Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Advice needed - what would you do?!

38 replies

littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 20:02

Myself and my husband are first time buyers currently renting, we decided now if the time for us to buy as we have 3 children and fed up of renting and having to move every year or so!

We saw a house 2 doors away from where we are now, which was up for sale for £425k, we looked round and loved it - same layout as ours now but new kitchen/bathroom, oak floor etc. No ensuite but flat roof to put one on (as all other houses have done on estate). We went in low but they said they needed asking price to afford the house they wanted to buy - so we managed to borrow more from my parents for deposit and offered asking price which was accepted. This was 6 weeks ago and house has sold sign up but still on rightmove as available. EA said they can't take it off market until lendors provide solicitors details which they are refusing to do?!?
Apparently the house they wanted to buy has been pulled off the market and so they are now supposedly looking again.

Last fri their EA phoned us to say another house on the estate is coming up for sale do
We want to look.. we did and it is really nice (not quite as good layout inside but nice finish, garden amazing and backs onto woods, space to extend which we would want to do, ensuite done) but its up for 435k. EA seemed keen on us going for it and said they would prob accept £425k. Why would she even show us elsewhere if she was confident first sale will go through? Unless it's so she can go back to first house lendors to say we are looking elsewhere they need to pull their finger out maybe?

Husband thinks we should give first house a week to provide solicitors details or we will go for other house, as he thinks they aren't bothered about selling now they didn't get the house they wanted - they aren't talking to the EA, don't want to look round other houses apparently...but I'm worried we will get gazumped on second house as we can only afford £425 and then miss out on both! although we are ftb with mortgage approved so more desirable I guess?

Sorry that was so long!!

OP posts:
MrsChollySawcutt · 22/07/2018 20:09

I think the EA has sussed that the vendors of house 1 will soon either keep you dangling for months while they find another dream house or just remove it from the market.

If you really like house 2 just as much, I would put an offer in and go for it.

Squirreltamer · 22/07/2018 20:12

Sounds dodgy.

Estate agents just care about commission. They must think/know something is up with the orginal house.

Think about it this way. You put an offer on house 2 it gets accepted

House 1 get really fed up with having both the house they wanted and thier house sale fall through and just take the house off the market

Estate agent loses out on 1 commission.

That’s the risk they’d be playing if house 1 is still really wanting to sell.

Japanesejazz · 22/07/2018 20:20

You are in a strong position. But only you can decide which house you love more. I can empathise with the sellers. My house is on the market but I won’t look for one to buy until I have an offer on it. I don’t want to see something I love and then not be able to proceed because I haven’t sold. But it may mean anyone who does make an offer could have a long wait. I want to downsize in the same area. I’m not desperate to sell.

Japanesejazz · 22/07/2018 20:22

And yes estate agents will sell their granny for a commission. Never believe a word they say.

wowfudge · 22/07/2018 20:22

Sorry - I don't get what you mean @Squirreltamer

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 20:25

Thanks for the replies, yes that's what I'm thinking - that the EA just wants a sale, she has said she will try to negotiate 10k off house 2 for us so she seems keen for us to make an offer which she wouldn't be if sure house 1 was going to actually sell.

If we risk staying with house 1 and they pull off market after leaving us dangling for months and we miss out on house 2 I will be very annoyed.

But if we go for house 2 and don't get it as can't afford asking price then we have lost out on both houses :/

Husband prefers house 2, I'm in 2 minds. Bedrooms and bathroom/ kitchen and downstairs space is better in house 1 but house 2 is in a better position, great garden and ensuite done. I guess if depends if I can live in house 2 for a couple of years til we can afford to extend and put an internal door through to garage/utility...

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 22/07/2018 20:26

I think EA know a serious seller when they see one

What do you mean with the solicitors? Are the sellers refusing to engage or something else?

Squirreltamer · 22/07/2018 20:27

wowfudge What I mean is why would the EA risk commission on house 1, just to get a sale on house 2.

2 commissions are better than 1.

Why risk upsetting their orginal client unless they knew they’re not likely to get their commission?

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 20:29

Greentulips the sellers of house 1 won't give the EA their solicitors details - don't know why! But to me that lack of willingness to show commitment from their end means they aren't that bothered about selling their house.. ?

OP posts:
OP posts:
Fabricwitch · 22/07/2018 20:36

You don't need to take your offer off house 1 unless house 2 accepts. I don't think you even have to then...

