Sellers losing out as over 300,000 property transactions are falling through every year

May 14, 2018

Over 300,000 property transactions are falling through every year due to broken chains and buyers changing their mind largely, costing sellers a total of £400 million, according to latest research from HomeOwners Alliance and IMMO.

The survey exploring the experiences of home sellers, conducted by HomeOwners Alliance, and IMMO.co.uk,  and polled by YouGov, found that 20% of sellers have experienced a sale collapse,  of those affected 51% incurring costs averaging £2,727 and 12% losing more than £5,000.

Commenting on the findings, Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of HomeOwners Alliance says:
“We often hear about would-be buyers losing their dream homes as a result of sellers accepting higher offers but less is said about sellers forking out thousands in wasted fees only for buyers to change their mind, leaving the seller back at square one.”

“Gazundering and time wasting is a huge problem. The homeselling system is so unreliable it’s deterring homeowners from selling – adding to the ongoing housing shortage crisis as a lack of suitable homes is one of the barriers to people moving up the property ladder. Buyers need to have a little more skin in the game too. An earlier commitment – for example through reservation agreements – would go some way to avoiding these situations.”

Samantha Kempe, Co-Founder of IMMO.co.uk, says: “The current system has created a fundamental power imbalance between the seller and the buyer, with the seller often at the buyer’s mercy during what is often the largest financial decision of their lives. Sellers should be able to proceed with the sale of their property knowing what price they will receive and feeling assured that the sale will go through.”

“At IMMO, we believe in a better way to sell property which allows sellers to maintain the upper hand and avoid the uncertainty, hassle and stress created by the homeselling system.”

Read the research report 13th May 2018 in full click here.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Real-life value of the most famous Christmas film homes

The real-life value of the most famous Christmas film homes, from budget classics to multimillion-pound mansions New research has gathered and analysed the estimated valuations of real homes featured in popular Christmas films, ranking them by cost. The priciest homes are featured in The Holiday, Trading Places, and Home Alone, with Amanda’s home from The…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

77% of buyers refuse to buy a flood risk property

Despite 4.7 million English homes facing flood risk New research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that 77% of homebuyers would not consider purchasing a property in a flood risk area, despite more than 4.7 million homes across England currently being deemed at risk of flooding. The findings come as the Government launches a new flood taskforce amid…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Poor Communication becomes Expensive at Scale

The hidden cost of fragmented property management By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets A landlord asks for an update on a repair. The property manager asks the contractor, who is waiting for access from the tenant. Meanwhile, the accounts team has received an invoice but cannot tell whether the work is complete.…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

When Estate Agents Decide to Go Solo

Leaving an established estate agency to work independently gives experienced agents more control over fees, client service and working hours. It also brings responsibility for compliance, cash flow and every part of the customer experience. Before handing in your notice, test the idea against realistic sales volumes, local competition and the amount of time you…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What Should Buyers Ask Before Reserving a New Build?

Research from Skipton Building Society has found that 44% of aspiring first time buyers would rather buy a new build than an older property, with just 30% favouring an older build. Modern fittings and appliances were the biggest draw, cited by over half of those who preferred a new build, alongside the promise of lower…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK cities with the largest property price increases revealed

A new study has unveiled the most challenging UK cities for first-time buyers. Newry leads Northern Ireland’s ranking, with a property price increase of 12.8%, while Hull leads Great Britain’s ranking, recording an increase of 6.6%. The research examined data from HM Land Registry to reveal the cities that have faced the highest property price…
Read More →