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Original poster

Is he serious about buying my house

30 replies

notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 12:20

So, guy viewed house about 5/6 weeks ago but offered way below asking price and said this was his full and final offer and wouldn't budge. I said no as it was just too low. He came back about 3/4 weeks later to ask if I had changed my position. I said no again and he refused to budge. But then the next day, he upped his offer twice. He was still only a tiny bit short so I held out again.
A week then goes past and nothing. Then he comes back and says he's been moving house and is still 'thinking about it'. Then another week goes past and he asks to view the house again (3rd time).
Another week then passes and nothing. Then he emails agent to say the viewing went really well and he will get back to him 'tomorrow'. That was 2 weeks ago now.
I decided to ask the agent to email him and I would meet him in the middle to try to get the ball rolling.
That was a week ago and no reply again.
The agent thinks he really wants the house but I'm demented with all this waiting. i feel like he's messing me around now and not even sure if he is serious. The 'not replying' is the worst part.
I am now seriously regretting not just accepting his 2nd offer. The agent convinced me to 'hold my nerve' but looks like it has backfired now.
I wouldn't mind but I've not had a viewing in weeks and am worried I've lost him.

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Thegirlinthefireplace · 07/06/2018 13:00

My concern would be if he's messing you about like this now, how would he be during the buying process. I would be constantly worried he would pull out, drop his offer or similar.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 13:04

Yes I'd be worried too but I don't have buyers banging down my door. I just don't get why he doesn't even respond. If he's changed his mind, just say so and we can all move on.
I find it strange how he keeps dipping in and out with emails without actually giving an answer. I can only assume he is hedging his beds and looking around at other houses.

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bilbodog · 07/06/2018 13:04

Might depend on his job - does he do a job where it is difficult to take or receive calls during the day - or he might travel a lot? Some people do seem to take a while to respond to messages or emails. Sounds like he does want the house so i would get the agent to make it clear to him that you are ready to accept his offer. Some people are just a bit slow.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 13:18

Well he said he was working away the last time he didn't respond but he told me when he viewed he didn't have to travel much.
He made a point of telling the agent not to call him and it was to be done by email, which would be great if he actually responded.
Its been exactly a week now since I went to him with a counter-offer so will give it another week perhaps then chase again.
I don't want to keep chasing him though, surely if he wants it then he will reply!

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penguinsnpandas · 07/06/2018 13:39

I would say he wants the house but has already been pushed further than he wants and / or is able to pay. If you are willing to do a deal at his second offer I would go back and accept that but check has finances in place, instructors solicitor and surveyor promptly. You could also say you won't take more off after survey.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 13:48

Yes I suspect this may be the case. I do wonder if his last offer is his maximum but no idea why he's dragging it out.
I will ask the agent to go back to him (again) and accept his last offer but to stress that it would be good to get a response on this as soon as possible. Its not doing my nerves any good.

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Lilmisskittykat · 07/06/2018 15:42

Sounds like he is struggling to meet your price but likes the house a lot... maybe it's time to see if you can accept the offer rather than loose a sale (if the maths adds up of course)

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 07/06/2018 15:44

Sounds like a cat and mouse game. Have you told him or the EA the price that you'll actually accept? That might make it easier for him to decide.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 15:50

@Lilmisskittykat I have emailed the agent now and asked him to accept his last offer. My concern is that he has gone up to a figure he can't actually afford.
@WhatATimeToBeAlive yes I made it clear the minimum I could accept (financially). His last offer was only £1k below this but he seemed reluctant to go up from there.
In hindsight I wish I just accepted his last offer and it would all have been done by now. Lets see if he responds this time.

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greendale17 · 07/06/2018 15:55

I wouldn’t entertain him anymore.

He will only then threaten to gazump you

Lilmisskittykat · 07/06/2018 16:19

Ah I understand your concern.

Maybe for peace of mind you need to forget about it now. You've done all you can by emailing.

I had a buyer like this, low offer then came up then wanted more viewings then wanted my furniture as part of his offer (laughed that off) then he got nervous about brexit / house prices falling and disappeared - he really wasn't worth all the effort and thought in the end. He stressed the life out of me...

