AIBU to ask you to help me bag this property?

[PixieBob28]

Right so yesterday morning we saw a property for the 3rd time. Lovely man showed us round as it's through that purple bricks website so no estate agent etc. He's moving up north to be closer to his family after his wife passing away. He's finishing work in April next year so even though he could stay with friends in the mean time it doesn't seem like he's in a hurry. This too would be perfect for us as our rental property finishes in May so means we wouldn't have to pay many months of rent and to not be living there (but if it is sooner will just pay it).

The property is very new, modern, and we love it. He is asking for £250000 and late last night we put in an offer of £240000. This was straight away declined and this morning their agent want us to call them about it.

But I don't know how on earth to negotiate or what they are going to say and I'm such a shy person I'm bricking it. Realistically we can probably go up to £245000 but would like to get it for less and don't want to give that info away just yet.

On purple bricks you can look at the calendar to see who has a viewing and this bloke hasn't had any viewings in the past few weeks we have been going round so there isn't much interest in it.

We are first time buyers so don't have a chain, we have an agreement in principle so can start the process as soon as really.

We know he bought it for £247500 though only a year and a half ago (again moving after wife passed 6 months ago, and place is now too big etc). But in the current market he must surely know that prices have gone down? On Zoopla it does give the property a current estimate of £245000.

Also the property is a large apartment in a small village. We would be in-between two cities but this must put some people off, as transport links aren't that great. I don't see it appealing to old people because it's a top floor apartment and no lift etc and it's too small for families.

I was going to try play it cool and say this is one of two properties we like?

So yeah if anyone has any tips or ideas on how to get this place for the price we want. Are there any tips on what say or not say?

Just put your final offer in. And explain you can't go further, so offer 245. Honestly there is no point playing games and it's unlikely he will want to sell it for less than he bought it for.

You can play games and offer 243 or whatever, but it's not worth it. Either he will sell for 245 or he won't.

I was going to try play it cool and say this is one of two properties we like

Don't say this, he will just think you're messing him around. If it was me, I'd just tell you to buy the other one.

Just be honest. People who use purple bricks as opposed to an estate agent do so firstly for the saving on commission, but also to cut through all the bullshit that comes with house buying. Just tell them the money you have, and be prepared to look for somewhere else if that’s not enough.

Seeing as youve viewed it three times (?!) already im sure he knows you want it. Dont mess around now. Just go in at what you would be prepared to pay.

As someone who negotiates daily my advice is...

Offer 245k but explain you are willing to work to a completion date which suits him. (This is valuable). However your offer is conditional on no more viewings and removal from market.
Advise you are being transparent; you love it but 245k is your max

As someone who has done it 2k while it feels like loads of £££ is nothing in the grand scheme of things. You can/will waste equivalent on rental/movers/searches on places that fall through etc.

This guy seems serious seller, and with 3 visits you obviously like it.

Don’t play games or you’ll lose.

Level with him. “We love it, we want to call it home for a long time and whilst we’d love to offer £250k we honestly have a final budget of £245k. We have no chain and can move at your convenience.”

Offer £242500 as final offer but will work on a completion date to suit him provided he takes it off the market, no more viewing etc and completion is before Feb 2019

Ask him what is the lowest amount he would accept. If that's lower than £245, great, say yes. If it's more, say your budget maximum is £245, is there any chance of getting it at that price. If not, you'll have to walk away.

Depending where you are property prices have not fallen , some like my area are still rising and although selling has slowed they are still selling

Don't bother to look at Zoopla or suchlike estimates of value , they are always way off mark , they never come near to reflecting a valuation complete waste of time reading them .

Talk to the vendor , be honest , see what he says , lay your cards on the table - you already have by viewing the property 3 times

Good luck

The property is worth whatever someone wants to pay for it. If he is not moving until April then he’s got time to hold out for more.

I agree with PPs that you should be honest about what your maximum is and not try and play games. If you’ve viewed it three times it’s pretty obvious that you like it.

It’s nice to get it cheaper but surely if you love it that much a couple of grand extra isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks for the replies. We've only seen it 3 times because first time we went my husband got an urgent call and had to go into work so I quickly went on my own. We went back a second time for him to see it, and was shown all the bits I'd missed the first time round. And third time round parents who are kindly giving us a small deposit wanted to see. I'm glad most comments are to be straight forward and upfront to be honest because I too hate playing games. We have been honest and we have said we really love the property. But we do honestly feel it's worth no more than 245000 so will put our highest offer in and if not will just walk away. We can't go any higher as that is total with our savings and will then have to rely on his parents to maybe pay for solicitor, moving costs etc.

Then just be honest op
Call him and say the max you can afford with savings etc is 245, it's the final offer and after that you need to walk away if he can't accept it. He might push it a little but you just say sorry, it's 245 is stretching us, we really can't go further, and let him decide.

There really is no point in fucking about and protracting it and playing mind games.

Good luck OP

You’ve done the right thing and what’s for you won’t go by you!