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Exercises · Q2

Q.Distinguish between Sale and Agreement to Sell.

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✓ Free question
BasisSaleAgreement to Sell
Transfer of ownershipImmediatePostponed to a future date/condition
Nature of contractExecutedExecutory
Risk of lossGenerally passes to the buyer at onceStays with the seller until ownership passes
Seller's remedy on buyer's defaultCan sue for the priceCan generally only sue for damages
Buyer's position if seller resellsCan recover the goods or sue for conversion, being the ownerCan generally only sue the seller for damages
Seller's insolvency (before delivery)Buyer can claim the goods, as ownerBuyer can only claim a rateable dividend, not the goods
Buyer's insolvency (before payment)Seller must deliver and prove for the price with other creditorsSeller can refuse to deliver unless paid in full

An agreement to sell converts into a sale automatically the moment the specified time lapses or the condition is fulfilled — no fresh contract is needed.

✓Final answer

A sale transfers ownership immediately (an executed contract); an agreement to sell postpones the transfer of ownership to a future time or a condition (an executory contract), becoming a sale automatically once that time/condition arrives.

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