Page 12 | Can I accept an offer on my house but still allow this weekends viewings

mum61 · 2022-03-26T05:55:18+00:00

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?

Mandyjack · 27/03/2022 19:48

@CoalCraft

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.

Up until you exchange contracts the agent is obliged to put forward any offers which you can legally accept.

Mellowyellow222 · 27/03/2022 20:02

@Mandyjack I completely agree - nothing is guaranteed and we all have to make decisions and choices based on our experiences and sometimes gut feelings.

I am really pleased it worked out for you. A long chain wasn’t something I wanted to risk - to many people and so much that can go wrong. But I appreciate that 1 in 3 house chains fall though - and the longer the chain the more likely it is to fail.

My chain was there people first time busters buying my house, me and my vendor (who was leaving the country). That was stressful enough for me - any day during a three month period either person could have pulled the rug from under me abs cost me thousands. I didn’t want to introduce more people.

Maybe I am too risk averse - but it worked for me!

gunnersgold · 27/03/2022 20:04

Of course he wants you to take his offer and remove it from the market . Selling houses is a gamble . You might lose him but you might get a better offer . If just tell him to wait but he might find something else . As I said it's a gamble .

Mandyjack · 27/03/2022 20:15

[quote Mellowyellow222]@Mandyjack I completely agree - nothing is guaranteed and we all have to make decisions and choices based on our experiences and sometimes gut feelings.

I am really pleased it worked out for you. A long chain wasn’t something I wanted to risk - to many people and so much that can go wrong. But I appreciate that 1 in 3 house chains fall though - and the longer the chain the more likely it is to fail.

My chain was there people first time busters buying my house, me and my vendor (who was leaving the country). That was stressful enough for me - any day during a three month period either person could have pulled the rug from under me abs cost me thousands. I didn’t want to introduce more people.

Maybe I am too risk averse - but it worked for me![/quote]
I suppose if you have a lot of willing buyers you can afford to be fussy on who you want to sell to. I've bought and sold a few times and 1st time buyers often pull out. Sometimes it's that the process takes longer than they realised and they end up buying a new build or something with a shorter chain. Or sometimes their mortgage offers end up having issues for a variety of reasons.

Mellowyellow222 · 27/03/2022 20:23

I suppose in most chains there will be a fist time buyer - there may well have been one at the bottoms of your chain! The more links the higher the risk.

And yes first times buyers can be flighty - and there is other a parent or two lurking in the background giving ridiculous advice that is twenty years out of date! I had a few hiccups with first time buyers before I got going!

I was lucky that I had a lot of bidders. People who didn’t yet have their house sale agreed did offer, but I was willing to take a lower offer rather than wait.

The ideal buyer is of course an experienced cash buyer. But none of them bid on my house unfortunately😂.

Lynz78 · 27/03/2022 21:02

Good luck selling just had ours valued and was told its a sellers market they are doing guide prices to get viewings in then ask for for final offers if they have a few in. Nothing wrong with want you did he could be getting stroppy as thinks he has a great price and worried people will offer more.

BettyJDavies · 27/03/2022 22:11

Tell them it's your house and you will let who you want view it, you may even get a better offer, nothing is sold until all the ink as dried on the paperwork.

GettingItOutThere · 27/03/2022 22:31

[quote mum61]@AnotherEmma
I had an offer from a potential buyer on Friday am.
The offer had been increased from. a lower offer a few days ago.
I said I was inclined to accept his offer as I felt it was reasonable and thanked him for increasing.
I told him I had 2 viewings booked in the next 48 hrs (appts made 1 week ago and 1 flying in from Spain to view)
I said I would allow those 2 as I had agreed them but would accept new appts
From the replies ive received I think I should have said ,I will consider the offer over the weekend and allowed all viewings ..[/quote]
accept the offer that is right for YOU. your house is your home BUT when selling it is all business. Why would you accept a lower offer from someone when you could potentially get thousands more?

feelings go out the window when it involves selling things if you want money for it IMO

me109f · 28/03/2022 01:09

It is your house. Sometimes the EA just wants to secure his sale without hassle. Tell him as the house is still available as it has not had an exchange of contracts, it is your decision to allow further offers. If he tries to be assertive tell him to bugger off or you will sell your house yourself or with another agent, and put it in writing in case he threatens you with legal action for loss of his fees or some other nonsense.
Your agent can advise you, but you engage him and you are the client, not the purchaser. He needs to learn his position in the transaction.

