To think these house buyers are time wasters?

[Coolbeansjeans28]

Trying to keep this as clear as I can but it all seems a bit odd to me.

Context house on market for around a month, requires some work but this has been reflected in the price. Not looking to discuss this aspect.

Onto the real question. Had a viewing, was fairly brief and they have also got an offer in on another property but could pull out as they like our house, its location etc. In the end said house lovely but too large. Thanks but no thanks.

Later that day recieved an offer 100k under asking price due to work needed done etc. This offer was just declined as it is ridiculously below what we know the house is worth. This was later adjusted to 50k below stating they had made a mistake with the first offer (online EA). We countered with 25k below asking price as this is a low as we would like to go given the value of house and waht we need for onward purchase. They offered to meet in the middle of their offer and ours but we declined and they have said they need to consider if its affordable to them. We are happy to go a bit under with a stale market, lack of interest and just wanted to get the house sold!

But, the whole situation feels a bit off to me. The initial comment of it being too large so not for them, the purchase of another property which will be available sooner than ours (as they are currently in rented accommodation) and the messing about with wildly varied offers. My gut says avoid, but also if they come back woth an acceptable offer who am I to say no based on my own assumptions and imagining?

YABU - proceed with sale if offered.
YANBU - dont touch with a barge pole.

This is why I hate online agencies. Is there an actual person you can talk to? Or are both sides just putting figures in an online form? If there’s a person then get them to earn their commission. Sounds like their first offer was just testing your boundary. I imagine the house must be worth quite a lot if you are making £25k jumps/counter offer. I definitely think stick to your gums at this stage. If they come up to your figure say that they need to have booked a surveyor within a week or else it’s back in the market. Them having an offer on another property is concerning I agree (did the agent tell you this)?

Everything sounds off. And if they’re ready to pull out of one deal, they’d likely pul l out of yours too unless you dropped the price further.
Avoid.

Nah, give them a swerve.

We’ve dealt with buyers like this before. They’ve got an offer on another property so if they’ll drop out on that, they’ll happily drop out on you too if they see something else they prefer. And these are the type of people that will reduce their offer on the day before exchange.

Agree with PP, until they’ve started spending money on the purchase process (survey, searches) keep marketing your house.

We have had such a bad experience with the EA so far. Much regretting it now and considering moving...

There us an option to have the EA negotiat for us so I think i will switch to that. And I think i would need to see some commitment from them some way to take it off the market.

They told us themselves about the other house. My first thought was ugh, what a waste of time!

I also feel at the first sign of any issues with a survey etc that will likely point out the known points of work needed on the house they would start trying to negotiate again.

If you've not got any other offers on the table an they offer you a price you're happy with I'd probably go with it. You get a lot of timewasters when selling a house and it's not uncommon for people to pull out last minute, even if they initially seem keen.

If they're in rented, in theory they should be keen to complete by a certain date, as they'll need to give notice. I'd see how quickly they get moving on surveys, mortgage application. If they dither, you can always put the house back on the market.

Just use a local well regarded EA. None of this online stuff

Get a proper agent that actually speaks to people, gets them, discusses requirements and concerns.

change agent and don’t simply add a human to your current package.

So you’ve had your property on with an EA and then decided to DIY?

I wouldn’t touch it to be honest. If they haven’t got an offer in on another house and they’re playing clever dick tactics they’re they sort who will try other shit at the last minute.

If they haven’t got an offer in on another house then I’d be worried they’d pull out of my deal too- either because something better comes along or because they are struggling to actually commit to the big purchase.

House buying has a big element of trust. They haven’t even started and have shown that they are sketchy

If it doesnt make sense, it isn't true. Or plausible in your case. If it's this complicated and riddled with indecision by these chancers so early on, then you are in for a bumpy ride, possible late pull out with gazundering.

Sorry to be so negative op but long experience here. Keep marketing, you are flexible and hopefully will get genuine buyers in due course. Its early days.

We arent doing DIY? Sorry im sure where that has come from?

My point about the 'work' which i think is maybe what's cause the confusion is that the house is older so needs new windows for example. A survery would likely say that and I can see them wanting the cost of full new set of windows taken off the price of the house, even though this has been factored into the value the house is marketed for. If that makes sense.

Where does OP say this? Shes on with an EA who she is thinking of changing is what she said

OP - the buyer is simply doing what is advised on these forums day in, day out, taking a punt, taking a chance, seeing what comes of an offer.

What would you want to see from them in terms of committment to take it off the market as you say?

No the poster thinks you have been on with an EA and then have ditched the EA to manage the sale yourself (DIY)

I didnt get this impression from your post, you're just having second thoughts about whether to change to a different EA?

Ahhh right thank you!

But yes, maybe looking to move to local EA with a better reputation

I don't see the issue other than you are not willing to accept their offer.

How much lower are you willing to go? You said £25K under your asking price but will accept lower than that.

You too keep changing your mind over what to accept so that can come over as flaky sellers. You refused £100K lower, then £50K lower.

Am I right in thinking you'd accept £25K less than your asking price, or even lower?

It's not far off the £100K less they offered in the first place.

First they thought it was too big (I guess they mean too expensive) but had a rethink and have since then been negotiating with you.

You've nothing to lose by accepting their offer if you have no there buyers around.

The test will be if and when they pay for a survey, showing they are serious.
You also need to see proof of their mortgage offer and a deposit, which all EAs would do for you.

Trust your gut feeling.
Cannot stress this enough.

We went with a local EA but they turned out to be awful (lying & lazy but that is another story☹️) and every time we queried whether our buyer was exactly what they were described as (had the funds, chain free etc) we were shut down and told to stay with them as they were the best offer (turns out the EA had stopped further viewings & offers as they could not be bothered).

We later sold a second property using a different (local) EA who showed how it SHOULD be done.

Don't bother with them. They will chip away at the price for everything they find in the survey despite knowing the place requires work.

Anyone who messes you around this much up front can't be trusted.

You could consider accepting their offer but refusing to take it off the market?
They do sound unreliable though, I probably wouldn't.

I meant online, which in many respects is DIY

sp you’ve had the property on in the past with an EA and it didn’t go well?

The buyer would have known the price in advance and probably floor plan and m2 size? Not sure why the price or size would have been a surprise - just seem like they are playing games or utterly clueless.

To be honest this is my partners view. He is more whay have we got to lose etc

This is absolutely my worry and what I can see happening

They sound as if they are 1 of 2 types of peeps, on the make and trying to pay less, will find other reasons to knock thr price down further.
Or they are a quite dim and don't know what they are doing.
I wouldn't go with these potential buyers, I don't know them or you but gut instinct says no.

You are letting emotion cloud your mind on what should be a business decision. Cool the emotion and start being rigorously logical and calm. You're in the middle of a negotiation, they are not messing you around. Work on how to get the best you can from the negotiation and stop being emotional.