Page 5 | AIBU to think low house offers are always worth making?

coulditbeme2323 · 2026-06-16T09:55:07+00:00

Why do low house offers annoy Mumsnetters so much? Surely a cheeky offer is always wort it.

BrownBookshelf · 16/06/2026 13:29

TheHateUGive · 16/06/2026 13:21

Because the OP admits purposely seeking out those who have no choice but to sell. So people in desperate need. It isn't illegal but I wouldn't want friends who thought like that.

Show quote history

Again though how is that exploitation? Leaving aside legality and friendship. They evidently consider themselves to be better off selling for a lower price than the alternative, or they wouldn't do it.

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:29

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:28

But you are going around in circles.

If they "have" to sell and the best offer on the table is from us - then I can't think of anything morally wrong.

Show quote history

Of course you can’t. So why ask?

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:29

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:27

There is an ethical question if they are passing confidential information on to a third party. I do hope they are doing full disclosure to the sellers so that they are aware that the agent is encouraging people to make stupid low offers

Show quote history

😂

OP posts:

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:28

Apparently under property regulations, agents act for the seller. They can reveal the seller’s urgency—such as if they have already bought another house, are going through a divorce, or need a quick completion—if the seller authorizes them to do so.

If not then they are breaking the rules.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:28

LuckyHazelFox · 16/06/2026 13:26

It's a simple ethos really. Sellers want the best price, buyers want a bargain. There's nothing unethical about any of it.

Common sense.

OP posts:

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:28

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:25

Not if they are desperate and you are taking advantage of that through information you shouldn’t be acquiring.

It’s dodgy (if not fraudulent) behaviour. If an offer is made in good faith then fine. But you are basically looking to gouge prices down only for people who are in some ways desperate.

Show quote history

But you are going around in circles.

If they "have" to sell and the best offer on the table is from us - then I can't think of anything morally wrong.

OP posts:

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:27

GasPanic · 16/06/2026 13:25

They actually work for themselves before they work for the seller.

Show quote history

There is an ethical question if they are passing confidential information on to a third party. I do hope they are doing full disclosure to the sellers so that they are aware that the agent is encouraging people to make stupid low offers

LuckyHazelFox · 16/06/2026 13:26

It's a simple ethos really. Sellers want the best price, buyers want a bargain. There's nothing unethical about any of it.

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:25

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:23

Then they can say no!

Show quote history

Not if they are desperate and you are taking advantage of that through information you shouldn’t be acquiring.

It’s dodgy (if not fraudulent) behaviour. If an offer is made in good faith then fine. But you are basically looking to gouge prices down only for people who are in some ways desperate.

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 16/06/2026 13:25

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:24

Agents care about commission, this is choppy waters for agent - and it doesn't look to be turning a corner anytime soon.

Show quote history

And they should put the seller's interest first.

GasPanic · 16/06/2026 13:25

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 16/06/2026 13:23

If they are really doing that, the agents should be reported. They are working for the seller not the buyer.

Show quote history

They actually work for themselves before they work for the seller.

OrlandoTheMarmaladeCat · 16/06/2026 13:24

Your question was are low ball offers ALWAYS worth making. There are plenty of us who have replied saying no, not always and have given concrete real life examples why we disagree. I'm not entirely sure what the point of this post but I suspect that you might be bored and/or have been challenged as to your low-ball starting point. Happily there are plenty of fish in the sea - buyers and vendors - to suit us all

Tryagain26 · 16/06/2026 13:24

It really depends on the circumstances.
If I was selling a house and had a lot of interest I would dismiss the low offer immediately not consider it again but concentrate on the higher offers. If my house had been on sale for a long time with little interest I would consider low offer and go back with a counter offer.
It also all depends how much you want the house and how much you can afford .
If you really want the house and offer a lot less than you can afford and what it's worth you are taking a gamble that you will lose the house

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:24

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 16/06/2026 13:23

If they are really doing that, the agents should be reported. They are working for the seller not the buyer.

