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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:
LuaDipa · 26/03/2022 08:58

Yanbu.

You are not being dishonest, you are being far more transparent than you need to be. You’ve accepted subject to the already arranged viewings which is fair. The EA wants a quick sale and a few grand difference in sale price will make no odds to them and their commission but may really help you. Remind them that you are paying them and they need to do what you tell them and if that means dealing with a pushy buyer then so be it.

Given what you have said I would be tempted to refuse the offer. If he’s rushing to get it off the market he knows full well that he has got a good deal. If he thought he had paid enough then it doesn’t matter how many viewers you get through the door, they likely won’t pay over the odds for it

MargaretThursday · 26/03/2022 08:59

If you accept his offer, then I don't think you should take viewings.
However I think it would be reasonable to say to him that you will answer on Monday after the other viewings. If he doesn't like that, then he's probably going to be an awkward buyer so you may well be better not dealing with him anyway.

LabelMaker · 26/03/2022 08:59

You shouldn't have said you'd accept the offer tbh. When I offered it was on the condition the house was taken off the market if it was accepted.

Geezabreak82 · 26/03/2022 09:04

The answer to this depends on where you are in the UK. If you are in Scotland and verbally accept an offer you can be expected to pay compensation if you go back on the agreement. If you are in England I believe you can back out without consequence until a formal agreement is signed by both signs.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 26/03/2022 09:04

FFS RTFT She has not accepted the offer! She said she was INCLINED to accept but wanted to have these two viewings first as they were already booked. Not dishonest and not taking the piss.

Hope the viewings go well today OP and a non dickhead buyer gives you a great offer. From your other thread, I think this guy will be a nightmare and will want to be ending up paying his first low hall offer…

Mellowyellow222 · 26/03/2022 09:05

@Planetbippop

I don't know why the same comment keeps being made about OP having accepted the offer.

She accepted in principle only & said following the viewings she'd formally accept. The wi-fi chap ain't happy but that's only because he knows his offer may well be beaten. If he'd offered the full asking price, he'd be in a better position to dispute the viewings. He isn't & that's that.

Accepting in principle isn’t a thing? I have no idea what it means.

In this situation I would explain that I will wait until all booked viewings are done before I decide.

It’s best not to play games. I had lots of offers - and my sale fell through three times. I had offers on the condition that I remove it from the market and cancel viewings. I did not do this. All viewers knew about offers but if someone told me they had accepted an offer in principle I would be confused as to why viewings were still taking place.

Either an offer is accepted or it isn’t. Why make a horrible process even more complicated by inventing terms and confusing everyone.

It’s best to be straightforward

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 26/03/2022 09:05

ball

SpiderinaWingMirror · 26/03/2022 09:05

Wellyou can, but you have not accepted the offer. .
Fine to say "thanks, just waiting for the viewings"

girlmom21 · 26/03/2022 09:06

@MarineBlue33

As *@NeverAgainSam* said. The EA is doing a rubbish job if they are advising you not to go ahead with these already booked viewings. If the buyer is putting pressure on the EA, you do likewise. It's the EA's job to get you the best price. And tell rhe EA you want the buyer to get a survey booked at least within a week. Has he got a mortgage ? He needs to show commitment. Don't let the agent or anyone know that you are not in a rush
He'd be stupid to get a survey booked before the OP has accepted his offer. He needs to instruct a solicitor and they'll need all the information from him before they instruct on surveys.
Whinge · 26/03/2022 09:10

Accepting in principle isn’t a thing? I have no idea what it means.

Either an offer is accepted or it isn’t. Why make a horrible process even more complicated by inventing terms and confusing everyone.

I agree with this.

Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 09:13

@mellowyellow222
I had a previous offer fall through when the buyer just changed their mind later on ,im fearful this may happen again and EA is still doing due diligence on the guy who made the offer.
I said I would accept but allow the 2 pre agreed viewings as I didn't want to piss off any potential interested parties in case this offer goes the way of my previous experience.
I have told everyone the truth and will remove the house from the market after these 2 viewings.
I accept if the guy wants to withdraw because of 2 other viewings and 24 hrs...

OP posts:
DogInATent · 26/03/2022 09:17

@mum61
Assuming you're in England or Wales.

Do not take the house off the market or stop accepting viewings until Exchange of Contracts. Do not allow the EA to put up an "Under Offer" sign, and insist that they continue to actively market the property.

You can accept his offer and still continue to market the property and take viewings. Offers frequently fall through.

If the buyer insists that their offer is contingent on you taking the house off the market, only do so on the condition that there is a timetable - one week to instruct a solicitor and surveyor, and get your solicitor on the case to push them regarding Searches, etc.

