The differences are not as great as people like to think and mainly around the fact that "Offers over" and closing dates asking for final bids are commonly used and the way the market consequently operates in favour of sellers unless the market is very flat. This is balanced in part by the way solitiors operate in the market handing a small advantage back to buyers, who can pull out of deals more easily than sellers up until contracts (missives) are signed
The process is controlled by mainly solicitors who also act as "estate agent" and they definitely disapprove of any gazumping, but nevertheless it is not impossible to pull out of deals as people are fond of making out is the case.
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