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Help! I have to get this house!

302 replies

Rhubarbgarden · 25/06/2012 18:06

I am tying myself in knots and looking for advice on a strategy to get an offer accepted. House came on the market last week, we knew pretty much straight away it was The One just from looking at the details. Viewed it on Saturday, during the open house. Fell in love. DH wants it as much as I do. Put in an offer this morning of asking price. I'm not messing around - this is the house I want my kids to grow up in and DH and I to grow old in. The agent has just rung back now - offer rejected. They are having two more open houses this week and if there is a lot of serious interest it will go to sealed bids after that, unless someone makes a really good offer in the meantime.

What is our best approach? Up our offer slightly? Offer our maximum now, and give them a short window to accept in the hope of nipping a bidding war in the bud now? Or will that just give other interested parties chance to outbid us? Do we play it cool and wait till after the weekend in the hope no-one else comes along with 'a really good offer'? If it goes to sealed bids, how much do we offer?

Aargh, I have to have this house! It blows all the others out of the water. There were a lot of people at the open house. I know there will be a lot of interest. It's a doer-upper in a terrible state with a Heligan garden, bags of history and character, and is in a peach of a location where not much comes up.

Shock Confused Shock

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K999 · 23/07/2012 19:09

Think I've found it but it looks like you could move in and doesn't need refurbed? Am I on the right one? 7 beds? High cistern in bathroom?

We've just had offer accepted on our dream home....but not as fab as that one!! Maybe one day ......Grin

minipie · 23/07/2012 20:15

There's a big price difference between moneypit and wine cellar house. I am not sure you'd spend all that difference on refurb, so wine cellar house is a bit more expensive (especially as I reckon you will still want to do a few things to wine cellar house, I know an incurable refurber when I meet one Smile). D'you reckon they would accept less? or d'you reckon moneypit will go for well over guide price...

oreocrumbs · 23/07/2012 20:25

Ooh Rhubarb you are spoiling us!

Great news that you have options, whats happening with your house sale? Everything going along well I hope.

That is a lovely house. Am I right in thinking the cellar house is bigger but with much less land?

I can see why you are torn, the money pit still has its magic waiting to be unearthed Smile

Rhubarbgarden · 23/07/2012 20:46

Minipie we couldn't pay full whack for wine cellar house even now it's been reduced. It's on the assumption they would take an offer. They may not. In which case it's out of the running. The moneypit is going to go for over the asking price - how much over is the million dollar question!

Wine cellar house is indeed bigger, and moneypit does have a lot more land. I would want to replace the bathrooms in wine cellar house and we've talked about putting in a lake natural swimming pond Grin but I doubt there'd be any money left over for that to be honest!

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Rhubarbgarden · 23/07/2012 20:47

Congratulations K999! Tell us about it! Smile

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K999 · 23/07/2012 20:51

Let's just say I've had my eye on it for well over a year. Then last month sent them a cheeky wee text asking if they'd accept offer under the asking price. They initially said no and then said yes!!!

Needless to say I pushed them to conclude missives ASAP!! Grin

oreocrumbs · 23/07/2012 20:54

Congratulations K999!

I hope its a sign of things to come on this thread!

hackneybird · 25/07/2012 17:08

Good luck Rhubarb! I'm enjoying this thread. A friend of mine lives near there so I know the area very vaguely.

oreocrumbs · 25/07/2012 20:32

Weeeeeellll? Is the bid in? When did they say you will hear back?

Crossing my fingers and toes for you Smile

Rhubarbgarden · 25/07/2012 21:22

Thanks Hackney!

Bid went in just before the noon deadline. They said we should hear by the end of today, or possibly tomorrow. And we've heard... not a peep...

It's v annoying. I think if you make people go through the hassle of sealed bids, you need to then make a decision sharp-ish.

Angry
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oreocrumbs · 25/07/2012 21:29

Well on the plus side, your offer is most likely still being considered. If it was a no I should think they would get back to you pretty quickly.

I shall double cross everything for you!

Rhubarbgarden · 25/07/2012 21:38

Thanks! It's a bit of a killer. We are both feeling quite grumpy about them not letting us know yet. Wondering if I should ring the agents in the morning and tell them if we haven't heard by lunchtime we'll be offering on our second choice house.

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JustFabulous · 25/07/2012 21:41

Cynical me is thinking they are making you wait so they can say no but you want it so much you will offer more..

JustFabulous · 25/07/2012 21:42

If you do that you have to be prepared for it to backfire though.

Rhubarbgarden · 25/07/2012 21:47

DH is taking the cynical line too. He reckons they are trying to up the bidding.

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oreocrumbs · 25/07/2012 21:51

Crikey I didn't think of that.

LaGuerta · 26/07/2012 07:29

Just checking in to see if there was news. Hope you got some sleep last night.

Maybe if it's kids selling their parents' place they need to consult with each other before they can make a joint decision?

bumbez · 26/07/2012 09:10

Fingers crossed hope your offer was accepted :)

nellypackedhertrunk · 26/07/2012 09:45

If I remember correctly this is a probate house. Perhaps several people need to discuss the offers, or perhaps the solicitor is taking their time.

Good luck!

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/07/2012 10:48

I too am thinking that as it is a probate house all the parties concerned need to weigh up all the offers (it may not be as simple as simply going for highest, they may be tempted by an offer from someone who can exchange and complete straight away) and go for the best 'package' as it were...

Good luck!

Rhubarbgarden · 26/07/2012 11:20

Ack, I just rang them to see if there was any news. They said they expected an answer by the end of the week. It is probate and there are two parties who need to agree. I still think end of the week is taking the piss. Or am I being unreasonable??! Angry

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minipie · 26/07/2012 11:42

Does seem a bit weird given there has been a sealed bid process - surely it's largely a question of what is the highest bid and how proceedable are they ...

Not much you can do about it though

Teeb · 26/07/2012 11:43

No, I can completely understand why you are frustrated, especially if it seems like they are chopping and changing with the timings.

ThisWeekonFancyPuffin · 26/07/2012 12:31

They are having the total piss Angry

Rhubarbgarden · 26/07/2012 13:10

Right, well it's all over for the moneypit. Sad Sad Sad

Two offers were 'substantially' higher than ours, and all equally as proceedable as us. Boo hiss.

When I heard, I was standing with the kids watching the Olympic torch go by in blazing sunshine, with crowds cheering and a carnival atmosphere. It was very surreal to hear bad news in those circumstances, and probably a good way to hear it because it was impossible to feel too sad!

So on to house 2, with the intimidating wine cellar. We will offer on that now and see what happens there!

Wine
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