Can someone advise on how we should respond if our offer is accepted tomorrow when we may be having second thoughts?

[lecce]

We made an offer at £10k below the asking price on a house yesterday morning and it was immediately rejected. We were told that there had already been such an offer at the weekend so we upped our offer to £157 000. Agent said vendor was hoping for £163 000. We waited to hear back all day and at just before 5pm she called back and said no - the vendor was hoping to get the asking price as there had been so much interest. As far as we know, there has only been the one other (low) offer. This morning we raised our offer to £160 000 and have yet to hear back. Asking price is £164 500

We are a little irate because the vendor made it clear to us when we viewed that she was in a great hurry to move as her mother is ill. We are selling to someone who is chain-free and in a hurry herself. I think the house we want is well-priced and, tbh, I don't think it will be around too long but I feel we are being played.

Anyway, we clearly can't assume we'll get it so have been looking on Rightmove again and a lovely looking property in another of our favourite areas came on today. I want to arrange a viewing for asap but am unsure how to respond if the agent rings us tomorrow and says our offer has been accepted, or says she'll do it for another thousand or something. We really want to see this new house now as it looks more 'our' sort of house but it does look as if it may have some insurmountable issues so don't want to lose all chance of the other house if we can help it.

Don't want to mislead anyone but don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot either. Can anyone please advise?

Ring up first thing and withdraw your offer. Go and look at the other house ASAP and then make up your minds. She may refuse your offer, in which case don't make another straight away, use the time to think.

You can always make another offer on the first one, she'll probably be so grateful she'll accept, remember its a buyers market. Hope it all works out for you, remember if it's meant to be the move will flow with no problems.

Ring the agent first thing and say that after a nights sleeping on it you have decided to withdraw your higher offer, and will stick at 157.

Tell them that you are in a good position with your own house sale and feel happy to sit at 157 at this point. Tell the agent that you are viewing another property too.

Tell the agent that you know the vendors have already turned down that offer, but considering your position that is the level you are going to hold at. Finish by asking the agent to keep you informed of the vendors position.

The agent WILL come back to you if there are more offers. They want a bidding war, so don't worry about missing out on the house, you will get to know if someone else bids.

The vendor will get a jolt too. Then go and see this second house and make your decision about what you want to do.

As your offer has not been accepted yet, you are not messing them around - so don't feel too guilty!

The trouble with withdrawing your offer is that it is a big step. I would try to see the other house as quickly as you can and would be inclined to just lie low on this until you have seen the other and made up your mind.

Yep go and look at the other one. It may be better for you.

Thank you all. FiftyShadesofViper Dh (who will be dealing with it) is thinking along your lines - he said, "I just won't answer the phone!"

Not sure we have the nerve to do it, but the advice of making them sweat for a bit does make sense. They have not heard back form the person with the first offer snce the weekend and we don't even know if that person is in a position to proceed.

Aagh - hate this, just want to know where I'm going!

Yes, definately see this other house as soon as possible. I wouldn't withdraw your offer on the property unless you decide that you are not as keen on the property that you want to view.

Have a good long think about it and then tell the agent after you make your joint decision.

You aren't under any obligation to proceed if your offer is accepted, so I would be minded not to say anything unless you've seen the other property and decided whether you prefer it. Ask yourself this: if you see the other property and decide it isn't for you, how will you feel if in the meantime another buyer has an offer accepted on the property you have already offered on? If you aren't really bothered about that prospect it probably isn't the house for you anyway.

I'd do what your DH is suggesting - go and see the other house ASAP and don't answer the phone if the agent for the first one rings. I think you'll know what you want to do as soon as you walk through the door of the new place.

Don't forget to let us all know what happens!!!

Well, we did the lying low thing and a day later the agent rang back, made no reference to our offer of 160 000 and told us there was a higher offer. Dh got pissed off with their heavy-handedness so told them we'd think about it. That was Wednesday afternoon and we've heard nothing since so assume it's gone.

We still haven't been able to view the other one but hope to do so at the weekend.

Feeling very deflated now. Properties in our price-range in that area never come up and feel we lost it due to dh's principles .

There is very little around that excites us at the moment. If we want to be in the fantastic location of the one we've lost, all that's available is one that would stretch us financially and is not really to our taste (but it's big) or one that is lovely but needs updating, is not really big enough and is one of the streets that isn't in the right catchment area. Vey pissed off right now.

Hope others are having better luck.

Hang in there. You never know what's going to pop up on Rightmove. We spent two years looking and I was beginning to despair when we finally found something; it wasn't in our favoured location but we were all set to compromise on that when we suddenly found a house in a great location that we liked better. We offered on it and it was a similar story to yours - they kept rejecting our offers and tried to squeeze more money out of us than it was worth. We backed off, and that very week our perfect house came on the market.

Tomorrow is a new day, and there will always be new houses coming up. Don't lose heart.