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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can I accept an offer on my house but still allow this weekends viewings

302 replies

mum61 · 26/03/2022 05:55

My house has been on the market for a couple of weeks and I have had an offer from a guy who made a low offer then a second offer just below the guide price.. I said I would accept his offer but wanted to honour 2 viewings for tomorrow after which, if no other offers are forthcoming I would formally accept and take the house of the market.
My agent is pressuring me not to allow the 2 viewings to go ahead and take the house off the market.( I think because of pressure from the guy who made the offer, saying he's very assertive)
Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

DenverDoer · 26/03/2022 06:02

As the viewings were already booked I'd definitely let them go ahead, especially as the offer you've had is below asking price.

Ignore the EA and go with what you want; they just can't be bothered to do more viewings when you have an offer.

CoalCraft · 26/03/2022 06:03

If one of the people coming to view tomorrow made a higher offer would you be able to accept it or are you committed to the previous offer? If the latter, I don't see why you'd still have the viewings? It seems like a waste of everyone's time, and a bit dishonest to be showing people around with no intention of selling to them, and I can see why the guy who made the offer is annoyed. You've told him you'll accept his offer but are still allowing viewings - it must look as though you're willing to go back on your word about accepting his offer.

heldinadream · 26/03/2022 06:04

I don't know the technicalities of this but why not just hold out on accepting his offer until after today's viewings? I think I'd do that. They can't force you to move faster than you want can they?

carefullycourageous · 26/03/2022 06:05

I would honour the two viewings and book no more.

If the guy who has already offered will withdraw because of that he is a flaky buyer anyway.

KELLOGSspeck · 26/03/2022 06:07

Why are you in a rush to accept a low offer?

Just wait more views may arrive after the 2 you already have booked.

Zonder · 26/03/2022 06:08

He sounds like a bit of a bully which could have implications for how the sale proceeds. I would say you can't accept an offer until you've honoured all the booked viewings.

ShadowPuppets · 26/03/2022 06:14

YANBU, we had an open house on the Saturday, someone couldn’t make it so she came to view Friday, put an offer on the table but out EA told her we couldn’t cancel the open house at short notice like that. It meant we got to go into the open house knowing there was a lowish back up offer on the table. If she was that bothered she shouldn’t have put her offer on the table before the open house.

eldora · 26/03/2022 06:14

It’s very convenient for the EA that it’s the buyer being “assertive’. I’d take it with a pinch of salt.

Do you think you could get more than the asking price? You don’t have to accept the first acceptable offer.

Porcupineintherough · 26/03/2022 06:16

At this stage you can do as you please and your buyer can take it or leave it. Obviously there's a chance he may leave it, and then you'll need to find another buyer. I guess a lot depends on how badly you need a quick sale. What will you say if he comes back wanting money off after the survey?

hellcatspangle · 26/03/2022 06:19

You don't need to accept his offer at this stage - just tell the agent his offer sounds acceptable but that you want to go ahead with the viewings and will make a decision on Monday, dependent on any other offers.

Really you shouldn't have said you'd accept the offer yet.

Cervinia · 26/03/2022 06:20

I would definitely take the other viewings, you may get better offers from nicer buyers. It’s also good to have reserves if the first buyer falls through.

Original poster

mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:21

@CoalCraft.
I haven't been dishonest ,the 2 people viewing know i've had an offer.
Until contracts are exchanged the person who makes the offer can withdraw it for any reason they choose and the person who accepts it can reject it until exchange.
I accepted an offer previously and the person changed their mind weeks later ,it meant I lost a house I offered on .

OP posts:

DancingBarefootOnIce · 26/03/2022 06:22

Are you in the UK? I’m surprised any house is going for under the asking price (assuming it’s reasonable and close to valuation). I wouldn’t rush to accept the offer and have more viewings. Though obviously I don’t know your situation and whether you’re rushed.

