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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a cheeky offer?

132 replies

cakesandphotos · 06/08/2016 16:44

My husband and I went to see a house which is on the market for £140k. My husband wants to offer £110k because it's been on the market about a year and the guy is keen to sell. I think this is too low and a bit cheeky. I think starting at £120k is more realistic. AIBU or is he?

OP posts:
Original poster
cakesandphotos · 10/08/2016 12:56

So he's rejected our offer. The estate agent is very keen for us to give our best offer but my DH is reluctant to and would rather we go up in increments. It's so difficult to know what to do!

OP posts:
BaronessEllaSaturday · 10/08/2016 13:04

We had an offer rejected on a property but they came back a week later and said was it still on the table as they had another think about it and would like to accept.

Go up a small increment if you want but book other property viewings too so the estate agent doesn't think you are pinning all your hopes on this house.

ChaseAvenal · 10/08/2016 13:04

Our house was on for 70K, we were the first to view and we offered 68K and he accepted straight away, made me wonder if we should've started at 60-65. But at the same time it meant we got it before anyone else viewed. Since yours has been on the market for a while I would probably agree with your DH to increase gradually.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 10/08/2016 13:05

We only made one offer on our house. We were completely honest, specifically said we didn't want to fuck about (obviously we didn't phrase it that way) and we meant it. Luckily the vendors were a lot like us and although they initially rejected our offer, they changed their minds a few days later and just accepted without pushing for any more money. I've never wondered if we could have got it a bit cheaper as we offered what we could afford and what we thought was fair. It totally depends on your style though. Some people prefer to negotiate.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 10/08/2016 13:06

Also our house was only on the market one day when we made our offer so maybe that makes a difference.

hellsbellsmelons · 10/08/2016 15:45

I'd go in with a final offer 10% off of the market value.
So £126K.
Say it's final and you want the property taken off of the market.

Or you could go £121,500. Say £120K was your absolute max but you've managed to borrow an extra £1.5K from your family???

Bee182814 · 10/08/2016 15:48

Where the hell are houses on the market for 140k?????

Original poster
cakesandphotos · 10/08/2016 15:56

bee rural Northumberland :) it's only a 2 bed, you're looking about £160k + for a 3 bed round here

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 10/08/2016 16:06

I know Bee it seems crazy to me as well.
South East is sooooo overpriced but then I suppose it's all relative.

Bee182814 · 10/08/2016 16:17

Sounds gorgeous, I will have a chat with DH and see if he's up for the move!

Hellsbells we're SE too... Would be quite happy elsewhere but difficult with young DC to move away from support network. Nearly did it earlier this year but chickened out! Probably best as I'm 38 weeks pregnant.

Anyway, sorry OP, didn't mean to derail your thread. I hope you get it!

Original poster
cakesandphotos · 10/08/2016 16:28

If it helps bee for about £300k you could buy a house with land. I couldn't be persuaded to go anywhere else Smile

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Bee182814 · 10/08/2016 16:51

I'm pretty sure he would do it tomorrow if work wasn't a consideration... That's less than we had our 2 bedroom bungalow on london/surrey borders under offer for in Feb! And probably a lot prettier area too!

sall74 · 10/08/2016 17:37

Bee - they can usually be found in the kind of places where, if you're very, very lucky you might just about manage to get a job paying ahout half the national average wage.

Bee182814 · 10/08/2016 18:01

Yes Sall, hadn't considered that!

I'm really surprised that if it's been on for a year + that he won't take a hit on the price though.

CorkieD · 10/08/2016 19:19

Wait three weeks. After all, the house has been on the market for a year.

If the EA hasn't got back to you, go back in with something like £115k

SimplyNigella · 10/08/2016 20:46

Don't forget that the estate agent is probably on a percentage commission so wants your best offer so that they get the maximum amount of money with the minimum amount of effort.

Original poster
cakesandphotos · 11/08/2016 11:17

We're putting another offer in today. Slightly nervous in case the EA asks if it's our best offer. It's not but I don't want her to know that. Is it unreasonable to ask what the vendor will come down to?

OP posts:
EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 11/08/2016 11:25

Just say we're increasing our offer to X and we'll leave that on the table, but we have got other properties to see. Back up your offer with positives such as no or complete chain, mortgage offer in place, timeframe etc. and then remain cool. If Agent asks if it's your best offer don't give any clues that you could be pushed higher, not at this stage.

Just because you could afford more doesn't mean you necessarily want to spend more on that particular house.

hellsbellsmelons · 11/08/2016 11:26

You've nothing to lose by asking.
They will probably give you a figure of £5K off the asking price but will probably be exaggerating!!
They are working for the seller after all and need to get the best deal they can for him.
Put in another cheeky one and if it's rejected call his bluff and tell them you'll have to back out then.
Then you will get the bottom of the vendor rather than made up figures!

DietCockBreak · 11/08/2016 11:30

Of course it's your best offer. But if he says no to it, you can decide to make "one final offer"...

CodyKing · 11/08/2016 12:09

Definitely need to let your head rule over your heart.

Out in another offer if they ask is it your final offer - say it is today!

Also back up with time frame or flexible or what ever you have it makes a difference that you are serious.

Also point out what needs work - electrical damp kitchen etc so you need to take that into account

Original poster
cakesandphotos · 11/08/2016 15:18

So after much back and forth DH and I said our final offer is £125k. They rejected that saying it's still a little bit low. When I said that was it and we would walk away, the EA stuttered slightly and said she would let the vendor know it was our final offer and get back to me. I was a bit Hmm did she not say it was our final offer originally?

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DietCockBreak · 11/08/2016 15:31

Obviously not! It's her job to get the most for the vendor, so she probably told him you'd likely go up a bit more.

hellsbellsmelons · 11/08/2016 15:34

Sit it out now and see what happens.
Well done and fingers and toes crossed for you!

Original poster
cakesandphotos · 11/08/2016 19:20

They got back to me to say that the vendors are seriously considering our offer overnight and they'll let us know tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

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