To not play the estate agent game and just give them my best offer straight away?

[saturdaycoffee]

Buying a property.

I put in an offer last Thursday, which was turned down as it was too low.

The agent suggested the vendors would accept an offer half way between my offer, and the asking price.

AIBU to just put in an offer at that price (which is the highest price I would pay for the property because I don't think it's worth more than that), given that if they turn it down, I can't put in a higher offer?

Family have suggested putting in another offer but lower than the halfway offer, and then at least I can increase it to my "final" offer if they turn that down.

I hate all this game playing.

Full and final £x take it or leave it, subject to survey

Hmmm.

So the agent called back. The vendor would accept an offer 5k higher than I've made, and for that he's willing to throw in some furniture.

I've told them that was my final offer, and I have a house full of furniture, so the offer of furniture doesn't sway me at all.

Feel like I'm playing hardball when I'm not really sure I want to. I don't like the agent much, and I feel like the vendor is trying his luck.

It's with them now.

Now it sounds like they're playing you. The agent suggested a price, which you have offered and now the vendor is trying to push you up with an offer of some random furniture that you didn't ask for it even need.

Stick to your no-game-playing instincts and leave your offer where it is!

Now it sounds like they're playing you. The agent suggested a price, which you have offered and now the vendor is trying to push you up with an offer of some random furniture that you didn't ask for it even need

I know. This is what I mean about game playing. Ugh.

I know what you mean about game playing but it all depends how much you want the house. Do you really want to lose it for £5000? Will you regret that in the future?

When I saw the house I really wanted I offered the asking price the first day it went on the market. I had also met the vendor during the viewing and got her on side. That can make a difference.

For 30 year I was an EA so used to negotiating etc but this was the house I really wanted so was prepared to pay for it. Never had any regrets. In actual fact somebody came along later and tried to gazump us but because the vendor liked us she stuck with us.

They accepted my offer :) :)

Congratulations 😅

Hurray! Well done, OP - best of luck.

We went significantly under asking. Property needed a lot of work. Not closing it out and having it taken off the market meant they got more interest and we ended up with £80k more than our original offer and sealed bids. I wonder if we had gone in at asking or £10k below whether we would have got it?

That's awesome OP, nice one! Well done for sticking to your guns (and that just shows that they were trying it on with the extra 5k when they would have accepted your offer anyway!)

This is what I mean about game playing. Ugh.

One persons game planning is another persons negotiating.

I agree with you op. When buying a house I will never do more than 2 offers. I make an initial one to get the lie of the land, and then a second "best and final". I make it absolutely clear that I'm not going up from that. Life is too short!

Jeez, this agent is making life hard!

Anyone know if I can contact a management company directly (I'm buying a flat), or if I have to go via my solicitor (as the agent is saying I do)?

I did exactly as you suggest when offering, following the falling through of a previous sale. I was just tired of all the bullshit. I met the then owners and told them we liked the house, were serious buyers, proceedable immediately and not going to be playing the game. They accepted my offer within an hour of the call being made. So it can certainly work out.