How would you approach this delicate issue?

[CheltenhamLady]

The elderly owner (97) of a house we have always wanted has just died. We want to buy this house before it goes onto the open market, as it is in a really desirable location and we don't want it to go to a bidding war. We can pay cash for it without selling our current property.

Friends know the son and probably have contact details for him. We don't know him. The funeral has not happened yet.

We have no idea if he will even sell, he may decide to move in himself, it may be left to grandchildren etc, we have no idea of the circumstances.

We are prepared to pay market price or slightly over, we are not looking to haggle on price (unless it is a ridiculous figure!) and selling privately would save them the hassle of estate agents and their fees. Also, we can move at their pace as we won't be selling ours.

We live quite close to the property.

When and how would be the best way to approach him?

How/when would you like to be approached in the same scenario?

Obviously, this is a sensitive situation but we don't want to miss the boat.

We are not trying to be shady or cheat the seller in any way

No I don’t think you are either, although I think you’re jumping at shadows with all this agent nonsense, you don’t even know if they want to sell. You’re way ahead of yourself here.

I do think you’re trying to get in there though and beat the competition and are concerned it may go higher than you want.

As said, this happened to me, and i didn’t find it offensive, the agent will try to get the best price possible, whomever they are. It will sell for its value. And that value will depend on who else is interested and what they wish to pay.

@Bluntness100

I don’t really understand what you’re saying op, are you saying you tried to book viewings and they made you wait weeks or something? And you found out you asked for the viewing before someone else and they got it first ? That’s a bit weird. Generally agents don’t give a fuck they just want whomever pays the most,

No, property x has no sign up, but the agents know it is coming onto the market.

Before that date, they contact all those who want that area who are selling with them and allow them to view. It then goes onto the market (sign up and on Rightmove) and they then say they can't arrange a viewing for x days. Viewing is booked, we view and the sellers say x number of viewers have already been as they had sold via the agent.

If I were approached like this you'd be the last person I'd sell to. You're not interested in what's beneficial for the family, you're just hovering to avoid paying what it's possibly fully worth.

@Bluntness100

We are not trying to be shady or cheat the seller in any way

No I don’t think you are either, although I think you’re jumping at shadows with all this agent nonsense, you don’t even know if they want to sell. You’re way ahead of yourself here.

I do think you’re trying to get in there though and beat the competition and are concerned it may go higher than you want.

As said, this happened to me, and i didn’t find it offensive, the agent will try to get the best price possible, whomever they are. It will sell for its value. And that value will depend on who else is interested and what they wish to pay.

I do think you’re trying to get in there though and beat the competition and are concerned it may go higher than you want.

We know the approx ceiling limit for the road and are prepared to pay slightly over that to secure the house. It is really more about us being manoeuvred out by the agent.

However, as you say we are very much getting ahead of ourselves here. It may not even be coming onto the market!

What do you have to lose by approaching them OP?

If you're not close friends there's no relationship to ruin. Unless you live in a tiny village a d will become outcasts then I can't see why you wouldn't send a sensitive letter. Wait until after the funeral, outline your position and ask them to contact you.

Don't bet on it obviously as there are many variables but you won't get it if you don't ask!

If you're a cash buyer, wait for it to go on the market and make an offer. Everything you're suggesting saves them money, not you. So why not just wait and go through the proper channels? Most sellers would jump at the chance of a cash free, chain free buyer who isn't in a rush?

@willibald

If I were approached like this you'd be the last person I'd sell to. You're not interested in what's beneficial for the family, you're just hovering to avoid paying what it's possibly fully worth.

I think that is a bit unfair, when viewing houses do you normally put the seller's interest first? We are happy to pay above market value, a fair price, absolutely fully, and more, what it is worth.

Yet you say you don't want to be in a bidding war.

I was approached like this in similar circumstances and was delighted. Sold to them and now they are making the property their own.

Have no idea why I'd be offended - either it would work out for me or I'd ignore it.

@willibald

Yet you say you don't want to be in a bidding war.

No, would you if you could avoid it?

I have no doubt we would win, but we don't want the angst. It is our dream house in the only location we now want to move to. We simply want to pay a good, fair price for the property.

@SidLowe

I was approached like this in similar circumstances and was delighted. Sold to them and now they are making the property their own.

Have no idea why I'd be offended - either it would work out for me or I'd ignore it.

Quite. That was my thinking.

There is a vast range of opinion on here though. I can have no idea which camp the prospective seller would fall into. Hence the question!

Before that date, they contact all those who want that area who are selling with them and allow them to view. It then goes onto the market (sign up and on Rightmove) and they then say they can't arrange a viewing for x days

I think most agents do this first part, I doubt they are then breaking rhe law and delaying viewings,, and all offers have to be passed to the seller, and enough sellers would know they were not allowing viewings , there’s no area in the Uk that all houses sell before they even go on right move.

I think you’ve disappeared down a rabbit hole here and got yourself in a bit of an odd panic.. no matter when it comes to market or when you’re allowed to view your offer will be passed to the seller. It’s illegal otherwise. Even if it’s under offer.

So try to calm yourself down. Maybe ask your partner or a trusted friend to take control if you’re in too much of a tail spin. Right now you don’t even know if they wish to sell and you’re running round with your pants on your head panicking about the agent.

