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Original poster

Can I offer on a house that is sold STC?

21 replies

Wingingthis · 21/12/2020 18:17

Unsure where to post this thread - we were very interested in a house and were going to put in a cash offer but had to finalise a few things financially. The house is now off of right move etc in the last couple of days and is sold STC. Is it too late to put an offer in? Or can I ask to be next in line if something fell through?

OP posts:
mildlymiffed · 21/12/2020 18:20

There is nothing to stop you from putting an offer in. I believe the estate agent is still obliged to make the vendor aware. Whether it would even be considered is down to the vendors.

If I were the vendor I would probably consider it unethical to change tact, but that's down to the vendor to decide

Original poster
Wingingthis · 21/12/2020 18:24

Thank you! This is all new to me - It’s literally been about 2 days and we were really gutted as we had explained that we were finalising things before making an offer to the estate agent

OP posts:
Cheeseandlobster · 21/12/2020 18:30

No. Its sold subject to contract. If that contract breaks down then yes go for it. But its also someome elses dream home who has now had their offer accepted and may well have forked out for surveys. Its a pretty crap thing to do to someone

gingajewel · 21/12/2020 18:34

Someone did this to me! I had offered on a house and it was sold stc (to me) and a cash buyer went and offered more and the vendor then changed there mind and went with them!
Tbh I think it should be illegal, it’s upsetting when you have fallen in love with a house and have had all the searches done etc to then be told that the vendor has gone with another person, it then also lost us our sale as the people moving into ours couldn’t wait. I think It is very unethical and really not a nice thing to do.

Dazedandconfused10 · 21/12/2020 18:36

You can offer and the agent has a legal obligation to pass this on.

Muddybuddy · 21/12/2020 18:37

No please don’t! It’s not fair to the person who thinks they’re getting that house

Original poster
Wingingthis · 21/12/2020 18:40

I didn’t think about the ethical side, thank you everyone

OP posts:
Itscoldouthere · 21/12/2020 18:41

Did you actually go and view the house and express an interest at the time? If so how long ago, I think if you've done the above and it's only a few days then it's not unreasonable to put in an offer.
If I was the seller the only reason I would change my mind would be if the other offer was in a complex chain or was much lower than your offer, I do however think this is only acceptable withing a week of viewing, after that I'd assume you were not really serious.
It's a risk for the seller as if you then mess them around they will have lost their first buyer as well.

Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket · 21/12/2020 18:42

It's worth contacting the ea and saying that if it falls through you have a ready to go offer

2bazookas · 21/12/2020 18:44

The buyer probably made their offer conditional on the seller immediately taking the property off the market.

A lesson when buying; BEFORE you start viewings, get all your ducks in a row (finance, lawyer etc) so that you're ready to move fast if necessary.

OrigamiOwl · 21/12/2020 18:52

Legally you can. Ethically it is a nasty move to pull.

Bezzi · 21/12/2020 18:54

Some one did this to me too. It was heartbreaking.
So yes I agree with the unethical side of it.
However, there is no guarantee that this sale will complete so there is nothing stopping you putting in an expression of interest in case the sale falls through and then hopefully you'll be next in line

MrsPinkCock · 21/12/2020 19:01

We enquired with the EA about our house which was SSTC at the time. Didn’t offer at that point though.

Two days later they rang back as the chain had fallen through. Gutting for the buyers whose buyer had pulled out but the seller wanted rid ASAP rather than risking another chain, so chose us as we were cash buyers.

I’d ring and make the enquiry.

Dominicwestsscooter · 21/12/2020 19:02

@Wingingthis

I didn’t think about the ethical side, thank you everyone
It’s a shitty thing to do.
MyGazeboisLeaking · 21/12/2020 19:03

Have you viewed the house already, OP, and told the estate agent you were working on how much you could offer?

doingitforthefrill · 21/12/2020 19:05

Someone did this to us on our dream home we couldn’t wait to move into, so it obviously fell through. It’s a really shitty thing to do to someone OP and we were and still are 2 years later completely gutted!

BeeDavis · 21/12/2020 19:21

@Wingingthis

Thank you! This is all new to me - It’s literally been about 2 days and we were really gutted as we had explained that we were finalising things before making an offer to the estate agent
Just because you were going to make an offer doesn’t mean someone else can’t 🥴
ballsdeep · 21/12/2020 19:24

@Wingingthis

I didn’t think about the ethical side, thank you everyone
Really? Hmm

You sound delightful

nosswith · 21/12/2020 19:40

Please don't. It seems you have changed your mind thankfully.

Paranoidmarvin · 21/12/2020 19:43

God. That is a horrible thing to do. They have spent money on stuff already. And u come along and pull it all away from them

Tiletiletile1 · 21/12/2020 19:52

I also think that’s an unkind thing to do and would be gutted if I were the other buyer!

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