Page 9 | Aibu to write to the house seller?

NewsdeskJC · 19/04/2025 19:21

In most towns there are houses that don't sell.
We tried to buy one. Not willing to negotiate even though the house needed expensive work vs the others that sold at that price.
We've lived here nearly 8 years and that house still goes up for sale every 18 months or so.
I'd not bother in your shoes, there will be better vendors.

Pessismistic · 19/04/2025 22:19

ButterMelonCauliflower · 18/04/2025 10:56

Long story short… we have sold our house but nowhere to buy. We want to stay local and understand the local housing market.
There’s a house we like but it’s out of our price range. We think it’s over-valued (massive development planned next door to the property - probably why owners are selling). The agent it’s on with has a reputation for overvaluing and the vendors are asking way more than local average increase in the 10 years that they’ve owned it. They tried to sell 2 years ago but failed. Since then the asking price has gone up for no obvious reason.
Two weeks ago we offered 18% below asking price and were rejected.
Yesterday we offered 15% below but agent says they are not willing to negotiate.

AIBU unreasonable to contact them, explaining that we love the house, are not trying to take the piss and are hoping they might reconsider?

YES you are BU. It’s their house and they can ask what they like

NO you are not BU. A letter can’t hurt as long as it’s not too bossy/pushy

Any thoughts?

I know you have mixed responses but you could write explain you loved there house and the offer was only because it is maximum amount you can afford and it wasn’t meant to offend them and you already had your buyer so you thought that might help the chain. If you don’t hear back then you know it’s not going to happen but you tried. You won’t regret it and when you look at other houses you won’t be pining for something you can’t have.

GiveDogBone · 19/04/2025 22:24

Writing a letter will just encourage the seller to stick at a higher price, you’ll seem desperate. Move on.

pollymere · 19/04/2025 23:03

Unless you think the EA hasn't even mentioned your offer then decidedly not... I'd probably arrange a second viewing and try to mention that you've made two offers so you're considering options/value for money and see what they say...

Our Vendors couldn't go below a certain price because they needed it to buy their new place. Luckily it was only a couple of thousand more than what we wanted to offer.

AprilMadness · 19/04/2025 23:26

Ihopeyouhavent · 18/04/2025 14:59

Go for it. As i always tell my boys, " dont ask, dont get"

Good luck xx

She has asked - TWICE!

So is that the advice you'd give your boys if a girl firmly turned them down twice?

Keep asking? Wear her down until she say says???

Twiglets1 · 20/04/2025 07:51

pollymere · 19/04/2025 23:03

Unless you think the EA hasn't even mentioned your offer then decidedly not... I'd probably arrange a second viewing and try to mention that you've made two offers so you're considering options/value for money and see what they say...

Our Vendors couldn't go below a certain price because they needed it to buy their new place. Luckily it was only a couple of thousand more than what we wanted to offer.

As a Seller I would not accept a second viewing from someone who has offered 18% under asking (rejected) followed by 15% under asking ( rejected).

The EA will have passed the offers on as they are legally required to do.

OP just has to accept they can’t afford this house.

Miffsmum · 20/04/2025 14:17

I wouldn’t write to them. It makes you look desperate so they will just be waiting for you to improve your offer.
I would go back to the agent, renew your original offer of 18% below and just leave it there and outwait them. If they are wasting money paying the mortgage when they have a firm offer, that’s up to them.
You are negotiating from a position of strength so don’t make yourself look weak.

Zone2NorthLondon · 20/04/2025 19:18

Miffsmum · 20/04/2025 14:17

I wouldn’t write to them. It makes you look desperate so they will just be waiting for you to improve your offer.
I would go back to the agent, renew your original offer of 18% below and just leave it there and outwait them. If they are wasting money paying the mortgage when they have a firm offer, that’s up to them.
You are negotiating from a position of strength so don’t make yourself look weak.

What position of strength? Under offering to a buyer who has declined previous offer. LOL, Don't make yourself Look weak? Is that your Phil Mitchell pep talk. Dont worry Nothing weak going on at all , just a spot of brass neck and ohh ahhh

Twiglets1 · 20/04/2025 19:50

Miffsmum · 20/04/2025 14:17

I wouldn’t write to them. It makes you look desperate so they will just be waiting for you to improve your offer.
I would go back to the agent, renew your original offer of 18% below and just leave it there and outwait them. If they are wasting money paying the mortgage when they have a firm offer, that’s up to them.
You are negotiating from a position of strength so don’t make yourself look weak.

Seriously? 😂

Minglingpringle · 21/04/2025 18:38

You have nothing to lose by contacting the sellers directly, given that you presumably will never have any contact with them again about any other issue if you don’t buy their house. So they may think you are annoying people but as long as you are polite and don’t harass them, nobody suffers.

If I really wanted to change their minds, I would talk to them rather than send a letter. That way you can gauge what they really care about and perhaps even charm them. But that is NOT the right approach unless you’re good at talking to people and good at listening - humble, polite, respectful and so on.

Subtleties do get lost when you go through estate agents. Every time I’ve bought/sold a house a point has come when I’ve begun to think that the buyer/seller is a bit of an awkward customer. At that point I’ve got hold of their contact details, contacted them directly and discovered they are very reasonable - everything was just getting lost in translation a bit.

CheekyPombear · 21/04/2025 23:16

You will look like a crazy stalker if you do.

Zone2NorthLondon · 21/04/2025 23:54

Minglingpringle · 21/04/2025 18:38

You have nothing to lose by contacting the sellers directly, given that you presumably will never have any contact with them again about any other issue if you don’t buy their house. So they may think you are annoying people but as long as you are polite and don’t harass them, nobody suffers.

If I really wanted to change their minds, I would talk to them rather than send a letter. That way you can gauge what they really care about and perhaps even charm them. But that is NOT the right approach unless you’re good at talking to people and good at listening - humble, polite, respectful and so on.

Subtleties do get lost when you go through estate agents. Every time I’ve bought/sold a house a point has come when I’ve begun to think that the buyer/seller is a bit of an awkward customer. At that point I’ve got hold of their contact details, contacted them directly and discovered they are very reasonable - everything was just getting lost in translation a bit.

The seller have indicated twice they won’t lower price
Enough waffle about trying to cut a deal,and directly schmooze. It’s tacky and tone deaf