The reason a buyer pulls out is important and although the buyer is under no obligation to give a reason, the agent needs to try to find out why the buyer is pulling out and most buyers pulling out of a deal will give an indication of why.

If the buyer’s chain has broken down, they may need to withdraw from their agreement with you, although it is not unknown for the chain to be restored if someone down the line finds another buyer. It is therefore sometimes wise to do nothing for a few days.

If it turns out to be a personal issue – such as a change or loss of a job or a relationship change, then at least you have some comfort in knowing that the circumstances were not caused by a problem at your end and you need do nothing to mitigate the reason.

It is important that your estate agent keeps dialogue with the buyer. Very few buyers who have second thoughts about a deal do not show signs of this. They can become difficult to contact, unanswered telephone calls, messages or emails can be signs that all is not well and the buyer is uncomfortable with having conversations with the agent, so try to ensure that your agent is taking nothing for granted and is keeping in regular contact with the buyer to gauge their mood and pick up on any worries they may have or any changes in their attitude.

A survey report which details problems with the property can be a valid reason for the deal falling down, but if the buyer is willing to either amend their offer to compensate for the remedial work, or the seller is willing to have the work done, it may be possible to resurrect the deal. If not it then gives the seller the opportunity to react to the survey before re-advertising the property.

If your buyer pulls out, it may seem like the end of the world to a seller who has been through the stress of selling their house, but it is something that all estate agents will have experienced and dealt with in the past. That being the case, take advice from your estate agent, any good agent will discuss your predicament and agree a way forward.

Your agent should initially inform any other parties who have shown interest in your property that it is once again available and ascertain if any of those retains an interest in pursuing a deal with you. Failing that the agent will advise you of any action you need to take to rectify any problem areas which the loss of the sale has highlighted and will then begin to remarket the property.

When a buyer pulls out of a house sale it costs you time and money, and can cause a great deal of stress. It is therefore worth taking a few steps to minimise your risks.

Ask your estate agent to find out a bit of background and give you a summary of the prospective buyer’s circumstances. Are they, first time buyers, part of a chain, do they have finance in place, why are they looking to move? All this will help you to decide which offer to accept if you have more than one offer. First time buyers are ideal, they are not part of a chain, which can be useful to minimise the number of links in a prospective buyer’s chain.

You will probably have met your prospective buyers when they viewed your house, get their contact details and keep in touch with them, a personal touch always helps.

It is recognised that around 20% of house sales fall through before exchange of contracts, although most of these do eventually sell to other buyers. Most of us could do without the hassle and extra time and money we would need to spend if a buyer pulls out, but it should not be a showstopper, treat it as a ‘could do without’ and press on to a successful sale.