many disappointments and upsets along the way. I do feel for you - it is so much more helpful when there's transparency.
Fingers crossed everything works better next time.
Oh, Sam, that's terrible. What a massive disappointment. Hopefully you'll get a better deal out of the whole situation, but still, I'm so sorry. Please send me an email or a tweet should you ever want to vent a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear what happened to you but things always happened for a reason and I wish you all the very best of luck with this next offer! :)
ReplyDeleteThe process of getting a house is such a pain, even more so if you end up losing money. The perfect house is out there, and hopefully this new one will work better for you.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry! Our first attempt fell through due to bank shadyness but our second deal was so much better, we ended up grateful. Those moments of rushing around while dealing with disappointment was not an easy time, so I really feel for you!
ReplyDeleteThat's awful, I can understand how upset and frustrated you must feel. Good luck with the other house you've found. Joanne
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so sorry but happy you found a better house! That's just so wrong that you still had to pay those fees when the sale fell through, but that's great you're looking on the brightside of the situation. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry!! That's awful! It just feels wrong that because she changed her mind 3 days before the moving date you guys should loose all the money! Isn't there something in the contracts or something to protect buyers from this? It seems completely unfair!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm glad you guys already found another house you like and an even better one at that! I really hope everything goes smoothly with this one, you deserve a break!
Oh that just stinks, sorry! But you're right, one day you'll look back and be glad it didn't happen. I hope you find your dream home!
ReplyDeleteThat is just horrible!!! I am so sorry for your disappointment :-(
ReplyDeleteI am SO sorry you've had to go through this. I can't even imagine. Crossing all my parts that the new house deal works out -- and quickly!
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible! And it's ridiculous that you still have to pay all the fees. Here's hoping you find somewhere even better.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your big disappointment. I wish for an even better and happier home for you and your family. How was the Philip Pullman? I've always liked his work.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame, but seems to have worked out. Have seen the Pullman book & been curious, will wait for your review
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about this! I can't even imagine. I'll keep my fingers crossed that whatever pops up turns out to be the house of your dreams. :)
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's so awful!! I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I've been following your house news for a while. I hope this new house works out and since it seems to be a better place, you won't feel too upset about losing the other one. Hang on!
ReplyDeleteUgh, how awful! I can't believe there are people who get away with this. It's really unfair that the prospective buyer runs such big risks while the seller can just do whatever he/she feels like. Hopefully, your bid for the other house got accepted?
ReplyDeleteS. and me are planning on buying an apartment this year. It's a really daunting idea, and I'm not too sure whether we can secure a mortgage to get what we want. First-time buyers should get more support!
And I'm rooting for you!