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AIBU?

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To want to do more about house that EA says is STC

128 replies

AliceRR · 16/10/2018 12:13

DH and I viewed a house about four weeks ago. We really liked it, we said it could be our dream house, perfect area, nice street, nice house but needs everything doing (windows and doors, bathroom, kitchen, decorating etc)

On the market for £295 which is a good for a 3 bed detached in that area but would be worth more when done up.

DH offerer £260k and was told by vendor agent no point putting an offer until we have sold our house but they work note our interest and update us if any developments.

No updates.

On the weekend I looked for the house online out of curiosity and saw it was no longer on Rightmove. Called EA and he said house was sold STC as of Monday last week. He apologised they had not told us. I asked price and he just told me it was less than asking.

I was annoyed as DH and I said it wa worth asking price and we would pay that.

DH called and they changed their story a couple of times about why they didn’t tell us (whereas they just apologised and said it was an oversight when I called).

DH offered £280k. EA said vendor wants to stay with current buyer. We don’t kno what current buyer offered but I cannot help but think EA would have said if it was more than £280K. DH then offered asking and was promptly told vendor said no.

I find it odd. Either they deliberately didn’t call us last week and give us the opportunity to put in a higher bid or it was an oversight but their client has potentially lost out on £20k (we don’t know what they have sold for).

I’m really disappointed as we both really loved that house. Have baby due in Jan and no other houses compare for me with the house and the area.

I should say we haven’t sold ours but we are looking at keeping current house to rent and buy the new one.

Is there anything we can do?

OP posts:
Barbie222 · 16/10/2018 12:15

But if you don't have a buyer, I wouldn't take your offer seriously either, sorry.

Barbie222 · 16/10/2018 12:16

Unless you have already got a tenant lined up to move in very soon to prove you mean business about renting current place.

shoofly · 16/10/2018 12:17

Without a buyer for your house, I wouldn't take your offer seriously either.

peachypetite · 16/10/2018 12:18

Nothing you can do. When you went to view it/offer on it you hadn't sold yours so weren't in a proceedable position.

PoshPenny · 16/10/2018 12:19

If your house isn't sold you can't proceed. Presumably the buyer whose offer was accepted is able to proceed immediately. A serious buyer if you like, rather than a dreamer.

Thenewdoctor · 16/10/2018 12:20

If you don’t have a buyer I wouldn’t take your offer either. Sorry.

SassitudeandSparkle · 16/10/2018 12:21

I assume that when you viewed the property you were still of the opinion that you were going to sell yours? Because this 'looking at keeping current house' doesn't sound a definite plan or that you have plans in place to proceed with a property purchase in the meantime. Sorry, OP, but you will not look like a serious buyer to the vendor especially with a very low offer the first time around and a changing story about what you are going to do with your current property.

There will be other houses. You can keep an eye on this one as it's (unfortunately) not uncommon for property purchases to fail.

showmethemonkey · 16/10/2018 12:21

Do you mean the agent told you no without contacting the vendors?

Unless they got annoyed at your low offer and are cutting off their nose to spite their face (someone on here said they’d do that once Grin) you can assume the buyers offered full asking price also and have no property to sell/have a buyer.

On the small offchance the agents realised it was a bargain and are pulling a fast one, buying it themselves or something, you could put a note through the door explaining your position...

Bunnyfuller · 16/10/2018 12:22

You're not in a position to proceed - why would you expect them to hang around for you? Immediately offering 20k more than original offer doesn't exactly strengthen your position, either!

I would stop looking at houses until yours is sold, then you avoid this heartache (and any temptation to gazump other, genuine buyers)

flowery · 16/10/2018 12:22

But you're not in a position to be making offers, as they had already told you when you first offered £260k.

Annoying, but of course the vendor is going to want someone who can actually, you know, buy their house, rather than someone who would like to but is in no position to actually do so!

SparklyLeprechaun · 16/10/2018 12:22

Tbh the EAs are under no obligation to let you know that a house was sold, they work for the sellers. You put in a very low offer for a house you're saying was worth the asking price, and you didn't have the finances in place to buy anyway. I wouldn't take you seriously either.

UsedtobeGinger · 16/10/2018 12:26

I recently sold a house.
We received 2 asking price offers on the same day.
One from a cash buyer and one from someone with a house still to be sold.
I accepted the cash offer and subsequently the other prospective purchaser put in 3 other higher offers.
All were refused and the house was sold to the cash buyer within 6 weeks.
A quick sale was what I needed.

Thatdontimpressmemuch · 16/10/2018 12:27

Are you selling your house or are you keeping it to rent out? Your OP isn’t clear.

Either way, if you don’t have a mortgage in place then you won’t be taken seriously by any EA or seller.

AliceRR · 16/10/2018 12:35

We have a tenant lined up and can provide proof of funds today but they weren’t even asking about that

OP posts:
greendale17 · 16/10/2018 12:39

I was annoyed as DH and I said it wa worth asking price and we would pay that.

^Then why offer 35k less in the first place?

ShalomJackie · 16/10/2018 12:42

Well the seller has done the decent thing and has stuck with the original buyer and will not let you gazump them. Good for them. If you had wanted the property tgat badly you would have made a sensible offer to start with (you said the asking price was a good one) and made a decision to be chain free ie. Rent current property quicker.

The EA works for the seller and is under no obligation to keep you informed. If you were genuinely interested you would have kept in touch with them.

AliceRR · 16/10/2018 12:43

Yes but the EA should be telling them about better offers which I don’t think they have

OP posts:
ShalomJackie · 16/10/2018 12:43

Also you have no idea what has been offered.

Barbie222 · 16/10/2018 12:44

But you presumably didn't have these things in place when you offered - that's how your OP reads?
If you now have a mortgage offer, proof of funds and tenant that holds up, why don't you offer the asking price or above?

hammeringinmyhead · 16/10/2018 12:45

If you didn't tell them you were going to rent the house out here:

Barbie222 · 16/10/2018 12:46

Also 280 is still 15k short of the asking price, so you could well still be sloppy seconds. We had to offer 5k over asking price here to win a bidding war.

hammeringinmyhead · 16/10/2018 12:46

DH offerer £260k and was told by vendor agent no point putting an offer until we have sold our house but they work note our interest and update us if any developments.

Then I wouldn't have taken your offer seriously either. Especially if you need to sort out a BTL mortgage on your current house etc. The current buyers may be offering cash.

Rainshowers · 16/10/2018 12:47

But if you have a tenant lined up and proof of funds, why didn’t you tell the estate agent? All they know is that you haven’t sold your house, they aren’t mind readers. It’s unusual that people can afford to keep their current house and buy another so it’s not surprising the estate agent didn’t ask you outright-you should have told them.

Whereisthegin1978 · 16/10/2018 12:49

You don’t have a buyer so for me regardless of whether your offer was more I would go with the other offer. I wouldn’t be changing now that it’s stc.

AliceRR · 16/10/2018 12:50

Also wasn’t saying that seller is wrong for not considering offer now. EA was wrong for not updating us before as they said they would and also I think they are not reporting back fully

Just disappointed

OP posts: