Is this normal when making an offer on House?

[offerquery]

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?

We put an offer on our house on the back burner as the estate agent told us 2 viewings in the next couple of days were cash buyers. Our reasoning was we weren't too bothered if the first party rescinded it as it was a popular area and it was when the selling market was booming, so we knew we'd get at least the asking price without waiting too long. We ended up accepting one of the cash buyers.
We did feel a little bad as first offer was a young family and cash buyer was adding to their rental portfolio, but we had to go with what worked best financially and in line with our timescale for buying. No waiting for a mortgage to be arranged and being a landlord they were used to getting everything processed quickly and had their usual solicitor ready to go.

@parkrun500club you would be reasonable to think probate sales should be quick. But there always seems to be that one person who wants to wait for more money - regardless of the fact that the empty property is still incurring monthly costs - insurance, maintenance, council tax etc. in our case it was sil wanting more money, thankfully we were able to over rule her and just get the sale through.

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.

my mum has just messaged me to say she phoned the estate agent this morning and asked if she could book a viewing. They said to her that they are not holding any viewings at all now over the bank holiday weekend. And they told her that an offer had already been made that will very likely be accepted.
You have a short window of opportunity to say that you were rushed into offering full asking, now realise that you can't afford it and would like to revise your offer back down. With a deadline.

Ok hopefully it’s your offer that will be accepted. Next time just alway say accept or decline within 48 hours and on condition the house comes off the market.

Don’t do this. Honestly,

Because?

Because you're messing around. They'll go ahead and book viewings in over the weekend

Because you're messing around. They'll go ahead and book viewings in over the weekend
Mum has just asked for a viewing and been refused. It sounds like they haven't got the staff.
It's up to OP what she does but she only has a short time to take advantage of the new information before the vendors make their decision on Tuesday (allegedly, according to the EA).

Don't rely on the EA passing on any messages. We asked for a viewing and didn't hear anything so we put a note through the door saying that we were very interested but the EA wasn't communicating with us. Turned out that the EA hadn't told them and was promoting a local developer's offer. Obviously the EA did a lot of business with the developer so it was in their interest to get the best deal for the developer. The owner showed us the house but unfortunately we lost out as the developer was able to complete quicker and the owner was desperate to sell.

They'll take the hump.

Ok, this has all the signs of timewasters who are not fully committed to the sale and have just put the house up for sale to "see what happens."
Yes, unfortunately, it is a common trend within the industry, as unnerving as it comes across.

Honestly, an appalling idea.
It looks like a race to the bottom to find out who is more childish.

I'd be patient. Sounds likely you'll get it.

I had to wait for a week for my (asking price) offer to be accepted. It was bloody horrible and I was pretty pissed off.

But I got it, and I'm still thrilled.

The hassle made me wonder if the seller was going to be a pain in the arse, but she wasn't, and all went smoothly. Good luck, OP.

No it doesn’t, give over, they were holding out for a short period to see if they got other offers, fairly normal if you don’t make the offer contingent on it coming off the market, give a time line and others interested.

Honestly this is the worse advice you’re giving. Absolutely the worst. Either you’re clueless or you think it’s fun to egg her on to lose the house.

Yeah, I wouldn't be playing games on this. If you try to get the price down now, it'll be more difficult to negotiate after your survey, when there might be a good reason to ask for reductions.

Also, saying you 'now can't afford it' makes you look silly, disorganised and likely to be a pain.

OP, in the nicest possible way - you need to calm down. You're getting lots of people on this post egging you on to do yourself a disservice.

I was an estate agent many many many moons ago - I'm sure it's changed but this is still my take on it:

1: This house is a probate/estate sale. THIS IS RELEVANT.

Whatever the desires of the beneficiaries, if there is more than one (eg, adult children of the original owner), they may well have to confer with each other and no doubt, partners will have opinions, etc. so there may absolutely be a period of silence to you whilst that happens, whatever the Estate Agent may wish.

2: This is also relevant, because they will want even more a good buyer who can proceed - which you sound like you can. A higher offer of say £5k, when split 2/3/4 ways, isn't as attractive and worth holding out for in real terms.

3: The Estate Agent will likely be on your side. It's a pain for them too - especially as they probably on get paid on completion. People think they hold out for a higher commission, but in reality, for average priced houses, it's only a few hundred quid different at most, and a bird in the hand for them, etc.

4: Having your offer accepted is only the START of the process. Conveyancing is long and drawn out. You have to start teaching yourself to calm down and becoming more measured.

You've put in your offer. It's a good one. You're able to proceed. The house IS up for sale. The beneficiaries aren't likely be messing, nor change their minds about selling.

Take that into the Bank Holiday weekend and do not risk your position by threatening to pull out our reduce your offer. You'll only jeopardise your own position.

I think that’s good advice, @CantFindTheBeat.

No, they can come back to you again. I would phone the EA, say it is a shame because you are ready to go without a chain because you have sold ( if it is probate they really won’t want to be in a chain) but you are withdrawing your offer because you are hoping to offer on another property tomorrow and don’t want them to have false hopes. Then sit tight.

Just seen the update about your mum phoning the EA. In that case, don’t call them, just sit tight.

When we put in our full asking price offer, after being the first people to view our house when it had just been put on the market, we said that any further viewings booked had to be cancelled and it had to be removed from the market. They accepted our offer thank god, but we were in a good position with our MIP in place, a substantial deposit and first time buyer and we were also ok about them taking their time about moving out as we were in rented.

I haven't contacted the estate agents, because after the phone call that my mum had, I was hoping that it means they're going to accept my offer. But I still haven't heard back from them so I am considering calling them today.

Op, don’t be so passive, tell them you want an answer by cob and if off the market.

Agree with @Sunnyandsilly this is a business transaction. Op you need to be a bit more forceful/ruthless in a way. Don’t stand around waiting to be messed with - which estate agents will happily do. Ring them and get an answer one way or another today. Then either proceed or walk away.
From a sellers/estate agents, pov I think you are coming across as either easy to push into a higher offer or a flakey non serious buyer.

I called them about an hour ago. When I called the woman, I've been speaking to this whole time told me that the manager has been trying to call the vendors since this morning, but hasn't been able to get hold of them.