KELLOGSspeck · 26/03/2022 06:23

[quote mum61]@CoalCraft.
I haven't been dishonest ,the 2 people viewing know i've had an offer.
Until contracts are exchanged the person who makes the offer can withdraw it for any reason they choose and the person who accepts it can reject it until exchange.
I accepted an offer previously and the person changed their mind weeks later ,it meant I lost a house I offered on .[/quote]
You have been dishonest. What your saying is if one of your viewings or both of them make a higher offer. . Your going to accept right?

Basically you would be the one pulling out on your accepted offer

Original poster

mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:24

@KELLOGSspeck
The offer is near the GP and my house is quite unique and difficult to price(agents say)
Also I am trying to move to an area with a very hot market which means I can't even view if im not under offer:preceedable.

OP posts:

rosesinmygarden · 26/03/2022 06:26

Time for you to be assertive too!

Just say you'll be considering offers following the open house. Your potential buyer is obviously worried someone will better his offer at the weekend, otherwise he wouldn't be making threats.

The estate agent works for you. Not the buyer. It's you who pays them and a higher sale price means more commission. It's possible they are either being lazy or they have a connection with this man making the offer.

It's not uncommon for buyers to ask for the house to be removed from sale when an offer is accepted. But whether you do so depends on their position, how happy you are with the offer and how long you're happy to wait for a better offer. It's your decision, not the estate agent's or the buyer's. Threats right now are not a good sign and I'd be tempted to tell the EA that you won't be swayed by 'assertive' (bullying) behaviour.

TheRealityCheque · 26/03/2022 06:26

Remind your estate agent that he works for YOU, not the buyer.

Suggest that he tells the buyer that he is unable to contact you at the moment.

vastgrandupgrade · 26/03/2022 06:29

You can’t have it both ways. Either accept the offer and cancel the viewings, or leave the offer on the table and wait for the outcome of the weekend viewings. But be honest with the person who has offered.

koalalala · 26/03/2022 06:29

You just say 'as the offer is below asking price and I have further viewings booked I am not going to accept or decline it until after the viewings'

You have to accept he might walk away though.

Original poster

mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:32

@KELLOGSspeck.
No, I haven't been dishonest.
Ive told everyone the truth.
If I had a higher offer ,I would consider the circumstances of the person regarding proceed ability into account and then decide.
As I said anyone can withdraw until exchange of contracts, that happened to me previously when a buyer just pulled out and I lost a house I was interested in buying so I want to make contingency plans.

OP posts:

TabithaHazel · 26/03/2022 06:37

We found throughout our house selling experience last year that our EA kept seeming to forget they were working for us not our buyer! How do they know you won’t get a higher offer from the weekend’s viewers? We saw many houses that already had offers on them, but these offers had not yet been accepted or turned down. Sounds like you are being upfront with your potential buyer, but I have to say you probably shouldn’t have even informally accepted his offer if you still want to hold viewings. So I can see both sides here.

Newuser82 · 26/03/2022 06:39

I can't see how you have been dishonest as you said you had told the man with the offer that you would let the viewings go ahead and see what happened. I would definitely go ahead with the open house and not be bullied into accepting a low offer two weeks after putting your house up for sale.

curlii103 · 26/03/2022 06:40

Would accept is not the same as accepted and process started. I would have the viewings and accept another better off if available. 0bviously he doesnt want the viewings in case thay does happen!

Doris86 · 26/03/2022 06:42

You’re being perfectly reasonable and honest with him. You’ve said you’d accept his offer if no better offers are forthcoming on the viewings at the weekend.

It’s a seller’s market at the moment, and you’d be mad to accept a slightly lower offer than you wanted, for the sake of waiting a couple of days for more viewings and potentially better offers.

Of course the agent is pressuring you, they just want to get another sale in the bag and earn their commission. When selling my house, I learnt it was best to take anything the agent said with a pinch of salt.

Original poster

mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:44

@porcupineintherough
I dont need a quick sale particularly
I had a previous offer fall through after weeks because the guy decided he had bitten off more than he could chew financially.
I am having difficulty finding a property to buy in the area I want to move to due to demand exceeding supply .

OP posts:

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