Page 8 | AIBU to reduce our accepted house offer after selling ours cheaply?

Miserablestrawberry · 2026-04-15T14:29:24+00:00

We offered asking price on a house (825k) a couple of weeks ago (the house had only just been put on the market), and the offer was accepted but the vendors refused to take the house off of the market (completely understandable) and have had multiple viewings but no offers since. We’ve now accepted an offer on our house. Due to the market, we’ve accepted quite a low offer (650k when we were initially valued at 700-715k from multiple agents) as the market seems to have sunk since the Iran war. We wanted to accept an offer Asap so that we can formalise the offer on the property mentioned. As we’ve accepted a fairly low offer, would it be seen as cheeky to amend our initial offer on the house we wish to buy? We were thinking of going back at £815k.

Blueblell · 15/04/2026 16:32

I don’t think you would be unreasonable as they didn’t really accept as they didn’t take it off the market- now you are ready go back with the offer.

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:32

Newyearawaits · 15/04/2026 16:28

Seems morally unethical to me.
You are monopilising on the fact that they haven't had any more offers.
Seems unfair to me

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But equally, they were monopolising on the fact that they could receive a higher or better offer than mine when not taking their house off of the market?

OP posts:

Newbutoldfather · 15/04/2026 16:31

‘I can't speak for that poster, but I would also be annoyed if I was the seller and, unless I was desperate, wouldn't sell to you.’

There is very little point in getting ‘annoyed.

It sounds like no decent other offers have been made and they may need to wait 6 months and a far lower offer if they don’t negotiate with the OP.

Things like gazundering a few days before exchange are dishonourable but, ahead of the survey and, in the early process, anything can change (I’ve bought and sold plenty of property and experienced lots of messing around).

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:30

Monty36 · 15/04/2026 16:14

Have your buyers sold ?
It sounds to me like your house sellers want someone who has actually sold up and almost or has no chain. A cash buyer.
Two weeks to be up for sale is no time at all.

They are in a chain.

im presuming that this is fine for the sellers - my offer would allow them to place their own offer on a property.

OP posts:

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2026 16:30

Donning hard hat here- I have done this and buyer accepted my lower offer. I was a cash buyer. I was fully aware the vendor might have refused to sell to me, but was prepared to take the risk.

Catnanna · 15/04/2026 16:29

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:17

Well then maybe you’d miss out on the property that you really want to be able to put an offer in but can’t as you haven’t accepted an offer yourself!

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So be it. I don’t believe in playing games. Like I said if someone had made me an offer at asking price then reduced it (survey excepted, then I’d be open to negotiating if any issues were raised) but if not, I’d lose all faith in them as buyers and see them as being hassle and chancers.

Newyearawaits · 15/04/2026 16:28

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 15:34

How come? I could understand if you had removed your house from the market based on an offer, but if you were prioritising a quick sale vs an asking price offer… why would yoi feel like that?

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Seems morally unethical to me.
You are monopilising on the fact that they haven't had any more offers.
Seems unfair to me

Cyclebabble · 15/04/2026 16:28

Quite unusual circumstances. It seems that you do not have a deal as yet if they still might sell to someone else. I would be unhappy with this set up, it feels very uncertain.

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:27

C152 · 15/04/2026 16:23

I can't speak for that poster, but I would also be annoyed if I was the seller and, unless I was desperate, wouldn't sell to you. The reason is, you made an offer you were happy with. Nothing about the property has changed - no massive horror that will need extensive repairs/replacing has come to light to justify the price reduction; you just don't want to pay what you originally offered. That's your right, of course, but that's why it would annoy me and make me suspect you'd be a massive problem throughout the entire sale process.

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I made an offer I was happy with based on what I presumed I would sell my own house for.

My circumstances have changed.

I suppose it depends on how much they want to sell their own house. They very much want to sell - they want to offer on a property that is already on the market before someone else does.

OP posts:

anyolddinosaur · 15/04/2026 16:25

Go back and say you've had an offer under your asking price but you are willing to accept it if they are willing to drop their price a bit and take their house off the market. They may not want to do so immediately but give them a week and they may see things differently.

C152 · 15/04/2026 16:23

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 15:34

How come? I could understand if you had removed your house from the market based on an offer, but if you were prioritising a quick sale vs an asking price offer… why would yoi feel like that?

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I can't speak for that poster, but I would also be annoyed if I was the seller and, unless I was desperate, wouldn't sell to you. The reason is, you made an offer you were happy with. Nothing about the property has changed - no massive horror that will need extensive repairs/replacing has come to light to justify the price reduction; you just don't want to pay what you originally offered. That's your right, of course, but that's why it would annoy me and make me suspect you'd be a massive problem throughout the entire sale process.

Bringbackbuffy · 15/04/2026 16:21

Catnanna · 15/04/2026 16:16

Because the house hasn’t been on the market that long. Also I wouldn’t trust you not to put another lower offer in closer to completion. The fact that you’ve accepted a lower offer is not my problem.

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This. House buying and selling in England is shit. It depends on trust. If you damage that trust before we’ve even kicked off I’m going elsewhere

Delatron · 15/04/2026 16:21

Reading through the wording I now agree that they hadn’t ’accepted’
your offer at all. You weren’t in a position to make an offer and they didn’t take the property off the market.

So I’ve changed my mind. I think you can go and say ‘we are now in a proceedable position and due to the market changes this is our offer’. They can choose to accept or not.

I do think people shouldn’t offer on houses and then say ‘oh I just need to sell my house first’. As it’s not a serious offer - it’s an offer in theory.

But then the whole system is bullshit.

RS1987 · 15/04/2026 16:20

It’s fine to offer £10k less under the circumstances, they might say no but they probably won’t. If they do go back to your original offer. You’ll never meet the sellers and they need you as much as you need them - it’s a business deal, not a date.
Good luck!

Growlybear83 · 15/04/2026 16:19

AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 15/04/2026 15:32

If you did that to me I'd tell you where to go.

I would do the same.

Allisnotlost1 · 15/04/2026 16:19

Everybodys · 15/04/2026 16:17

Very true.

That said, enough people are entitled about the price of their house that it is something OP needs to think about, if she really wants the place. They have every right to take their ball home and refuse to play.

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Absolutely, she can ask and they can say no.

Flowerlovinglady · 15/04/2026 16:18

I don't see anything wrong with this - your circumstances have changed. They haven't taken the property off the market so it's not as if you have inconvenienced them in any way. I think people can get quite precious about what their house is worth (partly because that's the figure they've got in their minds based on the valuation) but it is only worth what someone will pay for it and that obviously changes with the market surely? Try them out, explain your situation.

Allisnotlost1 · 15/04/2026 16:18

LondonRidge · 15/04/2026 16:12

I’d tell you where to go.

if you’d wanted to negotiate you should have asked them before you accepted the low offer. That was your decision not theirs and they shouldn’t have to pay for it.

Your taking a low offer does not make their house worth any less.

You’re not even saying you can’t afford it, just that you don’t want to piss them off because you know it’s cheeky.

This is the reason the English system stinks. There should be a penalty for any changes past the point of the offer (like exchange is). Would root people out who think they can mess people around.

I agree with you generally, but the sellers hadn’t accepted the offer. They just said they would if OP was proceedable.

Cosyblankets · 15/04/2026 16:18

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:16

Exactly. And now I am in a position to proceed.

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I wouldn't be concerned about offending.
You can ask then it's up to them.

Everybodys · 15/04/2026 16:17

Allisnotlost1 · 15/04/2026 16:15

Massive overreaction! Their house price is just as liable to change as the OP’s due to world events and market forces. They didn’t even formally accept the offer and kept themselves open for a more suitable one. Neither OP nor the sellers are unreasonable here, it’s all still up for negotiation.

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Very true.

That said, enough people are entitled about the price of their house that it is something OP needs to think about, if she really wants the place. They have every right to take their ball home and refuse to play.

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:17

Catnanna · 15/04/2026 16:16

Because the house hasn’t been on the market that long. Also I wouldn’t trust you not to put another lower offer in closer to completion. The fact that you’ve accepted a lower offer is not my problem.

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Well then maybe you’d miss out on the property that you really want to be able to put an offer in but can’t as you haven’t accepted an offer yourself!

OP posts:

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:16

Cosyblankets · 15/04/2026 16:14

But when they accepted yours you were not in a position to proceed as you hadn't accepted anything on your house.

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Exactly. And now I am in a position to proceed.

OP posts:

Catnanna · 15/04/2026 16:16

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:03

Why? Even if you were desperate to have an offer accepted on a property yourself?

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Because the house hasn’t been on the market that long. Also I wouldn’t trust you not to put another lower offer in closer to completion. The fact that you’ve accepted a lower offer is not my problem.

Original poster

Miserablestrawberry · 15/04/2026 16:15

viques · 15/04/2026 16:10

Oh dear, I think you marked your card in big red CF letters there! They are probably expecting a reduced offer from you now but will be a tad surprised you are making your move so early and not waiting until the day before completion.

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Why is offering above asking in return for removal from the market and giving us time to sell CF behaviour?

OP posts:

Newbutoldfather · 15/04/2026 16:15

People are weird about property.

If you accept an offer, the property is taken off the market. If they want to keep showing it, it implies that they haven’t accepted your offer as they are happy to entertain others.

So, of course reduce your offer, and I would go lower than reducing it by 10k.

It is a commercial transaction. You don’t need to care what they think.