You know you can counter offer? - tell them you'd cancel the viewings and stop marketing the property straight away if they'd increase their offer to £X.

Namechangehereandnow · 26/03/2022 09:17

Your EA sound off tbh. They are working for you and your best interests - it doesn’t sound like they’re doing that. You are paying them good money to get you the best price possible for your house, you’re not paying them to put the buyers interests first.

I don’t understand why you have to accept or decline the offer immediately though - “it’s still lower than I’d like, I’ll think about it over the weekend and get back to you next week”. Simple.

Then you can have your 2 viewings and decide what to do. Personally, I think it’s pretty shitty to accept the offer then retract it if something better comes along. It’s easy enough to just tell EA and potential offer that you’re waiting until next week to decide.

Confused
Original poster
mum61 · 26/03/2022 09:19

@VerbenaVerveine
Yes it him!
Yes ,I suspect there may be problems down the line ..

OP posts:
MorrisOxford · 26/03/2022 09:21

Why would you accept any offer when you have further viewings arranged within such a short timeframe?
I would tell him - and the other viewers - that you will consider all offers submitted by 5pm on Monday - and let viewers know on Tuesday morning. Make sure this information is conveyed to the other viewers when they look today - so they know they need to make a decision quickly.
The offer man may flounce off, but if he does then you're probably well rid of him. A assertive buyer prone to flouncing is likely to be a pain the arse to sell to.

AllOfUsAreDead · 26/03/2022 09:25

I wouldnt sell to this knob head anyway. What kind of person asks for the WiFi router password of a house they are viewing? A total twat, that's who. He will likely drop the offer the day before exchange, or come up with all kinds of shit you need to fix or change before he will exchange.

I wouldn't accept his offer even if I got no more this weekend. I'd just do an open day next weekend or something.

RewildingAmbridge · 26/03/2022 09:26

People need to learn to read, OP hasn't formally accepted his offer, she's said she is inclined to buy won't give him a final answer until she had honoured the two viewings which were pre-booked and had notified the viewers there is already an offer on the table. There is nothing wrong with this, she's been transparent with all parties. If he wanted it that badly he could increase his offer on the condition that it's removed from the market, he hasn't done this and his offer is below ask.

Eggshausted · 26/03/2022 09:26

At the offer stage you don’t owe anyone anything. Your priority is to get the best price for your house. Hope you get a higher offer from todays viewings.

RewildingAmbridge · 26/03/2022 09:26

*but

Mellowyellow222 · 26/03/2022 09:29

@RewildingAmbridge

People need to learn to read, OP hasn't formally accepted his offer, she's said she is inclined to buy won't give him a final answer until she had honoured the two viewings which were pre-booked and had notified the viewers there is already an offer on the table. There is nothing wrong with this, she's been transparent with all parties. If he wanted it that badly he could increase his offer on the condition that it's removed from the market, he hasn't done this and his offer is below ask.
Read the title of the thread! And the confusing terminology throughout!!!!!!

I can read thanks - no need to be rude

Mellowyellow222 · 26/03/2022 09:29

People are answering the question OP posed.

Lolapusht · 26/03/2022 09:31

Do not give him your phone number!!! He’ll never be off the phone hassling to do things and pressuring you to do what he wants. He sounds like the type of buyer who won’t be happy until you agree to all of their dates, insists you pay for work they want doing, will demand all sorts of appointments and trades people schlepping through your house then will try to reduce the price just before you’re due to exchange.

Your EA also sounds like they’re a bit spineless. So what if someone is really assertive?! Doesn’t sound like they’ll be much use dealing with him. Don’t be persuaded if he says he’s a cash buyer as I’ve never come across one that will actually go as quickly as they say!

C8H10N4O2 · 26/03/2022 09:39

So long as the process is open and the potential buyer knows its not off the market yet there is nothing wrong with continuing to accept viewings.

If its an unusual house and hard to price I'd be inclined to take more viewings anyway rather than accept the first below price offer unless you are pressured for time to move.

Three hour long viewings and demands for passwords and I'd be reminding your EA that you are paying them a large sum of money to work for you, not random buyers.

If you are not desperate avoid dealing with this buyer.

JeffThePilot · 26/03/2022 09:43

You haven’t done anything wrong and you’ve been clear. I think your OP made it sound like you’d formally accepted his offer but you clearly have not, you’ve just given an indication.

However you do need to stop thinking about having a buyer in “reserve”. If you accept a different offer this weekend, your first potential buyer is gone. He isn’t going to hang around waiting in case something falls through.

CallmeHendricks · 26/03/2022 09:44

I don't like the sound of this guy.
Stand your ground. Not sure why his "assertiveness" should trump your inclinations.