Should I say something to my EA?

[AGreatUsername]

We held our open day on Saturday, which drew lots of interest. It was on at offers in excess of X. We had 4 offers, one at asking, one slightly over and 2 five grand over, one of whom was not proceedable.

I was thrilled at this and keen to accept the top offer, but the agent said they’d be ringing round the 3 contenders for full and final offers, so not to accept until close of business. At 5.55 last night I rang them and there had been another asking price offer, but nothing else had changed. We happily accepted the top offer we’d wanted to go with anyway.

I’ve just had a guy knock at my door really upset with a letter for me (naturally I’d just got out of the shower so hair like a mad thing and no glasses on) saying that it was only today when he’d rung to check on the progress of his offer that he was told we’d accepted another, that he wasn’t told there was a higher offer on the table and he was desperate to see if we’d let him offer more now. Of course I can’t, I’ve accepted elsewhere, so I’ve just said if it falls through I’ll text him but I’m actually quite cross that not only did the EA treat this poor guy like crap they didn’t seem to try and get highest price for us anyway?!

[JoJoSM2]

The desperate guy was told to submit best and final - that means exactly that - submit your best and final. I think the EA hasn’t done anything wrong.

[AGreatUsername]

Ah but he said he offered on Saturday, and wasn’t asked to give best and final. He said he expected some negotiation to raise his offer but he wasn’t contacted at all until he rang this morning to see if we’d made a decision on his original offer.

[DotBall]

Bless. We should move to best and final offer by X date for house sales. He’s a chancer.

[AGreatUsername]

God I hope so. I feel really bad for him. He could’ve offered me a lot more and I wouldn’t have budged because gazumping is an awful practice, but it did tug my heart strings a bit.

[JoJoSM2]

If you’d rather take his higher offer, it’s not that bad to do it at this point due to possibly the EA being a muppet. It’s only been a couple of days and possibly a genuine cockup so not a proper case of gazumping.

[Mintchocchipicecream]

I’m in the buyer position and have had an EA not even almost try to get the best price for a seller in this same manner!

[Blobby10]

i felt bad when, after accepting an offer £10k under asking price from an acquaintance, EA (who had showed one person round the property) came in with an offer only £3k under asking., When I said no I couldn't go back on my word, they increased the offer to £7k OVER asking!!! I was sorely tempted tbh but knew that karma would come back to bite me if I'd gone back on my word. Now I'm having to pay for the costs to renovate my new place, I'm regretting turning my back on that £17k

[AGreatUsername]

I’ve spoken to the agent this morning who didn’t deny not phoning the bidders for best and final offers, and said he was most upset when he found out his offer had not won and offered to go 20K over asking! Crazy because the mortgage valuation wouldn’t have gone through at anywhere near that but I do feel for the poor guy. Our buyer is super quick and has done his mortgage application and the survey on our house is tomorrow. Wish my own application was as speedy, I’ve heard nothing yet so I’m in that horrible limbo land of wondering if we’ll be rejected. No grounds to think that but I think it’s probably normal to wonder!

I’ve got this mans number if our buyer pulls out but that’s it for now as far as I’m concerned.

[crustycrab]

You've agreed to sell your house and had an offer accepted on another without a mortgage in place?

You've potentially much bigger problems than some fella at the door. Doing that is risky for the other people in the chain who are likely unaware. It's worse than accepting a different offer 2 days later!

[Mildura]

You've agreed to sell your house and had an offer accepted on another without a mortgage in place?

You can't submit a mortgage application until you've identified a property you wish to buy.

[AGreatUsername]

Sorry, what? Our house has SSTC. We have an AIP and you can’t actually apply for a mortgage until you have as address and purchase price!

[ConstanceL]

That's a real shame for the guy that missed out, but if it's an area where properties are in demand as it sounds like from what you say, then I think the buyer has to lay their cards on the table straightaway. Definitely ask the EA why they didn't call the three potential buyers as they said they would though - that does seem a little odd!