Caveat Emptor _ Let the Buyer Beware ! We advise caution at a time when the market is showing a robust return after lockdown.

 Some buyers have been sharpening their pencils, anticipating a fall in property prices following Covid19.

The early indications are that pencils can be pinpoint sharp but it might not mean a lowering of prices, or that lowball offers will be accepted.

Early signs are that there is a great deal of demand in the market across all price sectors and property types.

 But still, there have been cases of gazundering: this is the practice of a buyer reducing an already agreed offer to buy a property - often when only weeks or even days away from exchange of contracts.

 Gazundering might follow a serious and understandable concern about a property’s condition following a survey, or genuine worry – backed up by market evidence - about a local or regional house price fall.

 But sometimes, gazundering is used as a form of tactical coercion.

It is not blackmail.

It is not illegal.

But it’s not nice and it does leave a very nasty taste in the mouth.

 Our long experience tells us that gazundering can also heavily backfire on the buyer.

It is not uncommon for a seller to pull out of a deal in anger.

But that is not all.

Today there is another concern.

A late-in-the-day price change means a mortgage lender might recheck the buyer’s financial position.

If new circumstances come to light – and, let’s face it, Covid19 has badly affected millions of salary and wage earners - a mortgage offer could be adjusted or even withdrawn entirely.

 So when buying a property AC – after Covid19 - just as at any other time, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.

Share on social media