Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Did something odd go on, or is DH being paranoid?

13 replies

CardBoardFox · 15/07/2010 22:15

We and another couple were in a race to buy the same house. They other couple got an offer on their place on the day they put it on the market, which enabled them to put an offer on the house we wanted. We had five viewings the next day - the first day we went on the market. The estate agent put forward the other couple's offer to the vendor, despite knowing we had viewings the next day and were seriously interested in the house, and did not tell the vendor that we might be in a position to put an offer in the next day. The other couple were not in a better position to move than us. Should he have suggested to the vendor that he wait before accepting the offer to see if we came up with a better one?

Houses round here are selling like proverbial hot cakes, and we got two offers on our house as a result of those viewings, but the vendor accepted the first offer so we have lost out for the sake of one day's wait. Why do you think the estate agent (who is also the agent for the vendor and the other interested party - and the only one in the village!) didn't suggest the vendow wait an extra day? It seems like he wasn't acting in the vendor's best interest, or something odd is going on, says DH. WDYT?

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 15/07/2010 22:20

He put forward an offer that was made and there was nothing stopping you doing the same, regardless of whether you'd had viewings or offers. If you were so confident in receiving an offer for your house, why didn't you put in an offer on the house you wanted.

You could still gazump but that would be mean.

Original poster

CardBoardFox · 15/07/2010 22:25

wll, we had put an offer in, but the estate agent said we needed an offer on ours before it could be taken seriously. It just seems strange that we were only one day behind the other couple and the vendor wasn't advised to wait to see - ho could have then had two ffers to choose from and made a decision based on the offer price and the proceedability of the two potential buyers...If it were me as the seller, I would want to wait a day to see if there was a choice to be made...

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 15/07/2010 22:27

It seems like the other couple was in the stronger position then.....seems a bit unfair but a bird in the hand, etc.

BeenBeta · 15/07/2010 22:28

It is common for agents who are working for a vendor to 'prefer' that vendor to sell to a buyer who the agent is also acting for.

In fact, I have heard that if you see a house in an estate agents window you really like then the best way of maximising your chances of getting it is to walk in and promise to sell your house through them if you get the hosue in their window.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 15/07/2010 22:30

He has a legal obligation to pass on any offers to the vendor, tis hard luck that you were a day behind.

Original poster

CardBoardFox · 15/07/2010 22:45

Benbeta - all parties were with the same agent - dealing with the same man, so he knew all the ins and outs. The agent new full well we out our house on the market because we wanted the other house he was selling...

Scurry and Five, I get what you are saying about it being tough luck really. However, if I was selling, I would want to wait a day and have a choice between two buyers. I want to know what the agent said to the vendor that made him accept the other offer immediately - the vendor told us he was in no hurry...

Another reason for us being a bit is because the agent said that the other couple were selling through him, but we didn't see
any properties come on the rightmove/sgent's website the day the agent said it went on the market (the day before us). We are wondering about some sort of dodgy-mate-of the-agent's business

OP posts:

Original poster

CardBoardFox · 15/07/2010 22:46

gawd - apolgies for spelling - BeenBeta, knew, put etc etc

OP posts:

Original poster

CardBoardFox · 15/07/2010 22:47

and now I can't even spell apologies

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 15/07/2010 22:57

If you challenged them directly I think you could be on dodgy ground with proving any underhand deals.

Original poster

CardBoardFox · 16/07/2010 13:50

Yes I know scurry, but it feels like unfinished business at the moment. I just wondered what other people thought - I know we are not in a position to actually do or say anything though...

OP posts:

LovingTheSunshine · 16/07/2010 14:10

Can you put a note through the Vendor's door stating your circumstances? I know my friend did this because the EA didn't pass on her offer. Good luck!

belly36 · 17/07/2010 09:38

Assuming you're not in Scotland - you can put in a higher offer right up until they exchange contracts.

I know Scotland has different rules.

theyoungvisiter · 17/07/2010 09:48

Well I don't think your EA did anything wrong. He put forward a good offer from a couple who were in a position to proceed immediately and the vendor accepted. That's not odd, that's good sense. It's all very well to say you were sure to get an offer on yours, but you can't be 100% certain until it's in the bag.

Also am curious to know, how do you know that he didn't advise the other vendor of your interest? Unless you have inside info I can't see how you can be sure of this - maybe the vendor was just happy with the first offer and relieved not to have to conduct any more viewings - or maybe the other couple said that their offer was contingent on the property coming off the market that same day. They may have just thought that a plump bird in the hand was worth an unknown one in the bush.

However, as an aside, an EA has to put forward any formal offer you make on a property. So whatever he said, you could have asked him to pass on your offer regardless.

Flip