Do estate agents lie and say someone has had a higher offer?

[Treeleaf1234]

Long story short
We've sold our house, trying to find another house

There was a house we really liked, but it sold (been up for sale since last year with 2 different EA)

House went back on marker dut to buyers having issue with mortage

We went to view it, knew we loved it

Asked if there has been any other viewing. They said we were the only ones

Wanted to arrange 2nd viewing, all sorted but then EA range back and said 'oh they've now had an offer on the property ' do you still want to view it or do you want to put in a higher offer

I found it a bit odd, asked if I could know what offer was put in and he said like 'oh erm ill try and find out ' he rang back and said 'I think it's the asking price what do you want to do' he then said 'well you're in a really good position because you have sold your house '

When the house went back up for sale he originally told me they accepted an offer £10000 less than asking price.

Unsure what to think ? I'm sure it probably a game they have to play to get a higher price (which I understand)

I always believed they do. I’d go to any viewings with a top offer in my head and that’s it. We’ve always given one offer and I won’t be bullied into upping it.

I am finding the English system of house buying awful tbh .
They understandably want highest price for their client as get more money .however they also have to balance up the house selling and the sale going through in a timely manner .
I would and did offer what we were happy paying while stressing the other factors which made us a better choice.
You are in a strong position having sold your house .
I've seen so many houses come back onto the market in the area I'm looking to move to
Good luck

Yes.

When we bought our house, the EA told us that there was no way that the seller would accept our offer because she had already rejected a higher one. What he did not know was that DH had already spoken to the seller directly and she had indicated that she would accept it, but asked us to formally put the offer via the EA.

So we insisted that he put it through despite his protests that she definitely wouldn't go that low, and of course, she accepted it immediately.

It's possible someone who wasn't previously in a position to make an offer now has however any offer you make doesn't necessarily need to be higher than the other (supposed) offer. A vendor may be more willing to accept the lower offer two offers based on other factors like no chain/cash buyer/further along the sales process with their sale. Go for the viewing and offer the maximum you are willing to pay, state your position in the written offer, provide all evidence of proceedability and that it's a one time offer.

Thank you all for your advise and help! I think I will go ahead with the 2nd viewing and take it from there! And just hope for the best!

Having bought several houses over the years, I'm certain all EAs use this as a technique to put pressure on and maximise profit. I've never not been told that the vendor has already rejected an offer higher than the one I've wanted to make - and they persist when I say I've already discussed with the vendor and that what they're saying isn't correct! I suppose it's understandable, if unethical.

Don't underestimate the position you are in if your house has already sold. I would just disregard the estate agent and offer what you feel is reasonable. The house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay, and in this case, you have to work out what you are prepared to pay and offer that.

I bought a house once where I offered 20% less than the asking price in similar circumstances to yours where they had previously turned me down, been round another buyer who didn't work out. I was told they had a higher offer but I stuck fast as I had no chain. I got the house.

In that scenario, I was prepared to walk away, so you have to work out whether you are. House buying is a game of patience and nerve.

Yes. We went to "sealed bids" with another bidder apparently. Only increased our bid by about £500 and still got the house. I think there was never a second bidder.

I’d love to hear from EAs on this because a second bidder ALWAYS appears on the house at the last moment, after you’ve offered, with a higher offer than yours. And other bidders LOVE going to sealed bids. It’s uncanny 🤔

@ItsVeryHyacinthBucket absolutely. It's obviously something they are told to do, which is fine I get it but just frustrating for the buyer, as some buyers may he inclined to just pull out of they can't offer a higher bid, and then the sellers potentially have noone 🤷‍♀️

I think to quote my Mother they are lower than the belly of a snake. I never trust a word they say. A builder friend of mine came for a look 2 round a house that needed work with us and we were seriously considering buying. The EA had no idea he was a mate, he told him to lie to us about the extension issues.

My nephew married an EA, I remember us joking sort of OMG we have estate agents in the family now! She actually had an affair a couple of years later and left him. I know it’s just a coincidence but my Mother was very much well she was an EA.

I don’t think this is the kind of market where sellers play games like this, especially if they had a buyer drop out after the house has been a long time on the market. EA sounds useless.

Thank you all

I went to view house again earlier. Asked if there is a lot of interest he said yes (but the other day he said we were the only people to have arranged to view) we then asked about the offer someone has put, he seemed to stumble on his words and his response was 'there of sort of an offer' not really sure what that means !!

Yeah. It means "there sort of isn't an offer really"

@HappiestSleeping I did think the same 🤣🤦‍♀️

It’s true sometimes but not always.
We were told once while looking that there was no interest. When we came for the second viewing we were told there was and over asking. And it was obviously true as EA was barely talking to us (we indicated that we weren’t sure about over asking) whereas at the first viewing she was loving us non stop. The house was sold 7% over asking.
It doesn’t look like a definite offer in your case.

Yeah, I know. In an earlier post my suggestion was for the OP to offer what they consider to be reasonable and stick to that. They'll either get it or not.

Yes, it’s the best approach.

@HappiestSleeping @pizzaHeart thank you both. My husband and I have discussed and we are going to go in a new thousand less than what we are actually willing to pay and take it from there

When we bought our flat, we also suspected whether there was another offer or just something the EA made up. They said someone offered slightly higher but we refused to budge as that was what we thought the flat was worth.. The seller still “picked us over them” as we had more cash deposit (that was the reason given) . So not sure if the other buyer actually existed or not.

Not in my experience. In the scenario in your op he gave you the opportunity to cancel the second viewing, which you could easily have taken - which would then leave his client completely in the lurch if there was no other offer. They aren't on the whole THAT stupid.

Oh for sure.

Last house I bought was a probate, so it was only ever going to be a pretty long wait to actually buy.
It was all original 1930s everything, yet mysteriously a landlord wanted to buy it at the very last minute, a whole year after we said we'll buy. So it was off the market and no sign outside, yet a landlord somehow heard of this house and was willing to pay more. We said ok, he can have it, we are not that bothered, and the landlord disappeared never to be heard of again.
Strange huh.

Have you seen their mortgage advisor/ do they know your all financial circumstances?
It might add to the pressure if they know that you CAN afford more.
its just something to bear in mind and get your arguments ready.

Good luck 👍