Offer after 1st viewing, would you do the same?

[starfish4]

Had our first viewing on Wed and gentleman came back with an offer of £180,000 yesterday (on market for £190,000). He's a cash buyer and able to proceed now. However, have four more viewings lined up until Monday, all of which have buyers or no chain as well. These are all people on agents books and house hasn't been advertised online, in newspaper or agents window yet.

In view of this, we're thinking of going back to this gentleman and saying that as it hasn't been fully marketed yet, would he be willing to increase his offer. (Agent thinks chap is willing to negotiate but he wants a decision by Tuesday). Husband really wants £185,000 but chap may not meet this. That way, we have a chance to see if any of the others viewers are interested and what their offer might be

if he is really a cash buyer then keep him sweet. I think best bet is to say that you have those four viewings on Monday (and tell them that you have an offer) and will get back to him on Tuesday - so any viewers on Monday need to shift.

Thanks for your replies. I did think about saying to the agent that if any further viewers are serious, we would be willing to do them a second viewing ourselves Monday night (we would always want to do a second viewing ourselves, so happy to offer viewers the same) but obviously they would need to come back with an offer first thing Tuesday.

Definitely go ahead with the other viewings. In fact I'd probably leave it until the end of next week in case more viewings/offers come in. I think it's fair enough at this stage.

And I wouldn't necessarily ask him to increase his offer right now. Just explain that it's not yet marketed and you have other viewings, and that you are hoping for an asking price offer at this stage.

I like Mabel's answer. I wouldn't expect a below-asking price offer to be accepted before you've even advertised!

Are there any significant issues with the house you know of that could make a lender withdraw? Knotweed, subsidence etc. If so, it's not nice exactly, but go with the cash buyer.

If not, hang out for the other viewings. You can let him down gently and have the agent explain the situation? He will understand the situation and it's totally OK to wait at this stage!

If you are not advertising it yet how has this gentleman managed to get a head start on the viewings? Has he been introduced by your estate agent?

Thanks for your replies. Pinkje, the viewings are people the agents already had on their books and have phoned to see if they want to view while we agree draft particulars, photos etc before full blown marketing. I know these agents do this, as they phoned us approx. 10 days ago to say they had exactly what we were looking for coming on the market - and they were right - it's the style and 1st choice location we wanted.

The first people that looked round our house offered just under that day as did nearly everyone who came round. We weren't expecting to make asking price but actually ended up topping it by loads.
All our buyers were cash buyers who were on the EAs books.
We decided that the best thing would be to do the viewings we had booked (we had quite a few over the wkend) and then told all interested parties that we would go to best and final offers on the Friday and we would definitely decide on the Friday.
It meant that the property was exposed to the Market albeit only for a week but also meant those offering felt we weren't mucking them around.
2 couples came back within the week (with parents/kids) and altogether we had 7 offers on the Friday all of which ended up being over asking price.
We accepted the highest offer, one of the other couples then tried to gazump this but we did the honourable thing and stuck with our original decision. We felt that this was best as it was less likely to cause problems with the process (although occasionally I think the extra 12K would have been nice).

I wouldn't accept £10,000 below asking before the marketing had even started.
Really your Agent should be advising you and should know who is in the best position and most likely to proceed. They should be handling the offers so as to keep them on the table and not burn any bridges.

It all sounds very positive though and I wouldn't be worrying unduly or feeling pushed.

Let us know how it goes?