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Offering more than 10% off asking price

12 replies

Unihorn · 27/09/2018 08:39

This is quite wordy so thanks if you manage to stick with it. I'm just after some advice on whether this is too rude.

We've seen a house we really like for £150k but it's in a not-so-great area. Nothing awful but just not viewed as a "nice" street particularly due to its proximity to our town centre. I assume that's partly why it's still on the market.

It's a 3 bed mid terrace in a housing estate built in 2001, so all of the other properties in the area are structurally similar. The current owners purchased it for £115k in 2013 and, from what I can figure out on Rightmove listings, they have only put fake grass and decking down in the (average new build postage stamp) garden in the time they've owned it, and done some painting and general decoration.

In January, another mid terrace in the street sold for £145k but had a really nice extension on the back giving a sun room/dining room with velux windows. The garden was also double the size of the one we like. The only other three houses that have sold for £140k have been detached/4 beds/end of terraces with garages.

The only similar houses to this in the past three years have sold for £115-130k. I cannot understand in any way how it's been valued how it has and would only really be prepared to offer £130k and possibly pay £135k. Is a £130 offer too cheeky? I just think a house is worth what you would pay really.

I should add that I know the seller through a friend of a friend and that they have not yet found a property. They have also shared the property every other day on Facebook for a month so I assume they're quite keen, although perhaps not so keen that they have dropped the price. We're first time buyers with no chain so ready to go.

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JustLurk1ng · 27/09/2018 08:42

Do it! Explain your justification. Offer 130 - be prepared to negotiate up to 135. Good luck!

Bobbysausages · 27/09/2018 08:57

No problem trying, the worst the can do is say no ...

lifebegins50 · 27/09/2018 09:03

Given the friend connection I would offer £135k straight away and then walk of not accepted.

I suspect they have £145 as their ceiling. Don't overpay as the house has downsides and you might regret it when trying to resell. There will always be other houses and this one might not be for you

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 27/09/2018 09:08

We're first time buyers with no chain so ready to go.
That's a strong card to play. Try kicking off with £130K but if the location's not so great do you really want to move there?

Fishforclues · 27/09/2018 09:08

Put aside the rudeness angle. You can't overpay thousands of pounds out of politeness!

There are always a few houses on the market at inflated prices. Make a sensible offer. If they do take offence it's them, not you.

Unihorn · 27/09/2018 09:18

Thanks all. I do keep telling myself that there will be other houses but the interior and layout of this house is exactly what we're looking for but finding it difficult to find, so I think we've just got a bit too excited.

I grew up quite near the street so I know what it's like but the wider perception of it isn't great because prior to the estate going up 20-odd years ago it was a bit of an overgrown wasteland next to a river that attracted drugs. When the houses were built this obviously stopped but its still consideres a bit dodgy by residents I think.

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thecatsthecats · 27/09/2018 10:06

Sounds like the house next door to ours. Identical in original size to ours, but not extended (and crucially, they can't extend as it would block our right of way), and also ours has been finished beautifully throughout, whereas this house is in a presentable enough state, but only to a mid-priced rental style.

They put it on for what ours sold for a year ago, dropped 10k two months later and are still waiting to shift it five months on.

Sounds like their agent has convinced them that it's worth as much as the other one... don't be embarrassed to bring them down with a bump!

BendAndLoft · 27/09/2018 11:13

If detached and extended terraced ones are selling for 140 there’s no way I’d be paying 130 for the one you’ve described.
Think carefully, it’s a lot of money to spend because you’re frustrated at having to wait. As hard as it is to wait, if you’ll get more for your money I would try.
Would you consider dropping a note through the doors of other ones you like?

Unihorn · 27/09/2018 17:13

Yes I think you raise a good point, I was wondering whether to email round a few agents explaining in detail what we're after rather than a generic "3 bedroom with parking" sort of thing which we've currently done.

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Alexalee · 27/09/2018 20:17

If similar are 115 to 130 and this needs work then I would be offering nearer 115.
Just because it's on for 150k has no relevance to the market value... it's just the number the greedy seller wants.
I could put a 500k house up for 1m doesn't mean it's worth it

PatrickMerricksGoshawk · 28/09/2018 10:51

Apologies if I’m wrong, but it doesn’t sound as if you like this house very much. Would you be happy even getting it for 10% under asking?

Unihorn · 28/09/2018 16:29

We do really like the house very much but it is definitely overpriced for the area. We've had a second viewing and are planning on offering £130k but can't see them accepting...

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