vintage floral skirt

OMG-Day

 

We didn’t get it.

The buyer decided to go with the other property she was considering (That makes it sound simpler than it actually was… Needless to say, there’s a whole story connected to this, and the internet is not the appropriate place for it, but the upshot is that this girl could never actually have afforded our house – as in, it was way, WAY out of her budget –  but decided to string us along for three weeks anyway, pretending that she could. There’s a reason I refer to some people as The Others, and it’s because they’re NOT LIKE US.), which means the house we wanted went to someone else (albeit only as a rental, so there’s still the chance of it coming back on the market at some point), leaving us in the awkward position of having a house for sale which we don’t actually WANT to sell, because there’s no longer a property we’re interested in buying*. Which is… yeah.

Of course, the housing market is slow right now, so there isn’t really an issue with just leaving things as they are and seeing what happens.  If and when we DO get an offer on our place, well, we’ll have a difficult decision to make, but for now I guess we can at least take comfort in the fact that the uncertainty we’ve been living with for the past few weeks is (temporarily, at least) at an end. I’m honestly not joking when I say I haven’t slept properly since this potential buyer came along (I REALLY wish we’d known she couldn’t actually afford it: it would have saved a lot of people a lot of time and energy), and ever since our house went on the market basically every waking second has been consumed with thoughts of if we would sell, and when we would sell, and what we would buy if we did. I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for the past few weeks, and only now can I finally exhale.

It’s a sad kind of exhale, though. We really had our hearts set on this house, and we came SO CLOSE to getting it that losing it now is even harder to deal with than it might otherwise have been. And we know there will be other houses. There will (hopefully) be other buyers. One day it’ll happen, and we’ll finally get our house.

It’s just… we would’ve really liked it to have been this one.

* Clarification: I didn’t mean this to imply that we’re taking the house off the market, just that we’re no longer in a hurry to sell, because we don’t have anywhere to buy: we’re definitely not taking it off the market, though!

P.S. I write a weekly diary which goes out every Friday to my subscribers. Sign up below to get on the list...

I also write books
COMMENTS
  • Oh no, Amber, that’s so annoying! I hope you catch up on some well earned sleep this weekend- and I hope there’s a glass or two of wine somewhere in there too! x

    May 10, 2013
  • I’m sorry, that really sucks 🙁 At times like what you’re going through, I always think back to a saying my granny used to say, which was “what’s for you, will not go past you”. So perhaps a home that’s even more right for you will come along in the future when the timing’s better.

    Good luck!
    Nicola

    May 10, 2013
  • That’s so…sad. Bleh. People are awful sometimes 🙁

    I agree with Nicola’s granny, though – I am coming around to the view that things will be as they will be, and disappointments often lead to opportunities. I hope one comes around for you soon, though.
    x

    May 10, 2013
  • Keep trying to sell your place. If you have an offer on it, it puts you in a stronger position as a buyer. We had offers accepted before we sold and then were gazumped because very few people will take their place off the market unless their buyer has an offer on their place.

    May 10, 2013
  • There’s a special place for people who do that sort of thing. That happened to my mother when she was selling her house. We spent two weeks dealing hoping and scrambling and it turned out they couldn’t make good on it anyway. WTH?

    May 10, 2013
  • I’m not going to tell you it’s fine, don’t sweat it, because I know I’d be just as gutted and stressed out and won’t pretend otherwise. That said, I DO think another opportunity will come along in time, even if that’s not very comforting today. And I think you’re well within your rights to be seriously pissed off at her for misrepresenting herself.

    Leave it on the market because, why not? You lose nothing by letting people come to see the house and it could take some time for the right offer to come along. Meanwhile, you’re under no pressure to accept any downward negotiation because you’re not at risk of losing another place.

    May 10, 2013
  • Selina

    REPLY

    🙁 *hugs*

    May 10, 2013
  • How agonizing and exhausting! My husband is a mortgage loan officer here in the US… You would be amazed at what the OTHERS do when it comes to houses.
    Hoping this is the start of something different and unexpected in a positive way 🙂

    May 10, 2013
  • So sorry to hear that Amber, you have every right to be annoyed with this stupid woman! Some people really do live in clod cuckoo land, its all very well to dream of houses you can’t afford (a new hobby of mine!) but to drag other people into your delusions is just wrong! At least it’s Friday and you and Terry can enjoy a glass of wine or 7 and get a good nights sleep!xx

    May 10, 2013
  • You poor sweetie!
    I echo what the others have said, everything happens for a reason, and hopefully this means an even more lovely house is just around the corner ( metaphorically speaking!)
    At least thats what ive been telling myself recently when Ive had knockbacks for jobs that ive applied for, there ( MUST) be an even better one due along soon!!
    In the meantime, if its not tooooo forward im sending you a cyber hug! ((( x )))

    May 10, 2013
  • Forgot to say – what an inconsiderate biiiiiaaatch!!!
    I hope the estate agents gave her a telling off!

    May 10, 2013
  • How disappointing for you.

    I would tell you that it simply means it’s not the right time and something better will come along because that is exactly what happened to us with our house, but I’m sure you are tired of people saying that so just hang in there.

    At least you have your shoe wall to go to in time of comfort : )

    bisous
    Suzanne

    May 10, 2013
  • Hi there. If yours sells before you find something else, you could move into rented? You could always then contact the seller of your dream house and let them know your new position, he could then give his renters notice, and, bobs your uncle, you have your home?! (You’ve probably already thought about this!)

    May 10, 2013
  • How frustrating!

    May 10, 2013
  • Oh, Amber, I am really sorry to hear that she couldn’t afford the house and went with the other one. What on earth was she thinking, stringing you along like that? Totally unnecessary!

    Are you still going to be house hunting for other places? I am sure you will find the house of your dreams, and hopefully this time it will not be so frustrating for you!

    Hope you are enjoying your Friday night (now that you can finally breathe) which a well deserved glass of Chardonnay (or two)!

    Corinne x
    http://www.skinnedcartree.com

    May 10, 2013
  • I am so so sorry. Some people just have no respect. Especially for something like a house sale when some people are still living in it! But clearly this woman thought buying a house is like buying a skirt. Go figure. 🙁

    On the other hand, as you said, the house of your dreams is just in rental for now, so there is still hope. And maybe at this very moment a perfect house with a huge walk-in closet and beautiful space for a shoe wall is going on the market…;)

    May 10, 2013
      • It’s called karma and it’ll get her someday. 😉

        May 11, 2013
  • 🙁 Sorry to hear it didn’t work out Amber.

    May 11, 2013
  • I am in the same situation – can’t move untill someone replace me 🙁 Wish you luck !

    May 11, 2013
  • Aww so sorry to hear it didn’t work out. But in my country we say that every obstacle may turn out to be good in the end. Maybe you’ll find a better house with a better price or after 6 months your house will get sold and your dream house will be for sale again, but for less money than it does now. So it might turn out to be a good thing you didn’t get it now. I’m sure everything will go the way you want them to, in the end. 🙂

    May 11, 2013
  • I guess I should read posts from first to last and not the other way around. I’m so sorry to hear the house didn’t work out!

    May 14, 2013
  • Only just saw this (yes, I’m a bit behind this week). That’s really dreadfully dishonest of her! I hope some more useful offers come through ASAP. <3

    May 16, 2013
POST A COMMENT