Would you take our offer?

[Redyoyo]

Would you accept an asking price offer if the purchaser didn't have their property on the market yet?
Background - a house has came up in an area we really want, it's pretty run down but we want this area badly, not for schools or anything we are actually in the very small catchment for best school in the area at the moment both kids are in this school already. Our house is in popular area most houses on the market for week or two maximum. Agent says vendors are not bothered about quick sale. Are we wasting our time? If we don't get this house we don't want to sell ours.

We were in exactly the same position. Only wanted to move for a specific house. Put ours on the market, sold within a week. Offer accepted on our dream home. currently in a chain. Accepted a lower offer on ours than i would have normally to get things in place quickly though. good luck

Following with interest, very similar situation!

Surely if a house is still being marketed, then your offer is not binding and has not really been accepted because if they get another one you'll be dropped?

OP, I doubt you'd accept the offer of someone on your house right now that couldn't proceed with it because they hadn't sold their own property. Best to put yours on the market and hope it sells quickly!

It is only at exchange that anything becomes binding.

I agree with a pp (having been in a similar position where only one road I wanted to move to (It didn't actually work but happy where we are )

Make an offer and offer yours for sale through the same agent explaining the two go together in your eyes - so if that house goes to someone else you will withdraw yours. The vendors can only say no.

Otherwise if you are so specific about area - & it is popular - you need to weigh up what situation you need to be in before you are a credible buyer. In our case we sold and rented. Not ideal - but we would not have got the house we are in otherwise.

We were in this exact position too OP. EA wouldn't let us offer until we had went sale agreed on ours (fair enough) so we got ours up for sale and sold within two weeks and got our dream house :-) We also had a tiny search area as we wanted to remain within walking distance of school. Good luck

Any update OP?

Our offer should be going on Friday, they have already had an offer but it's not been accepted, we are going to offer over the asking price. Will keep you up dated, fingers crossed.

We went to view a place yesterday: explained that we were on the market but no offers yet and the vendor said he'd be happy to take an "open chain" offer and take it off the market. I was surprised.

Good luck OP.

You are not in a position to progress with the sale, that's being very unfair on the vendor and liable to end in heartbreak for you too. Get your house on the market and then maybe the vendor can take you seriously.

Houses in our street don't come up often and usually sell very quickly, their agent doesnt see a problem with us not being on the market, apparently they haven't found anything to move to yet.
If we don't get this house then we won't be selling ours so putting ours on the market might be a waste of time.