Show quote history

Agents care about commission, this is choppy waters for agent - and it doesn't look to be turning a corner anytime soon.

OP posts:

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 16/06/2026 13:23

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:00

We do, not because we are anything special - but because the local agents we have worked with for 16 years and though know what properties to give us a nod and a wink on.

Show quote history

If they are really doing that, the agents should be reported. They are working for the seller not the buyer.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:23

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:22

If they are desperate to sell then you are using privileged information to rip them off.

Just because it’s the current best offer doesn’t mean they aren’t being robbed blind

Show quote history

Then they can say no!

OP posts:

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:23

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:21

And that they may be desperate to sell. I wonder what your agent is telling people about you?

Show quote history

Probably that they have checked us out, and we are procedable.

OP posts:

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:22

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:21

But even "less" still means the best offer on the table.

Show quote history

If they are desperate to sell then you are using privileged information to rip them off.

Just because it’s the current best offer doesn’t mean they aren’t being robbed blind

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:21

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:18

Refer back to my above post, if they are accepting my offer it means there hasn't been a better one.

Show quote history

And that they may be desperate to sell. I wonder what your agent is telling people about you?

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:21

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:20

So you offer £400k and then go back and offer full asking with a deposit? Nah sorry, these are often people’s homes and they don’t want to deal with dishonest people who think it’s okay to offer a pathetically low price to start.

We get it Op, your agent lets you know which properties are owned by people desperate enough to take a much lower price and then you snap them up. I’m all for capitalism but giving someone less because they are desperate is not something to boast about.

Presumably the agent is also supposed to be acting in the best interest of the seller?

Show quote history

But even "less" still means the best offer on the table.

OP posts:

TheHateUGive · 16/06/2026 13:21

BrownBookshelf · 16/06/2026 13:18

Why is paying someone the best offer they've had for a property exploitation?

Show quote history

Because the OP admits purposely seeking out those who have no choice but to sell. So people in desperate need. It isn't illegal but I wouldn't want friends who thought like that.

PorridgeOatsSuck · 16/06/2026 13:20

Our recent experience: offers over 500k, buyers offer under, few weeks later they squeeze us down further. Then pull out due to their buyers pulling out. It went back on market. Offers come in, we ask for best and final. Highest bid comes from the CFs which was a bit of a shock, as a full 100k over their knock down offer. We accept the second highest bid based on most likely to complete. Haven't looked back.

When you go in low, and maybe one day I'll do the same as I'm not against in principle, you are sending a message. Be sure about that message.

Anarchy99 · 16/06/2026 13:20

coulditbeme2323 · 16/06/2026 13:11

But I added the caveat of a non refundable deposit.

Show quote history

So you offer £400k and then go back and offer full asking with a deposit? Nah sorry, these are often people’s homes and they don’t want to deal with dishonest people who think it’s okay to offer a pathetically low price to start.

We get it Op, your agent lets you know which properties are owned by people desperate enough to take a much lower price and then you snap them up. I’m all for capitalism but giving someone less because they are desperate is not something to boast about.

Presumably the agent is also supposed to be acting in the best interest of the seller?

GasPanic · 16/06/2026 13:20

If "business is business" why get wound up at someone getting outraged at a low offer ?

Just walk away and find somewhere else.

NeonDragon · 16/06/2026 13:19

I don’t think it’s cheeky at all and I wouldn’t be put off by it. If I thought it was too low I’d just say no and move on. I also haven’t found any correlation between buyers coming in at asking price straight off the bat and the sale progressing smoothly later. We had a buyer who offered asking price, cash buyer with evidence of funds etc but they still dicked us around for months with stupid issues, holding up the whole chain and then tried to lower the price two days before exchange claiming the market had
moved since they’d made the offer. That in my mind is a CF, not someone who comes in with a lower offer at the start of the process.