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Is this estate agent being dodgy?!

17 replies

TeaAndBiscuitsAndWine · 07/06/2020 10:05

Anyone else had this experience? I put in an offer a week ago on a house in an area I am planning to move to shortly, it can be done via the estate agent’s website so it is all in writing. It was a reasonable offer but well below asking price. Given that they are asking considerably more per square foot for a total wreck of a post-war house that needs EVERYTHING done - essentially a ‘tear it all down and rebuild it’ job - than beautifully refurbished and extended Victorian houses on the same street sold for at the end of last year - it really is a very good offer even without taking into account the fact that we’re heading for a recession! I explained in the comments that they let you fill in why my offer was below asking price, detailing what properties on the street have actually been selling for etc. The offer showed as ‘pending’ for a week, and is now showing as retracted. The estate agent hasn’t contacted me at all, and I certainly haven’t retracted my offer, so I’m wondering if they have just retracted it themselves, which I didn’t think agents can do. If it had been rejected by the sellers I would expect it to say ‘rejected’ not ‘retracted’. It may be the sellers with the unreasonable price expectations, but given that this particular agent has all its properties listed at 20-50% higher than the same types / roads sold for at the end of last year / start of this year, when the average price growth in the area over the last year was 2.7%, I suspect the agent has given an unrealistic valuation to try to win the business! Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Does it sound dodgy? I’m actually really fed up as this agent has a lot of the listing in the area, and seems like they’re trying to artificially inflate prices. Am actually thinking of shoving everything in storage and renting for 6 months, then buying when know which school DD gets into, and when prices will hopefully have dropped on some of the places I like the look of!

OP posts:
Namechange1684 · 07/06/2020 11:02

It does sound strange, have you had contact with the agent responsible for marketing the property and asked? I think this is the only way to know what has happened. They should have rang you to discuss and explain but if they haven't you need to chase up.

SoupDragon · 07/06/2020 11:05

Could they have "clicked the wrong button" and put retracted rather than rejected?

You'd need to speak to the agent I think

sbplanet · 07/06/2020 11:27

If you've had no contact with the agent perhaps they think you're being 'dodgy'? Why not ring them and ask?

Fairenuff · 07/06/2020 11:34

How does anyone here know? Ring the agents and ask them!

InfiniteSheldon · 07/06/2020 11:43

Your offer was too low.

loutypips · 07/06/2020 12:44

Ring them and ask!

Bluntness100 · 07/06/2020 12:46

Why don’t you just ask?

The seller can sell it for whatever price they choose and if they can’t get it they can hang on till they do or take it off the market. Your reasons for offering less are nothing more than a point of interest. It doesn’t bag you the deal.

Just call the agent And ask. Sounds like you low balled and they’ve said no.

Bluntness100 · 07/06/2020 12:49

when prices will hopefully have dropped on some of the places I like the look of

I’d maybe advise not looking at properties too far out of your budget.

GreenTulips · 07/06/2020 12:50

My sister had similar in that her offer was never presented to the seller. She spoke to the seller on the second viewing and her offer was higher than the one they eventually accepted.

GreenTulips · 07/06/2020 12:50

I would add if it’s a deceased estate there may well be lots of siblings to discuss offers with. Which is why it takes a longer time.

Bluntness100 · 07/06/2020 12:51

My sister had similar in that her offer was never presented to the seller

That’s illegal and highly unusual.

TeaAndBiscuitsAndWine · 07/06/2020 12:57

Good answers all, thank you! I had spoken to the agent and ‘remotely Viewed’ ahead of putting in an offer, then suddenly nothing! Offer was for what other similar properties in a similar state there sold for within the last 6-12 months, but will see. I’m not looking at things way beyond my budget, but liked the idea of somewhere I could make just as I want it! Will contact agent tomorrow and find out what’s going on. I’m finding that there’s a an odd situation where ordinary 3 bed terraces are suddenly being priced at just below beautiful 5 beds with huge gardens, which suddenly puts them out of budget when they were firmly in budget 6 months ago when first started thinking about the move!

OP posts:
OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 07/06/2020 13:14

It's either a mistake and rejected was meant to be input or maybe it's a default that if the agent hasn't moved the offer after a set time is assumed that the offer isn't on the table anymore. You'll only know by contacting them I'd guess.

I wonder if it's possible the agent has been told not to present them with offers below a certain amount. A house we looked at before buying this one was similar in that it was up for well over what other houses that didn't need work has sold for. A different agent had said they should be able to make a certain price and they decided they wouldn't take lower. Ended up being with our agent who said when it went with them they were instructed not to even bother them with offers below, which meant the agent would tell them every now and again it was receiving offers but not where they were expecting (our agent knew it wasn't going to see either but was hoping they'd eventually realise this).

CopperBeeches · 07/06/2020 20:20

Also some sellers ask agents not to put forward offers under a certain figure or from buyers who are not procedable. Agents act for the seller and do what the seller asks them.

Ask the agent if your offer was rejected. In the end it doesn't matter what you think the house is worth. The buyer will only sell for what THEY think it is is worth. (And if they don't find anyone who agrees with them they will rethink).

TeaAndBiscuitsAndWine · 07/06/2020 22:47

That’s a good point OhLookHeKickedTheBall, that could well be it. I’ve decided to rent for a while whilst I see what the market does (and what school DD gets in to) - will be interesting to see if this property actually sells and if so what for!

OP posts:
TeaAndBiscuitsAndWine · 07/06/2020 22:48

I agree CopperBeeches, will be interesting to see what it eventually sells for - if it does!

OP posts:
CopperBeeches · 07/06/2020 23:18

If it doesn't take too long it wd be good to have an update OP. Just out of curiosity.. (but in this sort of situation it can take years!)

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