Estate agents and odd decisions

[barryfish]

We're house hunting. We sold our place and we're currently living in rented, so were great buyers. We can move in one month. Good deposit and finances all ready. But we have lost 2 houses in the last 3 months due to really odd decisions by sellers.

These are obviously all relayed to us through estate agents as we never deal directly with the seller. And I'm starting to wonder if something odd is going on.

With the first house we ended up in a bidding war with another family. We went up to £20k over asking and then the estate called and said the sellers had chosen the other couple (who bid the same) and that was it, over. Despite us wanting to go up more. The estate agent said we weren't able to. Really strange.

And the second time, we called the morning after our viewing to say we were thinking of offering asking, but wanted to double check finances. The estate agent called back 10 minutes later to say they'd accepted another asking price offer and it was now off the market. Again we tried to offer more but we're told we weren't able to.

Both very odd and incredibly frustrating situations.

I'm starting to wonder if people are bribing the estate agents in some way. Is this a thing? Or am I just being paranoid? I just don't get it. Perhaps it's us and the sellers preferred the other family both times.

Any ideas anyone? If it happens again I think I'll explode from frustration!

I don't know but if I were you I'd put a note through the door of both houses explaining what happened. Just in case the sellers weren't told. Estate agents have to put in all offers, although I guess maybe not when the house is under offer.

Sounds dodgy I'd be dropping a note in at the house I wanted explaining, just in case

You just never know though. They could have sold it to an acquaintance. No harm pushing a note through their door though. I don't believe that all estate agents are all always above any dishonesty.

My dad tried to buy a flat a few years ago (they were empty) and he kept being fobbed off but the flat sat empty for about a year then it was sold. Weird. He wasn't under-offering. There was something strange going on .

Put a note through the sellers' door next time, to make sure they're aware of your offer.

Some estate agents are dodgy. I know personally of one case where my offer was turned down for what seemed at the time a very weird reason - I later found out via nethouseprices that it had sold for way below my offer.

I also once met a 'property developer' who told me quite openly that he had an 'agreement' with various EAs - I.e. he'd get the property at a discounted price - very likely because the EAs were not informing vendors of higher offers - and part of that discount would go in a brown envelope to the EA.

Is it the same estate agent both times?

I don't know what your circumstances are but is there any possibility there could be something discriminatory going on?

Sounds very strange. I think estate agents legally have to put forward any offer that is made so they shouldn’t be able to stop you offering higher. I’d do as others have suggested and put a note through the sellers’ doors.

I absolutely don't trust EA, had this very recently with a garage we tried to buy. Dodgy fuckers most of them. I would also put a lovely note through the sellers door reminding them of your offer and asking for first refusal if it all falls through.

It’s happened to us a few times as well. I don’t trust EAs at all but still could be “reasonable” explanation.
First time: was it a “best and final”?
Second time: you basically said that you’re not sure so they decided to go with another buyer.
Also in both cases vendors could prefer a buyer, who was buying with cash without mortgage.
Or another buyer was chosen as he was selling his property through the same EAs and they wanted to get 2 commissions in one go.

Do you think that maybe the buyers chosen over you were perhaps also selling their own houses with the same estate agent?

And the agent gets two lots of commission instead of one.

told we weren't able to
Up until the point where contracts are exchanged, unless they have been given explicit instructions in writing to the contrary, an EA is legally obliged to pass on all offers to the vendor.

Was it the same EA on both occasions?

We can move in one month
At the risk of going marginally off topic, you can't know that for certain until your solicitor has seen the full contract papers, and your mortgage application has been submitted. A month is not unheard of, but exceptionally fast.

(All of the above is on the assumption we're talking about England or Wales)

I feel your pain, barryfish.
We are having similar struggles and our situation is similar as we are in rented and have already sold.
One EA I have chased and chased about a house we have been making offers on is totally disinterested. Turns out the reason is that the property was formerly rented and managed by the agency so if it sells they lose a client ! After several weeks of 'negotiations' vendor has decided to remove it from the market and renovate it before renting out. Who gets commission on the buildings works? The agent of course. Total waste of time .