How should I go about trying to get info from EA?

[Yolo2018]

We are viewing 2 properties today. Hubbies fave is 325,000, mine 350,000. I know that for mine there was an accepted offer that fell through and they also have an offer on the table from an unproceedable buyer. It is advertised as no upper chain, has been on the market since August and we can move quickly.

That's the history, now here's my question😊

How can I go about trying to find out what the accepted offer and new offer are? I have directly asked the EA on the phone but she wouldn't say. I need to find out how close we can get to 325,000 to win hubby over! I am thinking along the lines of slipping it in to conversation during the viewing but not sure how best to word it.

Any advice?

It's pretty irrelevant what previous offers were.
They may be now prepared to go massively lower. Or they may have regretted being bargained down, not prepared to go that low again, and be thinking of taking it off the market if they can't achieve their target price.

The estate agent is working for the vendors, and it would be all kinds of wrong if they were effectively to tell you, oh, expect to get X% off . That the vendors are open to offers, the EA can say- but that's meaningless, because 99% of vendors are.

You're in a strong position. The only way you can find out if your offer will be acceptable is to make it.

From experience, either the EA will again refuse to tell you, or will tell you something that may not be true - in order to make you think you must offer more.
I'm pretty sure that in the past an EA has told me about other offers that didn't actually exist, or were lower or much the same as mine.

You can always go in with a lower offer - they can only say no. How long has it been on the market, has it already been reduced, how anxious are the vendors to sell, what is the local market like - these are all factors to consider.
BTW Zoopla is good for checking how long/any reductions. You can search by 'most reduced' - always useful!

In terms of convincing your hubby, what’s so much better about the 350k house? Perhaps if you tell him what’s much better than he’ll be able to justify the price difference.

But agree re agent - if they’re any good, they keep they’re mouth shut unless they want to match or go over the asking price.

Okay, I get what you are all saying, it would be unfair of the EA to tell me. I will just ask if they are open to offers.

The price was dropped by 10,000 just last month.

Hubby prefers the other house as it is cheaper, detached and 'done.' However it is further inland and closer to a 'not so nice area.' Mine is a victorian semi that will need work - though is in a liveable condition - but is close to the beach, shops and parks. I would like to get a property that we can add value but he wants the finished article. I must add that the 'done' house isn't all to my taste either and there is no way I could justify re doing it!

I guess we will look at both and see what happens...

That's a bit tricky then as the 2 houses are a very different proposition altogether. Do you think your husband would be more keen on your choice if it was a tad cheaper? It will still be attached and in need of work...

But yes, trying to ask how open to offers the vendors are might help.

EAs will usually tell you the level of rejected offers. It’s always better to meet them in person first though and build some rapport whilst trying to get a sense of vendor’s situation, appetite to sell, acceptable offer etc. Good luck with your viewings!