Just had offer accepted but seller won't take off the market??

[TheCountessOlenska]

We've just had an offer accepted at 20 thousand under the asking price - Estate agents have said that the seller won't be taking it off the market in case she gets a higher offer. Is this normal practice? And at what point do we secure the house i.e could it fall through at the 11th hour if she gets a better offer!? I feel inexperienced , our first house purchase was very straight forward!

Hmm that's a good point swizzles - I get the impression that the EA was pushing her to accept this offer - maybe they want shot of her! I am ringing them in the morning and will try and get the low down, plus say that i need another viewing (which I will be bringing my Mum to!) and that I am really NOT happy about it being left on the market...

Don't waste your money if they won't take it off market. As well as worrying about other potential buyers, it is so easy for EAs to make up fictional last minute buyers with strangely higher offers that you are then asked to equal! Also there is the possibility that the seller will demad more money once you have invested in survey, mortgage arrangement, searches. Don't trust an EA even if they seem nice....it's a murky business, house-buying in England. Sorry, EAs who are also mumsnetters .

I would be very wary if there's a divorce involved, tbh. That would give plenty of motivation to try for the highest possible price. Have had problems in transactions like this in past, in our case reposessions, but same principle of remaining on market. We lost one property days before exchange. Swore we'd never do same again. I know there are no gurantees in any transaction before exchange, but....