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Original poster

Is this normal when making an offer on House?

265 replies

offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:02

I've seen house to buy. It's been on the market for around two months or so. It's already been reduced in price online.

When it was reduced, I made an offer slightly under the asking price. After a couple of days they said they want full asking price.
So I immediately offered the full asking price.

Anyway, I haven't heard anything so I've just called the estate agents and they said the family want to think about it. So they will get back to me on Tuesday.

I was really confused about this because I've offered the full asking price so I'm not sure what there is to think about?

She said they feel somebody else might be interested in the property. I asked a couple of questions about this… It turns out the person who is "interested " hasn't sold their house and hasn't said they want to make an offer. They've simply said they like the house. But have not indicated at all that they are looking to make an offer.

I have a feeling I know who this is because when I was viewing the house for the second time, a woman was there and I heard her say that she likes the house and that was it. So I'm not sure if that's the person

I just don't understand. I'm not sure if they're trying to get more than the asking price from me. Or if they're just waiting to see if they get any other offers over the next few days?

OP posts:
TheSnowyOwl · 23/05/2024 19:04

I imagine they are waiting to see if there are any other offers that will be higher. Presumably they were hoping to get the original asking price rather than lowering it.

FleetwoodMacAttack · 23/05/2024 19:04

This isn’t unusual at all - it’s a huge decision so obviously people want some time to think.

They are possibly keen for a bidding war and/or they know the other interested person is in a better position than you (eg cash buyer/appearing to be less complicated) so want to keep options open.

They might also hope you increase your offer.

Elphame · 23/05/2024 19:07

Maybe they are worried that you might reduce your offer to what you originally offered further down the line?

They may see someone who comes in at full asking as a safer bet.

Not that that's necessarily true of course.

WilliamButt · 23/05/2024 19:07

We had an identical situation. House on market for a couple of months, we offered 3k under asking price, seller replied within 20 minutes to say she wanted full AP, which we immediately offered. She then went completely AWOL for over a week, even ghosting the estate agents. Eventually they rang and said she had accepted another offer. This was 4 years ago and I did check Zoopla out of curiosity and the house hasn't been sold for 7 years. She just got cold feet when it got real. It felt so spineless.

MissConductUS · 23/05/2024 19:09

Tell them that your offer is only good for a week. Otherwise, they'll keep you hanging forever, hoping for a better one.

kiwiane · 23/05/2024 19:10

They may resent reducing the price and are hoping to use your offer to drive up the price; you can withdraw your offer, make it conditional on acceptance by a certain date or wait it out.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 23/05/2024 19:13

Any of the above. Or they may be waiting to see if someone comes along who is in a better position than you to proceed.

TheSnowyOwl · 23/05/2024 19:17

I’d just keep on looking at see if somewhere else is also what you are looking for.

TemuSpecialBuy · 23/05/2024 19:21

Find another house.
these arent serious sellers.

If you must persist with them....
Either leave the offer on the table and keep looking
OR
Give them 72 hours to accept, stop viewings, remove from the internet and instruct soliciors or you will retract your offer.

Note : if/when they accept they'll dick you about and it'll be a total nightmare.

Skippydoodle · 23/05/2024 19:22

Had this exact same thing a few years ago. I phoned back & said ‘asking price and the house to be taken off the market immediately. If not, my offer will be revoked in 24 hours’. That did the trick. Sounds to me like they are hedging their bets for a higher offer, unfortunately they can’t have it both ways, & you need to firmly remind them.

Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:23

From what I'm aware they have viewings tomorrow. So I think they are going to use the offer to get others to make a higher offer potentially. I've also been told that I'm the only person who's made an offer on the property. And it's been on for two months. And they've had lots of viewings (estate agent who showed me around mentioned this and so did the next door neighbour...!)

I know this might sound really childish, but it's taken some of the excitement and joy out of it.
I really did think that they would accept it when I offered full asking price.

I fully set my heart on it. But now I feel like I'm possibly going to be disappointed.
I do think they want more money. But I cannot go higher than the full asking price. I've already told the estate agent this as well.

