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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Offer 10% below asking price?

29 replies

JamEie · 13/05/2025 23:11

I saw a lovely flat today… it’s out of my budget if they want the asking price £300k

The flat is lovely but in need of some love.

  • new carpet
  • new skirting board
  • repainting everything
  • new bathroom ( you can live with the one that’s in but it’s dated)

There is parking but it’s first come first serve.

There were two houses advertised on the same road :
• One for £250k needed quite a heavy cosmetic upgrade
• Other one £280k similar, maybe slightly better standard than this one but not ask much natural light

Not sure what either of them sold for as they are not on Zoople yet

I like it, but I can’t afford the asking price. EA says that the owner wants what they listed it for.

what’s your thoughts?

OP posts:
bramblefoot · 13/05/2025 23:27

I wouldn't knock 10% off my house for those reasons, or even contemplate it to be honest. Repainting, minor repairs, fresh flooring are often par for the course when you buy a non new build property to a degree. If it had those things and also a newly fitted bathroom it would be on the market at an even higher price. The parking is what it is, if I were selling and a buyer raised that I'd feel a bit confused, ultimately they knew that was the case ahead of time and are clearly still interested if they are thinking of offering so it can't be a deal breaker for them. 10k off? maybe in the right circumstances - 10% I think is unlikely.

All you can do is submit an offer with your best price and hope for the best, there's nothing reasonable about giving a best offer. I'd expect a no unless there are other circumstances here - eg it's been on the market ages or the sellers need a buyer asap for their own reasons.

Frazzledmama23 · 13/05/2025 23:33

The lack of allocated parking would be a deal breaker for me, but depends on where you are and whether you're bothered. Minor cosmetic issues don't really change the value and are easily changeable over time. If full houses are £250-280k, a flat for £300k sounds expensive? but you know your own area.
Is the area extremely popular, e.g. good transport/schools? Where I live they often go to sealed bids and go for way over asking so 10% less would have no chance, but you can only try and see what happens! Are you in a good position? That makes a massive difference

Original poster
JamEie · 14/05/2025 07:03

Hey, thanks ☺️

@Frazzledmama23 sorry I meant that the other two places that were on the market for £250/£280 k were also flats. Exact same sizes…

OP posts:
SpanThatWorld · 14/05/2025 07:36

You can make an offer. The Estate Agent is legally required to pass your offer on. Owners can say yes or no.

Your reasons are irrelevant really. Its all about the seller and their position.

The person who bought our last property drove us mad faffing about and asking for daft discounts ("to change decor to buyer's preference") and we were at risk of losing our next property. When, at the last minute, he wanted a reduction, we had to suck it up because we really wanted the next house.

On the other hand, when I was selling my parents' home someone tried to do the same, wanting a reduction at the last minute. It was a probate sale and there was no rush for it to go through so I told the EA to put it straight back in the market and I wouldn't be considering any offers from that couple.

Pigsears · 14/05/2025 07:37

What makes this flat valued at £20-50k more?

TheKeatingFive · 14/05/2025 07:38

It's not really about your reasons.

Make an offer based on what you think it is worth. They can accept or decline that offer.

It'll come down to how many other offers they have/are likely to get and how badly they need to sell.

TheHappyBug · 14/05/2025 07:41

I would just give your offer. Maybe with a note about how much you love the property and are offering the most you can afford.

The worst that can happen is they say no.

Londonrach1 · 14/05/2025 07:42

You can offer seller can accept or turn it down depending on their position. They may or may not deal with you afterwards depending on their position. Your reasons for offering less aren't a reason why most people offer. I wouldn't mention them. Parking is very important and getting more important

Reliablesource · 14/05/2025 07:43

The flat will have been valued taking various factors into account: general condition, parking, etc. The things you have listed are very minor. Most people re-paint a new home in their choice of colour scheme, many will re-carpet. New skirting board is minor. Bathroom sounds like it’s fully functional, just not to your taste.

Under no circumstances would I consider a lower offer due to those things if I was the vendor. But there’s nothing stopping you making an offer, just be prepared for it to be rejected.

Reliablesource · 14/05/2025 07:45

TheHappyBug · 14/05/2025 07:41

I would just give your offer. Maybe with a note about how much you love the property and are offering the most you can afford.

The worst that can happen is they say no.

No vendor gives a flying fig whether someone ‘loves’ the property but can only afford X. There is no emotional connection between vendor and buyer. The vendor wants the best price they can get, end of.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 14/05/2025 07:46

SpanThatWorld · 14/05/2025 07:36

You can make an offer. The Estate Agent is legally required to pass your offer on. Owners can say yes or no.

Your reasons are irrelevant really. Its all about the seller and their position.

The person who bought our last property drove us mad faffing about and asking for daft discounts ("to change decor to buyer's preference") and we were at risk of losing our next property. When, at the last minute, he wanted a reduction, we had to suck it up because we really wanted the next house.

