On Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 10:44:58 AM UTC-4, Ophelia wrote:

> Thanks. When we have bought houses, we have never had to sign anything
> until the deal is completed.
>
> Once signed, it is a done deal.

It looks like the notion of a contract prior to the sale of the house is
not completely unknown in the U.K.:

<http://www.pastor-realestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Pastor-Sales-Guide1.pdf>

Cindy Hamilton