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AIBU?

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Original poster

To Say Pick Me To Vendor

32 replies

pupsiecola · 05/06/2014 15:29

We viewed a house yesterday. Another couple were already there when we arrived and had made a verbal offer to the vendor before leaving (before we got there). Vendor got told off by agent for engaging in talking dosh directly with viewers. We made an offer an hour later via the agent. I suspect we have both offered the asking price. Due diligence re finances has been done. We are in a strong position there. We are also renting atm as are the other viewers. Obviously it may get into a bidding war and other viewings are lined up over the next few days. House had been on for one day. Properties in the area sell like hotcakes. I suspect the house has been undervalued and if I were the vendor with just one day on the market and two offers of asking price (our first offer of 10k below was rejected) I would be in no rush to accept but would let the other viewings play out. However, they have not moved house for 26 years and are perhaps a bit naive - am sure agent will put them straight though! Also they have found the house they want to move into and have now (since receiving our two offers) put an offer in on that one. I think they are just keen to get a fair price and not draw things out, and not lose this house they have seen.

I know this is probably a bit underhand and I am 95% sure I won't do it (and I consider the viewers before us putting an offer directly to the vendors a bit underhand too) but I am 5% wanting to put a note through the door saying "pick us"?! It has been vendors family home for 26 years. They raised their kids there who are now at uni. I get that it's hard for them to be selling. Lots of memories. Can I ask her to pick us cos we will look after it or is that below the belt and as good as emotional blackmail?! If it were me selling (offers being the same and financial position/ability to move quickly both being the same too) I would actually pick the family who I thought would look after and enjoy the home I had raised my kids in, but then I'm a soppy old wotsit.

But then again, is it just fair game in a very stressful housing market?!

OP posts:
Shewhowines · 05/06/2014 15:31

You know you can't but can you arrange a second viewing and charm the vendors?

LaurieFairyCake · 05/06/2014 15:32

I had no choice but to say 'pick us' to the vendor - I promised to look after her garden.

As they had 4 asking price offers in the hour.

I'd have had her round for Christmas and shagged her if I thought it would make a difference Grin

CheeryName · 05/06/2014 15:34

There's no law that you says you aren't allowed to talk to each other! I'd stick the note through. And I would MUCH rather sell my home to someone who said they would respect it. Good luck!

LaurieFairyCake · 05/06/2014 15:36

I also bought her flowers and made her a cake after exchange

Original poster
pupsiecola · 05/06/2014 15:37

We already saw it twice as we went once without DH and then an hour later with (when he returned from work). My kids were very polite well behaved lol. We've also had a really tough couple of years and I did just touch on the fact that we were very keen to have a family home and settle down again, without trying too hard to pull on her heartstrings.

Thanks all. Will read a few more replies then decide!

OP posts:
HappyHippyChick · 05/06/2014 15:38

The lady who owned our house before us had lived there for 40 years. She picked us even though we hadn't put in the highest offer because she liked us and the idea of a family living in the house.

Another visit can't hurt!

SantanaLopez · 05/06/2014 15:39

I'd have had her round for Christmas and shagged her if I thought it would make a difference

Grin

I looked our house's previous owner up on Facebook to make sure that we had things to talk about Blush Your couple might be too old for that though.

jacks365 · 05/06/2014 15:43

My parents have lived in their home for 26 years, when they last moved prices were rising fast and a lot of gazumping going on (they lost out on a different house they wanted). The vendors may be holding out for higher offers and if you gave my mother a note like that she would think you were trying to manipulate her and it would actually go against you, she's a cynic though and would view it only as a financial transaction.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 05/06/2014 15:43

We had two offers on my mum & dad's house after mum passed away. It had been their home for 35 years & was where we grew up.

We chose to sell to the young family who sent us an e-mail with their offer telling us they loved the house and wanted to make it a happy family home again.

It's worth a shot. Emotions shouldn't really come in to selling bricks and mortar - but they often do!

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 05/06/2014 15:45

Just to add - both prospective purchasers were in the same position financially & chain wise.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/06/2014 15:47

Our sellers were convinced to sell to us because we were planning a family. We bumped into them years later at a party and showed them DD, they were very pleased.

SpicyPear · 05/06/2014 15:48

It could go either for or against you though, depending on how it is received by the vendor. If I was selling I would find it pushy and annoying.

wonkylegs · 05/06/2014 15:54

Our vendors were keen to sell to a family after being here 25yrs. They said the garden needed children in it again.
We chose out of several offers the family who made the second highest offer as I felt the top bidding couple were a bit (a lot) odd and i felt the transaction would be smoother with the ones we chose. The highest bidders went on to offer on a friends house round the corner and sure enough were truly awful to deal with.
It's not always the money.

Petrasmumma · 05/06/2014 15:58

I'd do whatever it took to secure the house: family talk, garden buff, Victorian architecture geek, happy memories blah.......

AllAboveBroad · 05/06/2014 16:22

Don't do the note but do book a second viewing quickly. Don't be pushy but be pleasant. Drop things into the conversation about how ready you are to move etc.

Also, be prepared to get in to a Contract race if they accept both offers (which they can do provided everyone is aware). Use a lawyer you know is good and efficient (not just cheap - you get what you pay for), provide EVERYTHING your lawyer asks of you asap (even it it means delivering in person rather than wait for post) and make sure you chase up on mortgage offers etc regularly as well as your lawyer. Also keep your agent sweet as they do a lot behind the scenes chatting to the seller.
Also, if you want it that much can you stretch to another thousand??

Original poster
pupsiecola · 05/06/2014 16:29

Thank you ladies. They have accepted our offer anyway! Yay double Yay Yay.

OP posts:
AllAboveBroad · 05/06/2014 16:32

Oh congratulations!! So excited for you! You clearly were the right family for the house :) x

grovel · 05/06/2014 16:33

Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SueDoku · 05/06/2014 17:31

Congratulations Flowers. Hope that you're very happy there..!

wonkylegs · 05/06/2014 19:52

Congratulations

ScrambledEggAndToast · 05/06/2014 19:58

It never occurred to me that people did this Shock

FraidyCat · 05/06/2014 20:01

I see this is redundant, but I wanted to reply to this

The lady who owned our house before us had lived there for 40 years. She picked us even though we hadn't put in the highest offer because she liked us and the idea of a family living in the house.

DW tells me that a parent we know in a house near us got it despite not being the highest bidder, because the vendor wanted it to go to someone with children. So I agree this does happen.

FraidyCat · 05/06/2014 20:02

And it's definitely not the same house, as it's about 25 years old.

SummerSazz · 05/06/2014 20:07

We live in an area where there are loads of second homes owned and only used at weekends. Our vendors sold to us despite masses of interest as we wanted to live in it ft and they thought we would get on very well with the neigbours (small hamlet)

We do and it's lovely Smile

Glad your offer was accepted.

Original poster
pupsiecola · 05/06/2014 20:35

Thanks everyone. Solicitor engaged and mortgage application started :-) I appreciate the good wishes.

OP posts: