Gazumping

[NoTeaForMe]

Am I being unreasonable to try and make a better offer on a house we love? We had an offer in our house at close of business yesterday. The house we have fallen for accepted an offer this week. We know it was below asking price (don’t know what the actual figure is but know it wasn’t asking price) Would we be unreasonable to offer asking price for the house we love?

Depends. It's up to the seller isn't it. It's not a nice thing to do - instead why don't you ring the agent and say you will match the accepted offer if it falls through.

If you could cope, with a good grace, with somebody else doing the same thing to you then do it. The sellers are not committed until contracts are exchanged.

(I’m not buying the idea that house prices are set to plunge, before anyone tells you that you are daft for offering asking price)

We can only be in a position to make a full asking price offer if we accept the offer on our house though. So do we accept that knowing that unless something goes wrong on the house we like we’ll have to eventually turn the offer on ours down.

It's not your dilemma, it's the seller's.

Make the offer, see what happens.

Accept the offer on yours, make the FAP offer on the other house and see what happens.

An offer on yours buys you time and bumps you up in the process. This alone may put you in a better position to proceed than the other people interested in the house you’re looking to buy.

If you’re concerned about losing the house you want to buy, put letters through the doors of the neighbours with similar houses to the one you like..

Personally I wouldn't like it and would think you a bit mean (I'm not saying you are but it's an unkind action in my opinion), but they may be in need of the extra money so it's really up to you. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive about these things!

Although generally is not nice and later down the process when they’ve paid for searches and surveys I wouldn’t do it, if the offer was only accepted last week I wouldn’t worry and I would do it.

Remember though, if they are willing to accept your offer, then they may do the same to you...

It’s like a cheater. Once a cheat, always a cheat right?

If the owners will accept your offer and upset the buyers they currently have, then they will do the same to you if someone else with more money comes along.

Personally I think it’s nasty behaviour and would judge you for doing it and the owners if they accepted your offer. So maybe don’t tell your friends if you do decide to do it.