On the other hand, when I was selling my parents' home someone tried to do the same, wanting a reduction at the last minute. It was a probate sale and there was no rush for it to go through so I told the EA to put it straight back in the market and I wouldn't be considering any offers from that couple.

The agent has no legal obligation to pass offers on if the vendor tells them not to. The vendor might have set a floor with the agent below which they don’t want to know. Less likely with a flat though, I grant you.

I don’t think I’d pay more for a flat than a house in the same location, unless the flat was exceptional!

Edited to add - I’m intrigued by skirting boards that need replacing :)

Reliablesource · 14/05/2025 07:48

If you’d read the property particulars, you must have known there was no allocated parking before you viewed. I would be annoyed if someone wanted to knock money off for something they already knew, and which must have been factored into the price. If it had a private parking space, the price might have been higher…

overwork · 14/05/2025 07:50

The other thing I think is worth remembering, regardless what the estate agent valued it at, the seller can insist on it being marketed at the price they wish. So you can only offer what you personally think it is worth, it’s not an exact science. Secondly, the flat is worth exactly what the next person will pay for it. Not what the estate agent values it at and not what the seller wants for it. Go for it, (as said though, I wouldn’t bother with your reasonings), and good luck

millymollymoomoo · 14/05/2025 07:52

You can put your offer in at any %

depends on sellers motivations, your ability to move ( eg cash buyer cs long chain etc), other interested parties etc. they’ll either accept or not and if not you will get a guide from
estate agent

the best thing is to really get to know the estate agents and be asking them upfront these questions before you make an offer. Always find out why they are selling, gave they found somewhere, what are they really hoping to get £, etc etc

Original poster
JamEie · 14/05/2025 07:53

Thanks all!

Re parking: of course, I knew what the situation was after viewing the flat (listing didn’t mention anything about parking) It’s not for me to think whether I’m happy with that parking set up.

I don’t know why the other two flats were so so much less. Same size, same location, slightly different layout. They were listed earlier this year as well so it’s not as if I’m looking at old listings from years ago

OP posts:
OneAgileTraybake · 14/05/2025 07:54

You're entitled to make an offer you wish, legally it has to be passed on, but really, the things you listed are incredibly minor and do not warrant a discount.
The decor needing repainting is absolutely not a reason to offer less, and the other things are very very minor!

OneAgileTraybake · 14/05/2025 07:55

But speaking as someone who owns a flat without allocated parking, it will annoy you much much more than you think it will!

PinkFrogss · 14/05/2025 07:57

How long has it been on the market for?

Bushmillsbabe · 14/05/2025 07:58

Reliablesource · 14/05/2025 07:45

No vendor gives a flying fig whether someone ‘loves’ the property but can only afford X. There is no emotional connection between vendor and buyer. The vendor wants the best price they can get, end of.

Show quote history

Usually true, but not always. The house we bought, the seller asked to meet with prospective buyers and decided who they wanted to sell house to based on this. They had a list of criteria we were told (although didn't find out what was on this until later) - family with young children, public sector workers ideally teacher or NHS, planning to stay in property long term. They didn't need the money particularly, so price wasn't their primary concern. We did fall in love with it, we couldn't afford full asking price, so went along with this in hope they would sell to us, and my DH has the ability to genuinely charm the grumpiest person (me 😂) and they sold to us. Our new neighbours told us they 'interviewed' 5 potential buyers - very unusual I think.

IwasDueANameChange · 14/05/2025 08:01

Property listing prices are a bit of a fiction, things rarely sell for asking. Its quite normal to offer under. A lot of estate agents will give ludicrous valuations. I'd stick the offer in but if they don't want to sell at that price they don't have to.

LandSharksAnonymous · 14/05/2025 08:03

I’d laugh tbh and tell the estate agent not to take anymore offers from you.

I really don’t know why people view properties they can’t afford. It’s such a windup when you’re trying to sell - someone offered DH and I £100K less than our last house was valued at!!! We sold over the asking price in the end.

There’s a big difference between offering under when it’s worth less and offering under when you can’t bloody afford it. The cheekiness of people knows no bounds

Eyewhisker · 14/05/2025 08:07

Given the price of similar flats, an offer of £270k isn’t unreasonable. I wouldn’t mention the reasons particularly, just that you love the flat and this is what you can afford.

As for ‘the valuation will be right’ - it’s only guesswork and only worth what someone will pay. And that someone may be you.

Swiftie1878 · 14/05/2025 08:19

JamEie · 14/05/2025 07:03

Hey, thanks ☺️

@Frazzledmama23 sorry I meant that the other two places that were on the market for £250/£280 k were also flats. Exact same sizes…

Buy one of those then?

PinkFrogss · 14/05/2025 09:17

Swiftie1878 · 14/05/2025 08:19

Buy one of those then?

Show quote history

How can she buy one of them when they’ve already been sold?

AlpineMuesli · 14/05/2025 09:23

OP there is nothing to stop you calling the agents for the two sold properties and asking for a rough range of what they went for.

In my experience they are happy to give an indication if asking was achieved.