What if a buyer reduces their offer?

Separate the reason from the pressure

Ask for the revised offer and explanation in writing. Is it linked to new survey evidence, a title issue, changed funding or a negotiating decision? Request the relevant evidence and ask your agent or conveyancer to help you understand it.

Check where you are in the transaction

In England and Wales, an offer is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged. After exchange, get advice from your conveyancer about the agreed contract rather than treating a proposed change as an ordinary negotiation. GOV.UK explains the distinction.

Compare your available responses

You might reject the change, negotiate a different figure or reconsider the sale, depending on your legal position. Ask what each choice means for costs, timing and any onward purchase. Money already spent can make a decision feel urgent, but it does not establish that a revised offer is fair.

• Which new facts, if any, justify the change?
• What would restarting the sale realistically involve?
• Is the replacement figure affordable for your next move?
• Can the buyer explain what conditions are still outstanding?

Make offer stages clear from the start

Ask every buyer to distinguish an initial indication from a figure supported by completed checks. Keep a written record of conditions and revisions. No homepage promise can remove every risk of a change before a binding agreement; clear evidence and independent advice make the decision easier to assess.