Rosejasmine · 28/03/2022 08:18

It’s not just about the offer received though. How proceedable is this buyer? What if you receive a comparable offer from someone without a chain or a cash buyer? Definitely have these weekend viewings. The estate agent would normally be keen on a bit if competition …

LardyDee · 28/03/2022 08:53

YABU. Either

you accept his offer and take it off the market because it's sold (subject to contract) or
you tell him you'll consider his offer alongside any others that may come in after the weekend viewings (and take the risk that he get huffy and withdraw the offer, which would be pretty stupid).

You can't ride both horses. You can't accept one offer but continue showing the place and angling for better offers.

girlmom21 · 28/03/2022 09:04

Hey guys - heads up - it's Monday. Its already been the weekend so OP doesn't need to know whether to go ahead or not now

AnotherEmma · 28/03/2022 09:24

@girlmom21

Hey guys - heads up - it's Monday. Its already been the weekend so OP doesn't need to know whether to go ahead or not now

Twiglets1 · 28/03/2022 09:56

@girlmom21

Hey guys - heads up - it's Monday. Its already been the weekend so OP doesn't need to know whether to go ahead or not now

Haha I was thinking the same thing! 😂

TheKeatingFive · 28/03/2022 10:03

It's Aibu. No doubt someone will resurrect this as a zombie thread in 18 months time 😆

Blacksheepcat · 28/03/2022 10:21

The pure fact that he is already bullying you would make me not want to accept any offer from him…he’ll be a nightmare buyer and will probably find a reason to suddenly pay less at the last minute

girlmom21 · 28/03/2022 10:23

@TheKeatingFive

It's Aibu. No doubt someone will resurrect this as a zombie thread in 18 months time 😆

op will probably still be deciding whether to accept the offer as well

Natfemale · 28/03/2022 11:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

MandyLHarkness · 28/03/2022 17:50

It’s your house you can do what you like with it until contracts are exchanged. Don’t make things personal it’s a business transaction the buyer isn’t a new friend 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster

mum61 · 28/03/2022 18:23

Thank you for all the advice and thoughts on my dilemma.
The 2 viewings took place . 1st was interested and wants to return for a second viewing with a view to making an offer.
2nd made an offer of the guide price but is wasn't quite honest about their circumstances.
So I have decided to formally accept the first slightly below guide price offer and take the house off the market.
What I have learnt is the best way to handle this would have been to say I would consider the first offer over the weekend and allowed the other viewings to take place before deciding.

OP posts:

AnotherEmma · 28/03/2022 18:41

Why not allow a second viewing?
What do you mean they weren't honest about the circumstances?
Why don't you tell wifi guy you got an offer for the guide price and since he offered first you're giving him the opportunity to match it? If he does you'll take the house off the market?

So many questions, none of this makes sense!

Twiglets1 · 28/03/2022 18:58

I would talk to your EA about it. They should be able to tell the person who wants a second viewing that this needs to take place in the next couple of days as you need to make a decision about an offer. But up to you, obviously

Original poster

mum61 · 28/03/2022 19:18

@AnotherEmma
I want to get on with it now don't want to wait for second viewings and ??? offers.
Said they were cash buyers but actually have property to sell .
The original offer is only just under guide and they re ready to proceed immediately .

OP posts:

Zonder · 28/03/2022 21:01

I would go with allowing the second viewing, just because the first guy seemed so pushy. You don't want to let him make things difficult for you.

LardyDee · 28/03/2022 21:22

@Zonder

I would go with allowing the second viewing, just because the first guy seemed so pushy. You don't want to let him make things difficult for you.

Totally lawful for the vendor to do this. Totally lawful also for the buyer to drop the price just before exchange. And it would be very hypocritical for the vendor to complain about the buyer arsing about, but staying within the strict letter of the law. Sauce for the goose and all that.