House buying is so stressful and full of second guessing. Hope you find a serious buyer soon

penguinsnpandas · 07/06/2018 19:44

I would give him 24 hours then write it off if you don't hear back. If he's interested he will be in touch. Trouble is quite a few properties are reducing prices now.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 07/06/2018 21:13

Thanks, I know I should just forget him. I just don't get why people can behave like this. He's just sold his house so must know how stressful it is and he knows I'm a single mother with 2 kids.
I've just reduced the price slightly so fingers crossed I actually get a viewing soon.

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PJBanana · 08/06/2018 06:15

We had someone like this. Offered £190k at first (we were on at £225k!)

Kept gradually increasing his offer, until we were happy to accept £212k (we were also in a slow moving area with few buyers).

When we formally accepted his offer, it transpired that he couldn’t actually afford the house Hmm

From what I’ve read, he sounds like he’s messing around and doesn’t know what he wants - definitely not the sign of a trustworthy buyer.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 08/06/2018 09:46

@PJBanana yes I now think he has realised he couldn't afford to up his offer from his original. It makes sense when he was so adamant his first offer was 'full and final'. Its a shame he can't just be honest and tell me.
The strange thing was that he viewed it with his mother (he's just a young lad) the last time so its a strange thing to do if you can't afford it.
I know one thing, this has put me off buying another house.

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wowfudge · 08/06/2018 10:30

It isn't strange if you think you might need to borrow money from the bank of mum and dad or just want a second opinion. I took my mum to view places with me when I was a FTB as a second pair of eyes.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 08/06/2018 11:29

@wowfudge oh I didn't think it was strange he brought his mum, I just found it odd he brought her and then said the viewing went well but never heard from him again. If she didn't like it or couldn't loan him money, why not just say he'd changed his mind?

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wowfudge · 08/06/2018 12:02

Ime if someone is embarrassed about something they don't come back to you. Maybe he can't afford it, but doesn't want to say so. We can speculate till the cows come home, but until the EA has made contact with him and got an answer either way you'll probably never know.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 08/06/2018 13:33

Yeah I totally get that but he could have simply said "I've changed my mind". Its rude really.

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Original poster
notagain2018 · 08/06/2018 13:39

Mind you, he's a man so he probably prefers the 'If I avoid the problem for long enough it will go away' approach.

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Original poster
notagain2018 · 11/06/2018 13:33

So, his latest reply (10 days after I tried to accept his last offer):

"Sorry I’ve been travelling and extremely busy with a critical project.
I’m currently reviewing my options and will come back to you ASAP."

What the hell? I've told the agent not to chase him anymore as I don't believe he has the funds. Not sure why he's still dragging it out though.......

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catandpanda · 11/06/2018 14:11

Gosh he's full of he's own self-importance isn't he Grin

I'ld write him off for now.

BlankTimes · 11/06/2018 14:33

Like many people, he wants it but cannot afford it.

He's hoping to exasperate you so you give in to agreeing to his original very low price.

How long is it from his first viewing to now? If he was interested at all, he'd have had surveyor booked asap, wouldn't he?

Has he got a mortgage in place for the asking price? Probably not as he can't afford it, if he could he's have been chomping at the bit to proceed.

He's a five star Timewaster, tell him to take a running jump. If you continue contact with him, expect hassle and threats of pulling out unless you drop the price at every stage.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 11/06/2018 19:27

@catandpanda god I know, made me really mad. I have a stressful and important job but it doesn't stop me replying to emails and I don't feel the need to tell people that.

@BlankTimes yes I totally agree, I'm waiting on him coming back in the few weeks with "Unfortunately due to insert lie here, I can only go to the original offer".

He first viewed it with his girlfriend last October but she didn't like it. They split up at Xmas so he's now buying on his own. He viewed alone about 6 weeks ago and put the first low offer in. 4 weeks later he came back asking if I had changed my mind, then upped his offer twice. Now I have had all this carry on since then.....

The worst thing is, when he viewed alone he gave me every intimate detail of his break-up and how his ex cheated on him. I think he's now become a woman hater Shock

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Original poster
notagain2018 · 11/06/2018 19:28

@BlankTimes and yes my agent had received his mortgage approval in principal so he did have a mortgage in place. I think he got a fair amount of equity from his last house.

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