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Original poster

Moral dilemma - offer accepted on a house we like but...

51 replies

Tinker · 24/09/2006 16:54

...house we originally were outbid on by a "cash buyer" is now back on the market. Just spotted it today. What would you do?

Like both houses - house A (one offer not accepted on) is detached and more expensive with not as pretty a garden

House B - in good location, affordable mortgage payments but a semi and the rooms are slightly smaller.

But, would be wary of treating people shoddily in case it all came back and bit me on the bum.

Both for sale through same agent...

OP posts:

iota · 24/09/2006 19:34

I'd go for A - would much rather be detached

QueenPeaHead · 24/09/2006 19:57

I you need us to help you decide between house A and house B then you clearly don't love either of them. So I say neither - keep looking for house C...

LIZS · 24/09/2006 19:59

Personally I'd say B soudns as if it has more going for it long term for you, unless you can get A for a song !

LIZS · 24/09/2006 19:59

Wise words QPH !

Joolstoo · 24/09/2006 20:12

ah Tinker I am also a dithering Libran but where houses are concerned I'm usually uncharacteristically decisive.

apologies for any typos 2 glasses Im afrai

hub2dee · 24/09/2006 20:19

tbh I don't quite understand why the agent isn't begging you to get back on track for house A...

... the vendor unfortunately backed a buyer who either got spooked by the survey or couldn't sort the cash, and although you offered less, this agent should be chasing you to do the deal !

I'd be tempted to tell the agent you've already wasted enough time whilst vendor A faffs, so put in two offers: one for A, one for B, tell the agent to do their job and see which house he can secure for your money ! (They have an interest to shift it and will then actually play each vendor off the other).

All only IMHO, which could well be worthless, and is admittedly based on very little experience of house buying.

CarolinaMoon · 24/09/2006 20:22

hmmm. if A is attractive, the agents will be happy selling B to Tinker and waiting for another buyer for A won't they?

They are at serious risk of pissing B's owners (their clients) off if they let Tinker pull out.

hub2dee · 24/09/2006 20:33

Tinker - you haven't actually specified you've got an offer in on B. Is that the case ? Also, Tinker advises agent has both houses, so one client will get upset anyhoo. They get the most money of A's sale as more expensive unless perhaps it is multi agency whereas B is sole.

I think regardless of how attractive A is, if the original deal fell through they'd want it to go to a buyer ASAP. Tinker has been a 'known interested' for long enough that they should know she might be interested in it IMHO and they should allow her another stab at securing it. I don't think it's worth their while particularly drawing out another marketing sess for a house that's potentially got other buyers lined up IYSWIM. (But maybe I'm miles off on the psychology LOL).

CarolinaMoon · 24/09/2006 20:36

it's in the subject line

the price difference is only a couple of hundred quid to the agent (unless their percentage is ginormous).

Their priority will be to sell both before either of them defect to another agent, imho.

hub2dee · 24/09/2006 20:40

LOL @ not getting it from the title ! Does change things !

Agent should be able to get Tinker an answer pronto re: House A as Tinker's already been through the process of discovering the vendor's lowest acceptable price IYSWIM (then; not necessarily now !).

Original poster

Tinker · 25/09/2006 12:58

Thanks all.

Yes, understand the if neither is perfect keep looking argument but am fed up of looking now.

Our perfect house doesn't exist for our budget in our area.

OP posts:

Blu · 25/09/2006 13:07

Go and look at them both again.
Are you just hankering after A because you lost it once?
SDon't worry about the morality of it, it is a pain when things fall through, and badly so, but it is part of the process.
The agents will not put your interests first. They are working for the vendors and themsleves. As far as they are concerned, you are their 'bird in the hand' for House B, so they won't tell you about anyhting else now your offere has been accepted.
But you may find that a different person within the agency is looking after House A and will talk to you about it, show you round again?
Then look at House B again with a view to thinking about 'fixtures and fittings'.

Original poster

Tinker · 25/09/2006 13:11

Think you could well be right about reason for hankering Blu.

OP posts:

sorrell · 25/09/2006 13:13

Are you sure house A is so great? Have another look.Your imaganation can do funny things! Also, Stripped floors are easy to do. Not worth £24K! A great garden adn location would outweigh being detatched for me.

Original poster

Tinker · 25/09/2006 19:20

Sorrell - that's what I needed to be told

Discovered that sale of house A hasn't exactly fallen through but because purchaser hasn't done anything yet, vendor asked agent to put it back on market to give them a kick.

I hope it's one of those decisions that makes itself.

OP posts:

Blu · 25/09/2006 19:33

I would go for house b - but would check out the neighbours v thoroughly! Drive past on a saturday night, and have you specifically asked the vendors about them? i.e who are they, do they get on etc?

LIZS · 25/09/2006 19:35

Sounds like vendors of house A are likely to be a nightmare then. Presumably if they are cash buyers they don't have to do much visibly apart from the legal work as they don't have funds resting on the results of a survey. Best not get involved tbh.

beckybrastraps · 25/09/2006 19:37

We accepted an offer on our house. Took it off the market. Buyer then went and found another one. We were very angry. And our estate agent wouldn't have shown another house to someone who had already had another offer accepted. Not a nice way to do business he said.

Original poster

Tinker · 25/09/2006 19:40

becky - you're right.

Vendors are desperate, I think. The house is vacant.

House B have lived there a loooooong time so think neighbours can't be too bad. Have kids.

OP posts:

ScummyMummy · 25/09/2006 19:49

Kids are good. Maybe daughter will form new posse with them ensuring transformed behaviour. [hopeful]

beckybrastraps · 25/09/2006 20:18

Sorry - I had my stern voice on there. I was looking over the top of my glasses as I typed. But it was bloody annoying.

CarolinaMoon · 25/09/2006 21:43

Tinker, you've got to go for the house you want.

But it doesn't actually sound like you prefer A to B.

darlink · 14/10/2006 13:21

Tinker what happened?

Original poster

Tinker · 14/10/2006 19:42

Don't usually search on my name so lucky I spotted this . House A sale did eventually fall through but by then we'd committed to House B. A has subsequently sold again - will watch. But, as I was humiliateingly told I couldn't have a 25 year mortgage (too old ) am sort of glad we did't stretch ourselves for it now.

OP posts:

darlink · 15/10/2006 19:14

glad to hear it ended happily.
Are you now living in house B?

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