The Most Common Problems That Wreck Property Deals And How To Avoid Them

1. The Most Common Problems That Wreck Property Deals And How To Avoid Them Createdby:Nick Statman, CEO of Bettermove DocumentCopyright2025

2. The Most Common Problems That Wreck Property Deals And How To Avoid Them Most people believe that property deals collapse because of the property itself. Perhaps the survey uncovered something serious. Perhaps the mortgage was declined. Perhaps the valuation came in low. These factors certainly play a part, but in the vast majority of cases deals do not fall apart because of bricks and mortar. Instead they fall apart because of the people involved, the processes that support the deal, and the lack of structure or communication that sits around a transaction. Nick Statman, CEO of Bettermove has overseen thousands of sales throughout his career and has seen firsthand how fragile a property deal can be. Time after time the same patterns emerge. Most problems are predictable and most of them are completely avoidable if the right framework is in place from day one. Below are the most common reasons property deals collapse and the steps that homeowners can take to avoid disaster. DocumentCopyright2025

3. Slow solicitors create momentum loss Once an offer is accepted sellers often breathe a sigh of relief and assume the hard work is over. In reality the most important stage is only just beginning. The legal process determines the entire pace of the transaction and unfortunately many solicitors do not communicate well, do not respond quickly, and tend to let files sit untouched for long periods of time. This lack of communication destroys momentum. Buyers start to worry. Sellers chase for updates. Weeks go by with no progress. By the time anything moves forward someone in the chain has become frustrated or uncertain and the deal loses energy. The solution is simple but often ignored. Choose a solicitor who has a reputation for proactive communication. Ask how many files they currently have open. Ask what their average response time is. Ask whether they assign a specific person to each case. Most importantly choose someone who deals with fast paced transactions and understands the need for clarity and updates. A proactive solicitor can save a deal. A slow one can destroy it. DocumentCopyright2025

4. Poor buyer vetting is a silent deal killer One of the most common reasons for collapse is that the buyer was not properly qualified in the first place. Many buyers claim to be cash buyers when they are nothing of the sort. Others say they have a mortgage in principle when they do not. Some buyers simply enjoy the thrill of viewing properties and making offers without any real intention to complete. Without proper checks a seller may accept an offer from a buyer who cannot actually proceed. Once the truth is revealed it is often too late. Valuable weeks have been lost and the seller now must return to the market from the beginning. Vetting is essential. Proof of funds should be verified. Mortgage agreements should be confirmed. Identity checks should be completed early in the process. A genuine buyer will never object to providing the necessary evidence. At Bettermove this is an integral part of the process. Buyers are confirmed before the offer is even sent to the seller which significantly reduces the risk of collapse. DocumentCopyright2025

5. Survey results and valuations create unexpected shocks Surveys can raise concerns that buyers were not prepared for. Valuations may come in lower than expected. These shocks often trigger renegotiation and in many cases cause the buyer to walk away. Some issues are unavoidable because they relate to genuine defects. However many problems arise from unrealistic pricing or a lack of transparency. If the price is set too high there is a good chance the lender will down value the property. If the seller hides known defects the survey will expose them later which damages trust. The best approach is honesty. Provide information early. Set a realistic asking price that aligns with the actual condition of the property. Declare historic issues clearly. When expectations align up front there is less room for disappointment later. DocumentCopyright2025

6. Property chains collapse more easily than people realise Chains are one of the biggest sources of stress in the UK property market. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If one person in a chain loses their buyer the entire sequence stalls. When a chain stalls buyers begin to panic and sellers become frustrated. Deadlines slip and confidence erodes. Chains fail due to mortgage issues, survey problems, slow solicitors, nervous buyers, or personal changes in circumstances. Even a perfectly prepared seller can be affected by events completely outside of their control. The only real solution is to avoid a chain wherever possible. Chain free buyers bring certainty. A chain free sale keeps the deal simple and reduces the number of people who can disrupt the process. This is one of the reasons Statman built Bettermove around vetted and chain free buyers. It gives homeowners a controlled environment that does not rely on several unrelated transactions happening at the same time. DocumentCopyright2025

7. Missing documentation causes unnecessary delays Many deals collapse due to preventable paperwork issues. Missing planning certificates. Unapproved alterations. Boundary uncertainty. Lease information that has not been updated. Sellers often do not realise that these small gaps can create large delays. The answer is preparation. Before listing a property sellers should gather title deeds, planning documents, guarantees, building regulations certificates, lease information, service charge accounts, and anything else that may be required. By having a complete pack ready, the solicitor can begin work immediately and potential questions can be answered without long periods of uncertainty. Prepared sellers complete faster and experience fewer problems. DocumentCopyright2025

8. Emotional decision making ruins deals Property transactions are emotional. Sellers become attached to their homes. Buyers see flaws and use them to negotiate. Stress builds. People panic. Decisions are made based on fear or frustration rather than reason. A buyer may pull out because they feel ignored. A seller may refuse a reasonable request because they feel offended. A solicitor may escalate a minor issue because they want to cover themselves. These emotional triggers often create unnecessary tension which ultimately leads to collapse. The key is calm communication. When each step is explained clearly and expectations are managed the emotional spikes are reduced. Statman has always believed that communication is the strongest tool for preventing collapse. When people understand what is happening they feel in control and deals move forward. DocumentCopyright2025

9. The Future Will Reward Those Who Move Quickly Most property deals collapse for predictable reasons. Slow solicitors, unqualified buyers, unrealistic pricing, survey surprises, missing documentation, fragile chains, and emotional reactions all contribute to a process that is already slow and complex. Yet almost all of these issues can be prevented with the right structure and the right preparation. Nick Statman and the team at Bettermove have built an approach that removes the main sources of collapse by prioritising communication, vetting, preparedness, and chain free transactions. The goal is not merely to sell a property but to give homeowners a clear and reliable path to completion. DocumentCopyright2025

10. Conclusion In property, success rarely comes from luck. It comes from planning, communication, and controlled processes. When these foundations are in place the chances of collapse fall dramatically and sellers gain something far more valuable than a simple offer. They gain certainty. DocumentCopyright2025

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