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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:46

@DancingBarefootOnIce
Yes, its only slightly under GP and my house is tricky to value as its unique (agent says)

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 26/03/2022 06:47

You can do as you choose OP, but if I was the buyer and you accepted the offer, I would not proceed, if ever I have made an offer it has always been that the property comes off the market, viewings and marketing cancelled. The thing is, if you allow the viewings, and they made a higher offer what would you do? I think I can guess. If the buyers offer is not what you want, why did you accept it?

Eddielizzard · 26/03/2022 06:47

You're being reasonable. His offer is still below the guide! Let's hope one of the viewers tomorrow make you a higher offer. I'd be less inclined to accept his if he's so 'assertive'.

Eddielizzard · 26/03/2022 06:49

She's only accepted with the condition of the two viewings tomorrow.

FitAt50 · 26/03/2022 06:51

We had similar situation last week, 3 full price offers all on the Saturday that we had first viewings. We had 6 more viewings booked on Monday & Tuesday and went to best and final offers on the Wednesday as wanted to honour all booked viewings. You don't want to 'piss off' potential buyers in case your offer falls through.

Turningpurple · 26/03/2022 06:51

You haven't been dishonesty but you would have been better not accepting the offer. Telling them you would decide after the viewings.

You haven't accepted the offer, really, because you are actively looking for someone to offer more.

senua · 26/03/2022 06:53

Time for you to be assertive too!
Agreed.
You say that he has made an offer but has the EA checked his finances yet to make sure that the funds are there? Does he look to be in good faith (eg has appointed solicitors) or is he just trying to block the competition and thereby weakening your position?
Time to get assertive with your EA.

Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 06:57

@TabithaHazel
I take your point.
What happened was the potential buyer made a low offer ,which I rejected then made a revised offer just under GP and pressure to take house off the market (He knew we had 2 viewings the next day)
I Thanked him for the increased offer and said I was inclined to accept but wanted to allow the 2 viewings I had already agreed to.
My EA phoned and pressured me to cancel the viewings saying the potential buyer was very assertive.
I previously lost an offer when the offerer weeks late decided he'd bitten off more than he could chew financially .so wanted to possibly have a reserve.
I realise this potential buyer could walk away /I accept that risk .

OP posts:
Planetbippop · 26/03/2022 06:57

You were clear that in principle you were accepting his offer & would only formally accept following the 2 viewings this weekend.

Of course the chap who has made the offer wants this stopped, he's offered under the asking price & knows there is a risk he may lose out.

He isn't being a bully & you aren't being deceitful. You've both put your cards on the table & know where you stand. This is a business transaction, not a friendship ring. Everyone's in it for the money, EA included.

Ponoka7 · 26/03/2022 06:59

My DD pulled out of buying because the seller was still taking viewings, but she was paying asking price and the seller seemed to think that they'd get more. The house was still for sale for another six months and they had to lower the price.
But that isn't your case. Let the viewings go ahead and as said get tough with the EA. There's usually a period were a house is 'under offer' while financial checks/mortgage definitely ok, is happening, but viewings are allowed.

Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 07:01

@senua
EA doing due diligence now , seems in good faith tbh.
Although very assertive with viewing times, viewed 3 times and spent an hour each visit, wanted Wifi router password ,made low offer then increased.

OP posts:
Luhou · 26/03/2022 07:03

If I had an offer accepted on a property. I would make it on the grounds it's to br taken off the market. I think the difference hear is the wording of "accept".

I would personally say. Thank you for the offer, and we aren't declining however we do have more viewings over the weekend when we will review your offer and any additional offers we may recieve from the existing booked viewings. I will be in touch Monday.

waterrat · 26/03/2022 07:04

Hi op I've just sold and this happened to me first viewer offered over asking price and estate agent really pressured me to take it.

I said I would honor the viewings already planned and I ended up with 30 grand more! Wink

Benjispruce5 · 26/03/2022 07:04

Don’t accept his offer then. You can’t half accept it. Tell him to check back after the viewings.

TabithaHazel · 26/03/2022 07:05

[quote mum61]@TabithaHazel
I take your point.
What happened was the potential buyer made a low offer ,which I rejected then made a revised offer just under GP and pressure to take house off the market (He knew we had 2 viewings the next day)
I Thanked him for the increased offer and said I was inclined to accept but wanted to allow the 2 viewings I had already agreed to.
My EA phoned and pressured me to cancel the viewings saying the potential buyer was very assertive.
I previously lost an offer when the offerer weeks late decided he'd bitten off more than he could chew financially .so wanted to possibly have a reserve.
I realise this potential buyer could walk away /I accept that risk .[/quote]
Ah ok, that sounds perfectly reasonable on your behalf then, I thought you had actually accepted the offer. If the guy is being this ‘assertive’ this early on then I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a bit of a nightmare to deal with. Fingers crossed for your viewings today :)

Benjispruce5 · 26/03/2022 07:05

Wanted router password???? I hope you didn’t give it.

IncompleteSenten · 26/03/2022 07:07

Don't accept until after the viewings.

IncompleteSenten · 26/03/2022 07:09

He wants the house off the market because he knows it's highly likely someone's going to make a better offer and he's hoping to lock you in to his offer.

At the very least, you really should contact the estate agents, say the viewings will go ahead and if no offers are made then you'll take the house off the market

Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 07:12

@Roselilly36
if I got a higher offer I would consider the potential buyers proceedibility circumstances before deciding and not necessarily take the highest offer.(but I am a widow and a single parent and need to do the best I can for my family)
My House is unique and difficult to value (I had 3 agents value it and had a really wide variations went for the middle one)
I previously lost a buyer when they changed their minds further on in the proceedings so having a reserve seems attractive.
I am only asking for 24 hrs and 2 viewings previously agreed.Due diligence is still being done.

OP posts:
skodadoda · 26/03/2022 07:14

@Zonder

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.
That was my first thought. I would worry that he’ll find ‘faults’ then late in the process demand a reduction in the price. The EA should be finding out whether the buyer is in a position to proceed rather than pressing OP to cancel viewings.
Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 07:16

@Bemjispruce5
He wanted to check the wifi speed.
I did speed checks for him and told him to check online re the area.
But I didn't give him my router password after advice from my provider and mums net !

OP posts:
Sally872 · 26/03/2022 07:16

You don't owe buyer anything, I would hope for better or similar offer from someone else and take that. I wouldn't have accepted offer though I would have said I will confirm on Monday after last viewings this weekend.

As you can afford to wait if he pulls out ball is definitely in your court do not let EA pressure you.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 26/03/2022 07:17

Your mistake was accepting the offer. Better to leave the offer on the table, allow the booked viewings to proceed, then accept or decline the offer.

PurpleBaskets · 26/03/2022 07:20

For goodness sake, you don’t owe anyone anything at this stage - what a load of nonsense saying you are being dishonest etc! Everyone knows where they stand - take the viewings this weekend. I would be extremely cautious with anyone who makes a low offer anyway to be honest, they can’t want it that much/aren’t in a very secure financial position. If he wanted to, he could have increased to asking and then it would be reasonable for you to take off the market.
You have three viewings and aren’t in a rush; take your time and don’t be bullied by the EA. They just want it done and dusted and commission in their pocket. It’s a seller’s market in most places. Best of luck!

Trixiefirecracker · 26/03/2022 07:21

I would say if he offers full asking price you are prepared to take it off the market with no more viewings but of not you will be going ahead with the other planned viewings..