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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Is the estate agent lying?

29 replies

PetiteMum · 07/04/2011 01:22

ok, here is the scenario...following advice we made first offer on house that is on Market at 214,995 for 185,000

An embarrassingly low one that we knew wouldn't be accepted. Then we made one at 199,000

Agent said the vendor really wants an extra grand, so we agreed, then he came back saying one more grand. So we were at 202'000

Today he called saying the vendor has been calculating moving costs and just needs a tiny bit more to break even. 203,000 and u can pretty much have a deal.

I am furious at his incessant bullshitting to get us to pay extra money. When we made the first offer he said vendor was looking for 200,000. Now he is saying they really want 205,000 so has changed the goalposts.
I really want to walk into the office and tell him to stop lying and give him an earful.....but am restraining myself!

So, what do we do? Tell him we can't go higher? And risk losing out? Or does this go on forever till we get to 210,000?

OP posts:

Debbiecakes · 07/04/2011 01:39

In the current climate - tell them no. Offer is 202,000 or you walk away

How loong has the house been on the market ?

GotArt · 07/04/2011 01:42

I concur with Debbiecakes.

He's going to ride it till you tell him you're walking away.

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 07/04/2011 01:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Parietal · 07/04/2011 02:31

I agree but think it may be the vendor who is being cheeky rather than the agent who just passes on messages. Make a final offer and stick to it.

Pinkcushion · 07/04/2011 07:31

The agent won't make enough on the increase to risk losing the sale - it's the vendor who is bullshitting you. I'd be very worried - I've bought property off shitty vendors before - I got so fed up with them taking the piss I just said to the estate agent I'd had enough and I no longer cared - after that they played ball.

microserf · 07/04/2011 07:39

i think it's the vendor too. these little amounts make next to no difference to the agent's commission.

we stuck to our offer and said it was only good for a short period of time - set a firm deadline - suddenly we got the house.

Ciske · 07/04/2011 07:51

Stand your ground, he's not going to walk away over a thousand pound. If you pull out now, the vendor will probably lose more than that in sollicitor's costs and any arrangements he has made to buy his next property.

You kinda put yourself in this situation by constantly giving in to the 'one more grand please' demands. You are not obliged to meet the vendor's costs - he'll be asking you for moving costs today, extra sollicitor's costs tomorrow and you'll be paying for his takeaways next week.

BrigitBigKnickers · 07/04/2011 08:01

The vendor is taking the P. Finding buyers is hard in the current climate. He won't risk losing the sale.

Stand your ground.

LoveBeingKnockedUp · 07/04/2011 08:10

Sorry but agree with everyone else

FannyFifer · 07/04/2011 08:19

I would play hard ball, phone agent and say 200,000 is our final offer, end off.

QuintessentialShadows · 07/04/2011 08:23

I agree, if vendor can go back on the deal, then so can you.
Tell him 200.000 or nothing is the new offer.

Mobly · 07/04/2011 08:33

I don't understand why you're so furious, the vendor is just trying to get as high a price as possible out of you (understandably) and you're trying to get as low a price as possible (also understandably)- that's what buying and selling is all about surely?

I would stick to your guns though and say 202,000 is your final offer (even if it isn't).

nocake · 07/04/2011 08:34

Agreed, tell them that you have also recalculated your costs and are dropping your offer to £200,000. People who mess you around with the initial offers are the sort of people who will mess you around throughout the buying process and will then demand an extra £5k once you've spent money on surveys and solicitors. If they don't like your offer, walk away. There are other houses out there.

Pinkcushion · 07/04/2011 09:23

Mobly I expect the OP is furious because buying a house is a very emotive business - it's not like normal buying and selling - it's someone's home, the heart is always going to be involved.

If you have the balls I would go back to £200k too - say you want help to pay with your costs to

Original poster

PetiteMum · 07/04/2011 09:51

Thanks everyone, sound advice as always! Hm, well just to clarify the vendor is divorced and moving to the states, not buying over here. He is leaving all White goods and had the cheek to tell me he is adding a grand for that! We told him to keep the goods thank you very much!

Hm, bit worried that he might mess us around further down the line..... Do you think going back to 200,000 will really do us any good? Hmmm

OP posts:

CheeseMeisterGeneral · 07/04/2011 10:31

OP think you need to draw a line in the sand now with regards your final offer. If you keep appeasing the seller whats to stop him threatening to back out on the day of exchange without a further increase, thinking he has you over a barrel.

l did exactly the same with our house, however it was the bank selling. We walked away twice and let they put it under offer with two other families. It took six months, but they finally rang one Friday afternoon at 4.30pm and said that offer you made, are you serious and if so can you exchange in a couple of weeks.

Remember always let them believe they need you more than you need them.

fanjolina · 07/04/2011 10:44

Yes, tell him to keep the white goods, and if he leaves them you will bill him for the cost of removing them from the property (which legally you can do).

FannyFifer · 13/04/2011 16:54

Any update petitemum, how did it go?

NoseyNooNoo · 13/04/2011 18:59

You can kind of see why his wife is divorcing him...

Grumpla · 13/04/2011 20:00

What nocake said.

Original poster

PetiteMum · 13/04/2011 22:20

Well I wanted to drop back to 200,000, but dh wasn't too keen. So we went quiet for a week, told estate agent we are interested in other properties which we aren't, and then called yesterday to say 202,000 is the final offer, take it or leave it. Waiting to hear back now!

OP posts:

AnonymousBird · 14/04/2011 15:21

S/he breathes, therefore s/he is lying.

Stick to your guns.

Nocake talks sense.

Lovethesea · 14/04/2011 15:22

Good luck!

Original poster

PetiteMum · 18/04/2011 22:38

Well, thought you might like an update.... We held our ground at 202,000 despite estate agent saying another family wanted to make an offer and we should say 205,000 to secure the property. One week later ( ie today). Our offer of 202,000 was accepted!

So thanks to everyone who gave me advice, you were indeed right all along!

Now for the decorating...

OP posts:

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 18/04/2011 22:47

Congratulations!

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