Made an offer on friday. Should we have heard by now?

[polkadottop]

We rang on Thursday to make an offer. Estate agent said not to make it as they already agreed to rent it, even though it was still advertised for sale on Rightmove. On Friday we rang back and asked them to please pass the offer onto the vendors. We figured the vendors would rather know if people wanted to make an offer on their property and the estate agent we talked to on friday was shocked that her colleague had tried to talk us out of it. Haven't heard anything since. Is this normal or estate agent muppetry? Offer was 10% below asking, but it was crazily overpriced and this offer is more than they paid in 2007. Are they just not dignifying it with a response?

Who knows what goes through vendors' minds. However it does seem you have offered quite a lot if you have offered to pay more than they paid in 2007 (peak).

This is happening a lot - houses up for rent as well as for sale. Chase up with agent again today - have they actually put your offer forward?
Could pop a letter with your offer and position directly to house so at least you know you've done all you can to make yourself heard!!!

I think some agents are propping up their incomes with rental fees, so may be fobbing you off, unfortunately.

Put the offer in writing, that means the agent is legally obliged to pass it on. Then give it a couple of days and ask for a response.

You should have heard by now, chase up with the EA. It's not for them to f*ing judge what offers are suitable to put forward or not.

Thanks everyone. I rang the EA late this afternoon and they claim that they haven't been able to contact the vendors. The wife is a stay at home mother with school age children so it can't be that difficult to get hold of them. Thinking of posting a pretty bland letter to the vendors restating our offer and saying that the EA can't get hold of them, just in case.

Definately do that

Just in case anyone is interested, I posted an offer letter yesterday to the vendors by first class post. The EA got back to me at 9.30 this morning saying that the vendors had finally got in touch with them and said they wouldn't sell for under the asking price. Then an hour ago rang back to say that the vendors said that if we could get to a value £20k below the asking they would accept. I very strongly suspect the EA was lying this morning and what changed was that the vendors post arrived. Mulling it over now, but so angry at EA.

Yes, I'd be as well. I would have thought the EA would want to get a sale, even below the asking price, it's still a sale for them. A % out of £450K is less than out of £500K but better than none at all. OTOH they are there to work on behalf of the sellers so it's right they'd try and get as close to asking price as possible.

Good luck with it all. I am a mortgage advisor and EA's drive me nutty sometimes. There are some good one's though.

That was a good move on your part. EAs are SALESPEOPLE and will string you any old line to get you to cough up the absolute max.

Vendors, however are real people and usually much more pleasant to deal with - at least you will get a more straight answer.

Will you now counter-offer? A little below their £20k below asking, natch, unless you think that is too far? You have already offered more than they paid for it in 2007...........depends how much you want it vs. how much they want to sell.

Yes, they could rent it out, but that is additional hassle/financial risk for them so I'm sure they would rather sell.

Aren't we always nosey interested?
Keep updating!