So if you've had an offer accepted, does that make it Under Offer or Sold STC?

[IHeardMummyDissingParcelforce]

I'm confused...we have offered, they have accepted yet on the website it is still showing as a 'premium listing'.

It doesn't say Under Offer or Sold STC. I've been told they mean the same thing anyway.

How can we be sure what's going on? I'm worried that they might still be accepting viewings.

When did they accept? it takes a while for websites to be updated.

Oh only this morning! But as it is a verbal offer and verbal acceptance it makes me worried...I am not used to all this and am terrified of being gazumped.

Maybe you're right and they just haven't updated yet.

Oh gosh, could easily be a couple of days. If you are worried they are still accepting viewing get a friend to ring up and enquire. They should be told that it has sold.

Do you know, I'm glad you said that - I actually just rang them myself, and said it was about such and such property, and she said Oh I'm sorry but we've just had a sale on that!

I then had to get off the phone before she tried to take my details.

I wish I'd just said, why haven't you updated the website?! But the baby started to cry so I had to leave it.

Thanks all.

or [valium]

And now they might be thinking 'We've had a lot of interest on that! Maybe we can get more for it!'

Oh poo!

Did you specify for it to be removed straight away?

No - should we have done?

I'm not sure you should have to, but we always say our offer is based on the removal of ALL advertising and no further viewings.

It seems to depend on the agent. Where I live, anything with an accepted offer on it is listed as "sold, subject to contract", except for one agent that lists everything as "under offer", up until the day of exchange.

Nah one call wouldn't sway them.

if the agents are telling enquiries that it is sold then they have taken it off the market, whether your offer expressly stated it or not. And it shouldn't need to as that is the default.

Sold, subject to contract and Under Offer are exactly the same thing.

As long as they are not doing any more viewings, it is absolutely not an issue what the board says.

OP don't worry as far as the Agent is concerned they have a sale. They really really don't want to be wasting their time taking other people round a house that has a sale proceeding on it. They want to employ their energies on properties which haven't sold, not on one which has!

On the house we are buying it.took a couple.of days to change to sold stc ad they waited for us to engage a solicitor. They did however verbally tell people who were interested it was off the market.

The house we were selling had the board changed to sold and the Internet listing changed much quicker than the one we were buying. But having watched a few other houses that have recently sold and speaking to their owners, it just seems to be about company speed rather than anything more sinister. One house up the road was still displaying a for sale board with a removal van parked outside.

Also, meant to add, our estate agent reckons they change them to sold ASAP as it adds confidence to the market. People think houses are selling, so are more likely to put there's on the market with that company too.

Yes I suppose so - that makes sense. I think also it scares buyers into making a better offer - I know we did because of the ostensible popularity of the area, and the speed at which things seemed to be selling.

Thankyou all, bit reassured now.

Just be aware though - we would always agree to our place being listed as "Under offer" but I would never accept terms that said I had to remove it completely from the market. I'd agree to no more viewings providing that the survey took place within ten working days but no more than that. Think about it - as a seller, until a bank has commissioned a survey you don't actually know that the buyer has a mortgage lined up. We had this happen with our penultimate place (we do houses up and so move about every year) where the chap made an offer and strung us along until the end of the ten days when it turned out that nobody would even give him an AIP.

I wouldn't worry about it. If you've called the EA and they told you it's gone, they're likely going to stick to it. Just talk to your bank and your solicitor and focus on getting things moving as quickly as you can on your end and you should be fine! Good luck!

Oh crikey - well I don't know what an AIP is, but I hope that doesn't matter too much as we're cash buyers.

We've got the chap organised to do the survey and he says he can get it done before Christmas so that's good.

It's also now showing as Under Offer.

Think I need to chill a bit! Thanks for the advice

Ps amazing that you move every year. I love to do up a place but I don't think I could handle that!!! You must be very experienced in the ways of Estate agents.

IHeardMummyDismissingParcelforce Brilliant NN by the way :) Sorry about that - AIP is Agreement In Principle for the mortgage but if you don't need one then you really don't need to worry, you should like ideal buyers! In fact, should you change your mind and fancy a really nice Victorian terraced house in SW London I know of one going…;)

TBH I think DH will leave me if I make him move again next year, we're on our fourth in three years and we need a bit of a break. It is addictive though. As for EAs, although the nature of the beast means we'll probably usually have to buy through them, we always sell ourselves through people like YourMove. Too many bad experiences with EAs - plus it's nice to save their fees!

Good luck - I can't imagine anyone being silly enough to jeopardise a sale to a cash buyer by allowing other viewings. Looking forward to hearing that you're in!

*sound like, not should like, obviously!

Oh thankyou so much, both.

Home...I do like the sound of a Victorian Terrace in London but doubt we could go anywhere near the price!

It's very encouraging to know we're the sort of buyer they want. Makes me feel better that our offer was very slightly beneath the asking price.

We'll probably never be in this position again so it's a relief if it works out. We weren't looking for very long at all.

Thanks again for being so great.