Broken Property Chains - Guide

What causes a broken chain?

A property chain will form when there is more than one person involved in a property transaction. All buyers and sellers have one common objective: to move home. Each link of a property chain is dependent on the next link staying intact to ensure the transaction completes. A chain begins when one party is only buying, for example, a first-time buyer, and ends with one party only selling, for example someone who isn’t buying any onward property.

In a recent Spring Survey, 47% of respondents had an offer fall through and suffered the misery of their chain breaking. There are many reasons for a chain breaking, these include:

• One party cannot get their mortgage.
• Another buyer makes a higher offer, this is called Gazumping
• Another buyer suddenly reduces their offer, this is called Gazundering
• One party is unable to find a property to buy
• A survey revealing structural issues
• Asbestos presence that may prove costly to remove
• Sudden change in employment circumstances (ie: redundancy / job loss)
• Illness

How can a broken chain effect you?

A property chain relies on many components, its not just buyers and sellers. The links of the chain are held together by conveyancers, mortgage lenders, agents and surveyors and all play a vital role in keeping it together. If the links remain intact then all parties are happy and the chain completes, but if just one link fails, the chain can breakdown causing misery and upset for all involved. Moving home is often cited as one of the most stressful experiences in life.

Being part of a chain that suddenly breaks down through no fault of your own, not only throws you into emotional turmoil, but it can also be financially crippling. If a chain breaks towards the end of the sale process, those involved may lose money already paid for solicitor’s fees, surveying costs and any non-refundable fees associated in the arrangement of a mortgage. When the chain breaks down, you are effectively back to square one and you must start the whole process from the beginning, which potentially means paying out again for all the fees.

Using a home buying service like Spring, removes all the uncertainty and let downs often experienced when selling your home on the open market.

Fixing the broken chain – How can Spring help?

Chains are not easy to fix and facing the reality of losing your dream home is not something anyone involved in a chain wants to deal with. From the start, when selling or buying a property, you need to be open and honest about your finances, communicate effectively with all parties in the chain and be prepared to be get organised. The best way to beat the stress of being involved in a chain, is to be chain free and try to avoid chains altogether.

Our experienced and professional team will ensure your home sale is a simple and easy transaction, making you chain-free to make your onward move with certainty and confidence.

Spring provide a service that empowers sellers to take back control of their home sale. We remove the pit falls of the open market, our offers are guaranteed and final, and your chain will not break down. Our transparent and all-inclusive fees allow you to plan ahead so you know what sale price you will get and when. There are no hidden fees, all legal and conveyancing fees are included – its simple, easy and stress free.

FAQ’s

Can I prevent the chain from breaking?

Sadly no, you are reliant on others in the chain. You can do your due diligence and try to ensure your part of the chain stays intact by ensuring all your finances are in place and making sure you always keep channels of communication open.

If the chain breaks, do I have to start all over again?

If the chain cannot be fixed, you will have to start all over again. If you are a victim of a broken chain, Spring can step in and help keep the chain intact. We can act very quickly due to our extensive funding, so your chain may be able to remain intact.

What does it mean to be chain free?

Being chain-free, or having no chain, means the vendor or purchaser is not relying on the sale of an existing house to be able to complete purchase of an onward property. A chain-free property could be from a seller who is emigrating aboard and therefore do not need to find another property in the UK, or someone who has passed-away and left the property as an inheritance. First-time buyers, buy-to-let purchasers, or those purchasing a second home are also chain-free.

Another way to be chain free is to purchase a new build property direct from the developer or a retirement property direct from a retirement village operator.

Does being chain free put me in a stronger position?

Absolutely yes. Being chain free with no property to sell, can allow for greater negotiating should the need arise. If there are multiple buyers fighting for the same property, vendors would be far more likely to choose a buyer that is chain free. A chain free buyer is a very attractive proposition for vendors as they are ready to move and have finances in place to progress.

Contact us today to find out how Spring can help fix a broken chain, or simply make you chain free, so you can make your next move with ease, speed and certainty.