We simply want to pay a good, fair price for the property

I suspect this is the Crux of it, the silliness over the agent is just noise, you want to pay what you consider a fair price, and are concerned if it goes to market you might be substantially out bid and take it to a level you don’t feel is fair.

And that’s the risk you take, they may not want to sell, they may rent it, live in it, or maybe no one else is interested.

Just try to calm down. Approach them with the polite suggestion I made earlier, and take it from there,

I think its a reasonable thing to do and the letter suggested eariler sounds fine. Having just witnessed a relatively simple probate at close quarters I think anything that simplifies matters would be welcomed and after all it must be 95% certain they will want to sell.
I wouldn't go into detail about valuations and offers but I would mention that you are able to offer cash, as that would make things much simpler for both parties.

If you were to approach me, I would certainly be relieved and happy to talk.
There is a huge difference in emotion when an old person dies opposed to someone "taken young".
I speak as someone who has lost a father very young, a mother relatively young and a grandfather ancient.
With either of my parents, I might have given it some thought wayyyy down the line. With my granddad, who was in his nineties, not so much. Not because i didnt carel but because , well, he was old. His time was up. And I was his carer and loved him dearly, but he was old and ready to go, so , sad though it was, the emotions are not the same as they are for younger, or more shocking deaths.
My grandad left a flat that I felt had to be decorated, faffed with, staged for selling.
If someone had approached me, wishing to buy before all of that, I would have been overjoyed.
OP, drop them a note with your sympathies, tell them you love the house and would be interested in buying should they wish to sell, and leave them phone number and email address.
Good luck 😁

@Bluntness100

We simply want to pay a good, fair price for the property

I suspect this is the Crux of it, the silliness over the agent is just noise, you want to pay what you consider a fair price, and are concerned if it goes to market you might be substantially out bid and take it to a level you don’t feel is fair.

And that’s the risk you take, they may not want to sell, they may rent it, live in it, or maybe no one else is interested.

Just try to calm down. Approach them with the polite suggestion I made earlier, and take it from there,

That really isn't it.

Le's say (these are not the figures but for argument's sake!) the property is valued at 400k and the ceiling for the road is 415k. To get the house we would pay the ceiling price.

Other buyers needing a mortgage would not get those extra funds as the valuation would be 400k. Some of them (a small minority) may also be willing to make up the shortfall I suppose, but in general, we would pay whatever the market would bear.

I am normally (and ultimately, will be here) very calm and analytical and if it isn't to be because they don't sell or we didn't get it, then I will live with it.

I promise you that I am not trying to circumvent the system or cheat the seller or do anything other than try to secure a property we have loved for years. I merely wanted to see how any approach would be viewed.

I didn't expect consensus, but nor did I expect to be vilified for asking the question or be accused of being underhanded or shady!

I've worked in property before, and have come across situations like this before. Just pop a very gentle letter through the door stating your interest. Highlight the fact that you are happy to wait. Most people would want an agent though, as it will have to go through solicitors, conveyancing. If this is the case and the house is very desirable, you may have to pay top dollar.

OP I think it’s absolutely fine to drop a sensitively worded note through the door.

I wouldn’t go into too much detail as it may seem presumptuous but I think it would be fine to say (as well as some kind words) that you have always loved the house, that you are a cash buyer.

Given what you know about estate agents tactics locally I think it’d be fine to say something like “of course I understand that you might want to put to the house on the market with an agent if you intend to sell. We would really appreciate if you could let us know if that is your intention as we would certainly place an offer if we have the opportunity but we know from previous experience that houses in this area often go under offer before they are visibly on the market”

@Moondust001

How/when would you like to be approached in the same scenario?

I wouldn't. Full stop. I would consider you vultures.

Let's be honest, your fake concern for them being able to save a bit of money on estate agents if they wanted to sell isn't really any attraction, but I can certainly see why you don't want a bidding war if the property is that desirable. It'll cost you significantly more than if you can snaffle the property at what you think is fair (to you).

Honestly, what you are suggesting is pretty awful. But if you do it anyway, please make sure the body is cold before you say anything, won't you?

Nonsense - the OP has already said they'll pay over market value.

This happened to us when an elderly relative died. The fact that someone contacted my mum, who was the executor, and expressed an interest meant the sake could happen quickly and no estate agent fees were incurred. The flat was sold for market value.

I also know from personal experience that EAs can employ some shady tactics - we were selling a house, and we were pressurised by the agent into accepting a below asking price offer after we’d only been on the market a few days (convinced us that it was ‘too good to turn down’ we wouldn’t get a better offer, they’d checked no-one else who had viewed was prepared to offer more etc). Accepted the offer and the very next day discovered (as it turned out they were a friend of a friend) someone who viewed the property before we accepted and offer was prepared to make an asking price offer but the estate agent had dissuaded them because they ‘couldn’t compete’.

We called the EA out and told them we’d take the asking price offer thank you very much!

I sold a house privately, the savings were negligible. The legal fees were higher than normal, no agent fee obvs.

In your shoes I would leave the family alone, register and interest, as a cash buyer of that street will local agents. They should notify you before it’s marketed

I would not make any contact until after the funeral.

Just do it. That's how I bought my current house. I was in touch with the person who was inheriting it anyway as I lived next door and they lived far away and didn't want to visit. I organised the house clearance and the valuations. The family were delighted to be shot of it so easily.