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Original poster

Is this normal when making an offer on House?

265 replies

offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:02

I've seen house to buy. It's been on the market for around two months or so. It's already been reduced in price online.

When it was reduced, I made an offer slightly under the asking price. After a couple of days they said they want full asking price.
So I immediately offered the full asking price.

Anyway, I haven't heard anything so I've just called the estate agents and they said the family want to think about it. So they will get back to me on Tuesday.

I was really confused about this because I've offered the full asking price so I'm not sure what there is to think about?

She said they feel somebody else might be interested in the property. I asked a couple of questions about this… It turns out the person who is "interested " hasn't sold their house and hasn't said they want to make an offer. They've simply said they like the house. But have not indicated at all that they are looking to make an offer.

I have a feeling I know who this is because when I was viewing the house for the second time, a woman was there and I heard her say that she likes the house and that was it. So I'm not sure if that's the person

I just don't understand. I'm not sure if they're trying to get more than the asking price from me. Or if they're just waiting to see if they get any other offers over the next few days?

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 08/06/2024 10:42

@Twiglets1

I've asked them, why it has taken them 17 days. And it is due to their personal circumstances and an anniversary of a death.

They said it is on at 'offers over'. I put the full asking price. Which is less than what it was bought for a couple of years ago by another family member of theirs.

So is it normal then When it says 'offers over' that you would automatically offer more than the number stated online?

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 08/06/2024 10:34

They sound nuts @offerquery and like they would be the sellers from Hell - totally detached from reality. It’s not for you to pay extra to cover their fees!

Daisys24 · 08/06/2024 10:09

Yeah they are being cheeky. Stand your ground or else they will be increasing the price as you go along. They also didn’t realise they will lose you as you’ve now said you’ve put an offer on another house so maybe that may change their mind.

Original poster
offerquery · 08/06/2024 09:52

I Emailed the estate agent this morning to say that I have made an offer on the other property.

They have now replied to me saying they have finally had a response from the seller. They want an extra £3000. I have told them I have offered them full asking price and they have waited 17 days to now ask for another £3000.

Everybody else who made offers on this property at the same time as me have withdrawn their offers so mine is the only one there

They have said it is for their solicitors and estate agent fees. I also have the same fees including a survey etc.

I have Said if they wanted higher amount, they should have put that on the advert. Because I have actually offered them the full asking price.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 08/06/2024 06:33

offerquery · 07/06/2024 22:05

Although that house is gorgeous, I would prefer the smaller one because of the location, but who knows when they will eventually get back to me to either accept or reject my offer. Financially, the smaller one would be so much better for me. I think I have submitted my offer to the other house in panic.

Don’t worry. You can withdraw your offer if you change your mind and feel you did indeed make the offer in a panic and now regret it.

justasking111 · 07/06/2024 23:24

Well you need a roof over your head. Whatever the reason for the delay, the sellers just aren't ready to let go.

Original poster
offerquery · 07/06/2024 22:05

Although that house is gorgeous, I would prefer the smaller one because of the location, but who knows when they will eventually get back to me to either accept or reject my offer. Financially, the smaller one would be so much better for me. I think I have submitted my offer to the other house in panic.

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 07/06/2024 22:03

Still haven't heard anything. Estate agent said they've been texting and phoning them.
I have made an offer on the other property which I sent through tonight.

OP posts:
Elphame · 06/06/2024 10:29

I think you are getting too emotionally invested too early.

You were "heartbroken" when you didn't get the first house but now prefer the other one where the owners are seriously messing you about. Are you prepared for long delays and them perhaps pulling out at a later date because tbh the whole thing gives me very bad vibes and I've bought and sold many houses in my time. I wouldn't proceed on this one.

Keep looking - it's a buyers market at the moment.

Original poster
offerquery · 05/06/2024 20:15

My completion date on my house has been extended by 4 weeks which has given me a little more time.

It wasn't the estate agents who told me what happened. It was a neighbour near the house. They saw me there and came out to see if I was interested in the house. I explained I've already made an offer and waiting to hear back and then they told me everything.

OP posts:
senua · 05/06/2024 11:05

honesty make sure you have a plan for long delays in process
It might make sense to resign yourself to the idea that you have to sign up for a 6 month rental while this goes through. It will cost you, but not as much as the difference between this house and the other one (£70,000).

SmileyHappyPeopleInTheSun · 05/06/2024 10:39

Well I hope you get the house as you clearly want it - but honesty make sure you have a plan for long delays in process - they couldn't even accept an offer in a reasonable timeframe I'd be prepare for endless delays - our delay of a week went on for 3 months in the end for no obvious reason - us camped with family paying for storage wasn't our solicitor or the estate agent - and we were a week or two away from having to walk away due to our own big immovable deadline looming.

senua · 05/06/2024 10:35

The situation and their circumstances have been quite tragic to be honest and it makes sense why they haven't responded or replied. I really feel sad for them so I feel ok waiting a little longer.
What happened to "And I do want a quick sale. I need to be in a property ASAP" and "I don't have months as I need somewhere quickly. I literally have weeks so if they were going to come back to me it would really need to be over the next couple of days"?Confused

Daisys24 · 05/06/2024 09:26

I think that sounds reassuring that they aren’t just messing you about if there is a reason behind all the waiting. I hope you get the house as it sounds like it’s the one you want. Good luck x