I'm looking for houses that have no chain (which this one is) because I am in a rush to move. And my position is good so there any problems there

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:25

@TemuSpecialBuy

I didn't even know you were allowed to do that! Plus I can imagine them, just saying no. I have been thinking that. I can imagine them being a nightmare. When I made my initial offer, it took them days to get back to me just to reject it. And it took me phoning them for an update.

The estate agent hasn't been giving me any updates, unless I phone them

So it's literally been me waiting, and then phoning them for them to say "Oh yes, sorry they rejected it".

Or "Oh yeah, sorry they want a week to think about it". Otherwise they probably would've never contacted me to tell me...!

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:26

@Skippydoodle
Didn't actually know that you could do this. I can imagine them just telling me to do one and not accepting it.
It's all very strange

OP posts:
KarmenPQZ · 23/05/2024 19:26

the seller wants the estate agent to show it to someone else and be able to say ‘there’s an asking price offer already on’ to drive the price up. Ie you’re being used as leverage. You can let the offer stand and see what happens. Or you could retract the offer thus not allowing the estate agent to say that. Therefore if the other people want to offer they will also put in an asking price offer unless they absolute love the house and it’s perfect for them. Either way you get to go back and repeat your asking price offer with the emphasis that you’re not in a chain and the caveat that they take it off the market immediately

it kinda depends how much you want the house though

Twiglets1 · 23/05/2024 19:28

There's a weekend coming up and they probably want to let other viewings go ahead before feeling like they have to say Yes or No to your offer.

I expect they will give you a response early next week.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 23/05/2024 19:33

You're being used as leverage, as pps have said.

Phone the EA back in the morning and say your offer is only good until 5pm on Tuesday, at which point you will withdraw it. You do actually have all the power here.

Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:36

@KarmenPQZ
Yes I do think they are doing this. I was booked in for tomorrow for a second viewing but I managed to get it earlier in the week. But the estate agent told me they are doing viewings tomorrow at that house

I do think I'm definitely being used as leverage. I do want the house. But it's frustrating me that I'm having to wait all of this time. And they still might say no. I've made it clear that I will not go a penny over the asking price.

The estate agent said they will get back to me on Tuesday. I made my first offer at the beginning of this week. And then I offered full asking price yesterday.

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:39

@HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf

I don't feel like I have all the power at all. They don't seem bothered in the slightest. If they were, surely they would've accepted it and wouldn't leave me hanging all this time. It genuinely feels like they're not bothered in the slightest if they lose this offer. I did think about saying they have until the end of Friday. But then thought, would I be cutting my nose off to spite my face.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 23/05/2024 19:41

Most of this nonsense would not happen if we had the Scottish system adopted in England and Wales.

BobbyBiscuits · 23/05/2024 19:42

If asking price has been offered, it means in their eyes there's potential to get more. They won't take the first offer of asking price and want to see how high they can sell it for. Basically seeing who's up for it then creating a kind of auction to the highest bidder among those who offered.
It's not very nice but is standard practice I think.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 23/05/2024 19:45

You do have the power because, even though you love it, you can still walk away from it.

@LlynTegid I don't think the Scottish system is much better to be honest. In Scotland OP would still be waiting on a closing date and then would have to put in a sealed bid for a random percentage over the asking price based on whatever happened in the street a year last Tuesday. The English system is more transparent, I think.

TomeTome · 23/05/2024 19:47

Phone back and say you are viewing some other properties at the weekend so you will agree to wait till 3pm Tuesday then they can accept and obviously stop showing the house, or you will withdraw your offer so you are free to offer on the alternatives you are viewing this weekend before close of business.

be prepared to walk away.

meganorks · 23/05/2024 19:49

If they know someone else is interested, why wouldn't they wait and see?

Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:51

@meganorks
Because the person hasn't said they want to make an offer and they haven't sold their house. I asked if the person had expressed an interest in making an offer and these days agent said they haven't. They've simply said they like the house but that was it.

OP posts:
Original poster
offerquery · 23/05/2024 19:52

@TomeTome
I did actually call the estate agent and said I'm viewing three properties tomorrow and she just replied saying "yes it's best to just to be on the safe side".

OP posts:
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