Bridgfords countrywide and their mortgage advisor needing to qualify us

[orchidnap]

Viewed a property with bridgfords this weekend and wanted to make an offer on it. We have tried to see properties with them before and they've been quite pushy with their mortgage advisor, but we have always declined and never ended up making an offer before .

We went into the branch to make our offer, and the sales advisor started asking if we wanted to see their mortgage advisor. We said no. She then said we would need to bring in ID. She started asking when we were available and saying the mortgage woman does evening aooointments. We again said we don't want to see her. We were then told "no she needs to qualify your offer, and its her who does it. We need two forms of ID, proof of address, your mortgage in principle and also proof of income"

We have never been asked for this by previous estate agents and surely it's up tonthrbbank to check income, not them, so as long as we have a mortgage in principle our income is none of their business?

Also why do we have to see their mortgage advisor, surely anyone in branch can look at a passport??

You don't have to. They are just being pushy. Stick a note through the door of the sellers advising of your offer and explain why you are coming to them direct.

It's their standard pushy sales pitch. It's the same if you are looking to sell: no one apart from the valuer who comes out and does a hard sell on you in your own home can tell you what their fees are, which is just tosh. They all know.

I would quite firmly state your case and request that they put your offer to the vendor, assuming they haven't done so already. They are legally bound to do this. It might be worth putting the brief details of your offer and circumstances (MIP with X provider) in writing and asking that it is put to the vendors. You don't need to waste anyone's time going through the initial mortgage process again.

I would consider contacting the vendor direct with your offer and stating you have a MIP and have told Bridgfords this, but they are insisting you see their mortgage adviser before forwarding your offer.

I've heard similar about sales Wowfudge, which is why we wouldn't even get a valuation. We had similar from them on another property we wanted to view, but this is a different branch (but still in Stockport) and it seems they all use the same mortgage person and line about qualifying.

I wouldn't use them. Years ago we had them round when looking to sell - they had the highest % fees and would not negotiate, they seem to value highly to get instructions then the places they are selling take ages to sell and they put extra hurdles in front of potential purchasers like meeting their mortgage adviser. Their pitch is that they sell more houses than anyone else - I think that is purely down to numbers than expertise.

Normal for them to qualify your offer by verifying the position of your own sale if you have a house to sell and also requesting to see your mortgage agreement in principle.

They are also supposed to ask for two forms of ID to comply with anti-money laundering regs, even though your mortgage advisor and solicitor will also do the same.

You do not need to see their mortgage advisor, they are just trying to get you to do your mortgage through them so they get a kick back.

They have to put your offer to the vendor.

Garybaldy, I understand all that. My point was why are they asking to see proof of income, and why does it have to be the mortgage advisor that checks out ID ? I think they're just trying to sneak an appointment past us.

I work in ea - it is standard practice to ask purchasers to speak to the mortgage advisor who can go through your financial situation to confirm the position you are in - particularly when there may be more than one party interested in the house. I am sure you would rather divulge your financial situation such as salary to someone who is qualified to understand your situation rather than any old person in the estate agents. Obviously they would like your business too but just say no. It puts. Your offer in a much stronger position if they know your situation. You wouldn't believe how many people lie or just don't understand finance enough when making offers. People say the a re sold when they mea n under offer and that they are cash buyers when they clearly are not

Well done for drinking the koolaid bilbodog. As a buyer, it's far too early to put all your cards on the table. Offer what you want to offer, have the vendor accept or decline and then go from there.

No bilbodog... I don't want to divulge my salary to ANYONE in the estate agents!!

They know my position from my mortgage in principle. Why do they need payslips too?

I'm just saying that a lot of agents do this automatically now. I have experienced people who have their mortgage in principal but when it comes to getting the formal offer through later in the process problems arise. These are the sorts of problems which cause no end of chains to collapse. If you are in a good position to buy then you have nothing to hide....

So despite me being in a good position to by, having spoken to my own bank and knowing I can get a mortgage I have to be forced to divulge my personal finances to a mortgage advisor, whose advice I do not want or need, and whonisnlinked to the to agents... Therefore showing them exactly how much I can stretch to?

But its OK because I have nothing to hide?

And I'm guessing it's nothing to do with collapsing chains, and more about squeezing more money from buyers, and the £300 commission they get for each mortgage appointment...

Can't you get your mortgage adviser / mortgage company (to be) to vouch for you eg give the EA their #?

You are quite right OP. I'd be tempted to ask them what do they legally require from you? Then supply the bare minimum.