FredsRoses · 05/06/2024 01:45

Quite honestly OP, I wouldn't trust these people as far as you can throw them. I know you want the little house, and you may now be in possession of some information that you don't feel able to share, but unless it sounds extremely believable, I wouldn't take this one any further, as the likelihood of them messing you around further in the process is still high. Remember, estate agents will tell you what ever you want to hear, as they are NOT ON YOUR SIDE!! As I said to you way back in the post, I'm a great believer in fate, and the first house coming back on the market, and them asking if you would like to offer again, may well be a sign that that's the one for you. It may seem like a bit of stretch to start with, but give it a couple of years, and it will all feel perfectly acceptable. I'd also be inclined to try a lower offer at this point, as you're in such a good position. If they turn it down, then offer what you did previously, as it would seem they're likely to want to move quickly now, having already been let down once. If you do decide to make a lower offer, then you can mention that you also have your eye on another property which is cheaper, so you don't feel that you really want to go as high as you did previously, but if they're prepared to accept whatever your offer is, you can move extremely quickly, etc. don't go into any further detail about the other property, even if the agent asks, unless of course it's for sale with the same agent, in which case they'll already know the score.

mumgodloveher · 04/06/2024 22:28

Oh that's very sad. But I do also hope things work out for you and you get the house. Good luck, let us know!

Original poster
offerquery · 04/06/2024 21:54

@Daisys24
Well I went for a second viewing at the more expensive house that I had my offer rejected from a few weeks ago. I still loved it but felt a bit differently because of how much I want the little house.

I have since found out some more information about the house where I'm not getting a response from the seller. They have now finally responded and said they'll let me know within the next 48 hours.

The situation and their circumstances have been quite tragic to be honest and it makes sense why they haven't responded or replied. I really feel sad for them so I feel ok waiting a little longer.

I think from what the estate agent said, they are going to accept. They asked me to send all my ID stuff through to them. But they need to do something before accepting. Which is tomorrow. And I do really understand.

I thought they were messing about and playing games trying to get more money but that really isn't the case.

It turns out they've had a few offers which eventually were all withdrawn as they didn't hear anything back. I'm the only one who has hung on!!!

But I think they finally feel ok to let go of the house even though I know it'll be incredibly hard for them.

OP posts:
Daisys24 · 03/06/2024 20:03

@offerquery how have you got on with your houses?

ClockworkDisaster · 31/05/2024 15:33

Ugh this sounds like a nightmare. You wonder if they actually want to sell it or not!

pizzaHeart · 30/05/2024 20:36

You can always say for the most expensive house that you need to go back to your bank about the higher mortgage.
in the meantime make a timeline for the second house so if they do accept your offer, you will be able to spell them out your conditions straight away.
I assume that you’ve got a solicitor ready as you just sold your house but bear in mind searchers and surveys can take time.
Personally I don’t think that probate sale of empty house always takes ages, ours was about 11weeks , quite straightforward. There were a few sellers involved but they gave clear instructions to EA and were quickly contactable.

Superscientist · 30/05/2024 19:59

offerquery · 30/05/2024 18:19

I've spoken with the estate agents for the mystery house. He's finally got hold of the seller who said he'll be in touch tomorrow.

The estate agent advised me to view the other house anyway. But he also said if my offer is accepted tomorrow by the seller, all the solicitors stuff is already signed and in place so there would be no hold ups as they wouldn't require to be in contact with the seller, as they're dealing with it all.

This assumes you have no questions. We had many questions that came on the back of surveys that required the owners input. For example we needed the details of the builder who did some work to provide evidence that some work was "like for like" and thus it didn't need building control and extra paperwork. The solicitor said "look of Google maps you can see what it looked like before". The builder provided us with a brief letter saying I removed xyz and replaced it with ABC these are equivalent products. Without this we were just having to trust that it had been done properly and wasn't liable to fall down causing a significant problem!

You don't know what the surveys will show and if the solicitor can answer the questions!

We had a long conversation on another purchase where the sellers solicitor kept referring to the house as a leasehold when it was a freehold with a rent charge and are covered by different legislation and have different issues.

Original poster
offerquery · 30/05/2024 18:19

I've spoken with the estate agents for the mystery house. He's finally got hold of the seller who said he'll be in touch tomorrow.

The estate agent advised me to view the other house anyway. But he also said if my offer is accepted tomorrow by the seller, all the solicitors stuff is already signed and in place so there would be no hold ups as they wouldn't require to be in contact with the seller, as they're dealing with it all.

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Original poster
offerquery · 30/05/2024 18:18

@Winter2020

No. The more expensive house, they're in there until September/October time. I wouldn't need to do anything at all to the house.

The cheaper house, I would spend around £10k on it just to do the floors, shelves etc. but my monthly payments would be a lot less in the cheaper house.

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Winter2020 · 30/05/2024 18:06

offerquery · 30/05/2024 14:10

The other House that has contacted me… I went to see it a few weeks ago and the second I walked in. I absolutely knew that I wanted it. I made an offer on the spot that was £6000 under the asking price. They accepted somebody else's offer And I was absolutely devastated. I cried my eyes out.

It was only last night I actually looked online to see if it was still sold subject to contract. So I was amazed when I saw their message today to say it is going back on the market and to let them know if I want to make an offer.

The thing is I have genuinely fallen in love with the other House, mainly because of its location

I really don't know what to do. But I know I don't have long to think about it. The other house that has contacted me today will not be on the market long. I can guarantee that because it's absolutely beautiful inside

Am I right in understanding that the more expensive house is ready to live in but the cheaper house is a doer upper?

If you can afford the more expensive house I would have a further viewing and if you still love it go for it.

Building work is so expensive if the cheaper house needs things like electrics, plastering, kitchen and bathroom you will soon be needing 10s of thousands for work and have the stress of the work to manage and pay for. The more expensive house= no building stress and the greater expense is spread over the life of the mortgage.

justasking111 · 30/05/2024 17:24

We had cash in the bank, sellers also so no chain. We skidded in just under seven weeks to complete basically because every form we got we both returned by hand informed our solicitors and each other that xyz, had been delivered. We both left our solicitors no bullshit room.