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 20:43

Fabricwitch if house 2 accepts will they take it off the market though? House 1 hasn't! They said they aren't showing anyone else round house 1 but presumably if someone saw it on rightmove and really wanted it and offered higher they could go for it?

Buying a house is such a minefield!

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 22/07/2018 20:45

Presume seller 1 is aware another one has come on market just down road, can you push EA to tell them they will loose you to this one ?

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 20:47

Yes the EA asked them if they wanted to look at it as they want to stay on this estate but they declined... she said she was going to let them know we have looked at it and liked it in the hope it will encourage things along. We have a second viewing of house 2 on tues morn so expect the EA will know more then

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 22/07/2018 20:54

Had a look and I much prefer number 2!

It doesn't sound like things are moving fast/at all with no.1

I would book a viewing of the second house and see what you think.

You could be left hanging on a long old time for things to move along/could get dropped completely if they do not find the home they want in a reasonable timescale.

I know it's hard selling/buying at the same time but that's kind of the thing- you have to take the plunge with what's available rather than spend several months or more looking!
(Says she who is still a FTB!)

Fabricwitch · 22/07/2018 20:54

We're in the process of buying a house atm (the second one we've gone sale agreed on) and it has been a huge minefield!
Yes, once you get the sale agreed notice the house should be taken off market, but as far as I'm aware there is no legal obligation for them to do so. You could state it as part of your offer to make sure.
As house 1 won't give solicitor details, you can't even go sale agreed, so anyone can still put offers in.
You don't have to officially retract your offer on house 1, but I would forget about it if they are playing games this early on!

SubtitlesOn · 22/07/2018 20:57

Could you casually ask house 1 family how they are etc as you are walking to shop or talking child for a walk or dog for walk or whatever

IF you just say "oh hello how are you, isn't the weather still so hot etc etc"

They might tell you more face to face than via EA

TurquoiseDress · 22/07/2018 21:01

Just to add- when there have been places sold STC (even when not marked as SSTC on Rightmove) the EAs have been quick to say no/shut down any conversation re us potentially taking a look around.

The only time this occurred was with a property on with Purplebricks.
The sellers (a couple) encouraged us to come over for a second but in the same breath said they had accepted an offer/were going to sort out a solicitor etc

We just walked away from that one.

You have my sympathies- it is indeed a total minefield!

We are in rented with a small child (& one on the way!) and really just want to buy something to get us out of the renting cycle, but also to ensure it's a place that will suit our needs for a few years at least.

Good luck with it all!

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 21:03

Thankyou I really appreciate all of your insight! We've not done this before, I obviously want to buy the perfect house for us but I need to think about what it could be rather than what it is now!

Turquoisedress can I ask what you prefer about house 2? (I have to say the pics do hide the v dodgy wallpaper and fact the ds loo has no window and no porch whatsoever (where do we put all our coats, shoes/ kids bags?!?!) )

We do smile and wave when we see the people in house 1 but they aren't friendly really, we did go round and have a chat with them when we were negotiating and they were v v cagey - wouldn't say what price they wanted, where they wanted to buy (both police officers, maybe it comes with the job?!) they don't give anything away. V frustrating!!

OP posts:
Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 22/07/2018 21:17

I prefer house 2 as well, or rather, I prefer the back garden of house 2. I think it would be lovely to sit in that lovely big garden with the trees at the back. I think house 1 is on a very ordinary plot, but house 2 is on a cracker of a piece of land.

GreenTulips · 22/07/2018 21:26

the first one the utility would annoy me with no direct access to the house

The second one has access to the garage which could house the coats and shoe pile

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 21:33

Green tulips house 1 has a lovely porch for coats etc and does have direct access to garage/ utility, house 2 has a massive garage and makeshift utility at one end but no direct access. We will put access in eventually but it will be at least a year down the line...

OP posts:
babydreamer1 · 22/07/2018 21:36

I don't think there's even a choice to make given house 1 are clearly not fussed about selling atm, even if they give solicitors details until you exchange there's no guarantee and imagine how long that will take. Just go for house 2, if your offer is accepted great, if not you lose nothing, you could always make another offer when house 1 are ready to move, if ever.

Original poster
littlemissblue · 22/07/2018 21:38

Thankyou I think you are right...

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 22/07/2018 22:02

It's the garden that I love!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.