Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH thinks I’m being ridiculous - AIBU to offer over asking on a house straight away?

73 replies

Plantlady6 · 11/05/2025 18:55

We’re in the middle of house hunting, and the area we’re looking in is highly competitive. All houses sell fast with huge amount of interest.

A house has come up that’s perfect for us…ready to move-in to, in the best school catchment, and far better than anything we’ve seen in this price range over the past year. It’s a v rare find.

Sadly, others agree (there were 19 other viewings on the viewing day). We’ve been asked to submit offers by tomorrow, and warned it’ll likely end up going to best and final.

We love the house and are willing to go over asking to get it. DH wants to go in at asking initially and only increase if needed. I think we should go in slightly over (e.g. £980k on a £975k listing) to show we’re very serious and stand out from the other initial offers, then go up to our max if it goes to best and final bids. DH thinks that’s unnecessary and I’m being a bit ridiculous.

Would love to hear what others would do as DH and I cannot come to an agreement!

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 11/05/2025 18:56

In a bidding war I would go over but so will everyone else

mynameiscalypso · 11/05/2025 18:57

What are you willing to pay for it? I wouldn’t faff around playing games if it is going to be that popular.

Original poster
Plantlady6 · 11/05/2025 18:58

mynameiscalypso · 11/05/2025 18:57

What are you willing to pay for it? I wouldn’t faff around playing games if it is going to be that popular.

We are willing to go 15k over asking. It seems the process is so submit initial offers and then if there are multiple offers on the table it’ll go to best and final bids.

OP posts:
soupyspoon · 11/05/2025 18:58

If you want it, you need to make a serious play for it, go to your max as long as you think its worth it.

Pancakeflipper · 11/05/2025 18:58

I'd put in the asking or a few thousand over. Then get into bidding warfare (which can be brutal).

What position are you in to move quickly? Have you got to sell - have a chain? This could influence their decision.

MorrisZapp · 11/05/2025 18:59

This is how house buying is done as standard in Scotland. It's a wild ride but eventually you 'win'.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 11/05/2025 18:59

I'd offer close to max as well, don't mess around if its the perfect house x

Muchtoomuchtodo · 11/05/2025 19:00

Just make sure that you’ll be able to get a mortgage on whatever price you offer.

Original poster
Plantlady6 · 11/05/2025 19:00

Pancakeflipper · 11/05/2025 18:58

I'd put in the asking or a few thousand over. Then get into bidding warfare (which can be brutal).

What position are you in to move quickly? Have you got to sell - have a chain? This could influence their decision.

We are chain free and willing to go 15k over asking. Appreciate we could be against others able to go much higher. Such a stressful process!

OP posts:
pimplebum · 11/05/2025 19:02

19 others ! If it’s that good why duck around go 5 k over and tell then you are ready to move

MarxistMags · 11/05/2025 19:04

I'd offer an odd amount such as 98000+104. But if there is such interest maybe you'll have to bid higher. It's all very stressful. Can you check what prices other houses round about have sold for ?

Madisnttheword · 11/05/2025 19:04

Tell them you pay £5k over if they take it off the market straight away, and see what they say

MagpiePi · 11/05/2025 19:07

Offer a bit above to start with and show you are serious. If it goes to last and final then offer your maximum. You can’t do more than that.

I was in a similar position and my EA said it wouldn’t hurt to write a little blurb in the email to the seller’s EA saying how much you like the house. I don’t think the sellers have to go to the person who offers the most, being chain free will be a big bonus, as will showing that you are determined to buy it and not drop out. After all, a buyer who offered more to start with could haggle them down or change their mind.

It’s sooo stressful!

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 11/05/2025 19:08

Madisnttheword · 11/05/2025 19:04

Tell them you pay £5k over if they take it off the market straight away, and see what they say

If there were 19 other viewings there's no way OP would be the only one doing that. If you want it that badly I'd just offer what you can afford over the asking price and be done with it

footpath · 11/05/2025 19:10

I offered 30k over on a house (was also chain free) but other buyers offered another 20k! And the house wasn't as expensive as yours. Good luck!

JustMarriedBecca · 11/05/2025 19:10

We offered £50k under on ours and it ended up going to sealed bids and we ended up paying £25k over. I often wonder what would have happened if we'd paid asking from the off

MagpiePi · 11/05/2025 19:11

If has only just gone on the market there will be lots of interest to start with, and not everyone that views is going to make an offer.

It is very unlikely that a seller would take it off the market even with a good offer.

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 11/05/2025 19:11

We were the sellers in a similar position very recently. We had 4 offers from 18 or so opening day viewings with a wide range of price. We went to best and final and the highest person increased slightly and the bottom person didn't go up at all. We actually ended up going with the upper middle person as they were more proceed able. We needed to complete the chain to get our purchase sorted.

We were also a bit sceptical about the highest offer being real.

I'd guess my only advice is there is no "right" tactic but you will probably need to increase for a final offer after your first one. I'd probably offer slightly over asking price and emphasize your good position and only increase if needed.

AhBiscuits · 11/05/2025 19:12

I'd just make the max offer too, 15k over, and make it clear that is your best and final and make a big point of your chain free status. Chances are they will have several offers over asking.

SweeneyToddIer · 11/05/2025 19:14

Are your figures real or just made up as an example, OP?

£15k over on a £975k asking price is about 1.5% which is very small when there’s a lot of interest from other buyers and the market is good in the area.

I think you’re right to throw everything you have at it if it’s what you want, but I think you might have an uphill battle.

Signed, someone who ended up having to go almost 10% over to get her dream home. Worth it, though 😁

LilDeVille · 11/05/2025 19:31

soupyspoon · 11/05/2025 18:58

If you want it, you need to make a serious play for it, go to your max as long as you think its worth it.

Yep that’s what we’d do. If you want it and are willing to pay for it, why not.

whoisit1234 · 11/05/2025 20:04

If I had been looking for a while I would offer your £15k over, and offer to pay their legal fees.
Getting the right house in the right area if you are fortunate enough to be able to do that is a great opportunity and I would want to miss out and regret not spending that bit more, an extra £5k on your mortgage will be peanuts

Aligirlbear · 11/05/2025 20:08

Based on the number of viewings I doubt £5k over the asking price will be enough. If there are multiple bids the vendors may well just accept the initial highest and not need to go to final bids

SabbatWheel · 11/05/2025 20:11

DD had to offer 8% over asking on a £150k flat two years ago in order to secure it. She’d previously offered slightly over on two other flats but had to make the offer worth it to secure it. Not what she was expecting to have to do, but the flat has been worth every penny.

OrwellianTimes · 11/05/2025 20:14

You’re quibbling over 0.5% of the house price. You can clearly afford the extra £5k.

Go in higher.