Estate Agent not letting us view property but still showing as available to buy on their website.

[HatFullofStars]

We're in Scotland, and we've seen a property we'd like to view but when I phoned 3 weeks ago I was told it was sold and they were just waiting for the deal to clear. "Hey ho, it's always the way", I thought.
Last week my husband phoned because it was still available according to their website and was told the same thing. We've both separately filled in the form requesting information and had nothing back from them.
They do stick up the 'Under Offer' flag on other properties on their website, so I'm confused as to why they haven't on this one. Does it really take 3 weeks to complete an offer ? And why haven't they flagged it up on their website?
I know I'm probably being all 'conspiracy plot' and stupid but the place looks superficially perfect for us and I'd at least like to look at it in person.
I'd really like someone to tell me 3 weeks is standard and it's very common to keep a property on sale but not let anyone who asks about it, see it!

Ugh. IME shit agents do this to reel people in. They then show you all the rubbish overpriced properties on their books.

Well. that's what I thought - but they haven't been in touch with us at all, not even to show us a pig-sty masquerading as a semi-detached!

Do they have a for sale sign outside? Could you knock on the door?

We don't actually live in the town we're looking at buying in, so that's a bit of a problem, may have to have jaunt up and have a look.
I just think if it was my property on sale I'd be livid if the estate agents I'm paying are knocking back potential buyers/offers - who does it benefit?

Yeah definitely, it could be worth it to see what's going on. Happy house hunting

Hmmm maybe it’s a front for money laundering (been watching the Ozarks!)

If you do go for a nosy you could always stick a note through the door!

I wanted a flat - vacant possession
Called EA. First person said that it was not available to view as someone interested and viewing again for definite decision in 4 days time
I thought about this and rang back and said I thought this nonsense as still on market and I was cash buyer and wanted to view. I had to be quite assertive. She said she'd discuss it with her manager and I viewed 2 days later and bought it 🙄

Ooh, good idea Gunpowder, a visit to the next county beckons. And thanks candles, although it feels a bit like house stalking at the moment

Thanks flight, I'll woman up and be more forceful when I see it's still available tomorrow - which it will be.

Maybe EA wants it themselves or someone they know does but not in the position to put in offer for a few weeks / months so they could be keeping it hidden til then and lying to potential buyers and the seller themselves.
I would definitely go and visit and knock the door or maybe put a note through telling them the situation , the sellers may be unaware and being lied to aswell .

I've heard of this happening before with dodgy EAs.

EA are a law unto themselves IMO> we were in a ready to buy situation and OH viewed and liked it and said it's a yes provided the wife likes it, I couldn't view with OH as I was emptying my house and had to clean it too, so viewed when I'd finished the following day. Of course I turned up to view this big posh house in old jeans and Tshirt and I really think the EA thought we couldn't afford it (despite mortgage arranged and 50% deposit) and refused to pass our offer on/said the vendors had already accepted an offer that morning but would pass our offer of asking price on and see what they said. Found out a few months later when I bumped into a member of the family at a social gathering locally that the EA had NOT passed our offer on at all, and they'd accepted an offer 5K below asking, we think because the purchasors were in a chain and their buyers were also selling through that EA..

Ariela. I think it’s so weird how unregulated the process of buying a house is. It’s usually the most expensive purchase any of us make in our lives and the agents can get away with being charlatans.

Dodgy EA holding it for a mate, or for him/herself - maybe even telling vendor there's very little interest.
Having personally experienced dodgy EA dealings, I've learned to be suspicious.

My recent experience with estate agents has been mixed tbh. Sold my house 40k difference in valuations between two agents! Agent we used to sell couldn’t even get my name right which annoys when you are paying them shitloads. Bought a flat which was vacant and no mortgage involved so should be straight forward, 8 frigging months it took! Estate agent I was buying through was sending me shitty emails when I’m on other side of the world blaming my solicitor for hold ups when it was them holding it up!

Bought a house same time as flat with mortgage and completed in two months no issues estate agent helpful and even sorted out some issues wher3 vendo4 had not cleared house properly.

I guess it’s luck of draw how proactive and honest they are

Since you are in Scotland it may be the vendor that isn't wanting to mark it up as "under offer". We put an offer in on a house in December and the seller wouldn't let the estate agents mark it as under offer until missives were concluded. So it still showed on the EA website as available until missives concluded and the seller said the EA could mark it up as under offer. It took longer than we thought to do and it almost felt like the sale would have happened before we saw the "under offer" sticker on it!

It might not be the case for you though.

I'm in Scotland. Flat still marked as for sale until something was handed in my purchaser - proof of mortgage I think? Then it went to "under offer" and it was quite far on until we were given a "sold" sticker.
I don't think all the ea conspiracy theories are likely to be correct.

Sounds iffy. A friend and I were house hunting same area same time. She viewed a property soon as it went on market and hard fought negotiation agreed purchase 48 hours later. 24 hours later EA phones me says fab new property on market would I like to view! And details emailed one friend just agreed on. I told her and she went mental 😂 cheeky buggers.

I’d think it’s most likely going through missives, and won’t be marked as under offer until the missives are concluded.

Is it for sale through an estate agent or a solicitor?

I don't think anything is amiss. Having said that, it's right to leave your details with the solicitor as deals can fall through - the house we bought was under offer before I could view it, but they pulled out and we got in right away.

Thank you all for your views, DH is away to have a look and visit the agents, I've told him to leave our details with them.

What happened when your Dh went to have a look OP?

I'm buying in Scotland at the moment - the seller has verbally accepted my offer, but because my mortgage is subject to getting a written estimate on some work that needs doing, her solicitor has advised her not to allow the agents to mark it under offer until the mortgage company has okayed the estimate, so it might not be the agents at fault.

My husband left a note at the house, and we heard nothing - until yesterday, and we are going to see it tomorrow. Of course, when I finally see it, it'll turn out to be a money pit.
But at least I'm getting to see it, the itch will be scratched!

So it isn't under offer? The EA did lie?

Very interested to hear what has happened with this! We’re in north east England and I’ve seen two great properties, one of them I had mentally already moved into, as they were still showing as available on website, but when I rang they are under offer. What did you say on the note? Thanks!