Possible private sale - etiquette?

[Unsureofthescore113]

Just need some advice really. I split from my husband in January and have been trying to find somewhere else to live ever since. My elderly next door neighbour died in May and another neighbour who are still friendly with the deceased’s family said that the house is being put up for sale soon, she offered to show me around the place as she still had keys and goes in to check the place occasionally.

I’ve gone in and really like it, it would be ideal for my situation and my budget. The neighbour has said she will speak to the family and express my interest.

So the question is. How long do I leave it to chase? Obviously I don’t want create any ill feeling whatsoever and seem heartless but she has said the family are going through probate and just want to get rid ASAP and by doing this we could save estate agent fees etc.

This was on Tuesday, how long should I wait to chase? I don’t want to appear desperate but at the same time after 7 months I really want to know if I’ve got it or if I should keep looking elsewhere...

Any thoughts?

Why wait at all?

Because their family member has died surely?

If the family are happy about your interest then do it. Don't leave it too late as we saw a house that would have been ideal for us and the owner had just died so we wrote a polite sensitive letter to the family stating our interest and offering our condolences whilst saying that we didn't want to intrude or upset them. They replied saying that they had already promised it to someone who'd approached them before she'd died!! So if they are expressing an interest in you as a possible buyer then go for it.

Maybe a week? Bear in mind probate can take a long time. My grandfather died in January and we are still waiting on probate to come through. So make sure you take that into account in your timeframes.

Give your neighbour a letter to pass on with your contact details. You’ll hear or you won’t.

If she died in May, I would send a note ASAP with your contact details so they can contact you directly. You will either here back or you won’t, but at least you will know. In my experience of thes things, the family will be really pleased they have interest as I doubt they will want the hassle of having a property on the market For a long time if they can help it.

My neighbour passed me a note this afternoon to call the son - I have now put in an offer and waiting to hear back.

Hope it all works out for you.

Great! Hope it works out. We've bought through private sales twice - albeit not because of the owners death, both times were successful and very smooth

Thank you :-)

So I’m back, after putting in an offer on Friday, I was told he was keen on selling the property and would get back to me “in due course” - it’s now Tuesday and I haven’t heard a thing. How long do I give it to chase?

Go back and say you are still interested and can proceed quickly.

If I were the son, I'd get a couple of valuations from estate agents. Then I'd talk to any family members who may have a stake in the house. And I'd talk to my solicitor about probate, which can take some time.

He stands to save agency fees by selling to you, so I'd be surprised if he doesn't come back to you shortly, to negotiate.

Just an update - I phoned on Tuesday to ask if he considered me offer. He sheepishly admitted that he’s in no hurry to sell and never intended on phoning me back. He’s going with an estate agent.

You must be so disappointed. His choice obviously but seems a bit daft.

That sounds to me like he's expecting a lot over what you have offered. Was your offer realistic?

How disappointing. He may come back to you if he has your details and remembers your interest.

I’d like to think my offer was realistic, based on the fact it needed a new bathroom, new kitchen, new electrics and everything, hasn’t been touched for over 30 years so in need of modernising too.

Could be a case of him being unrealistic then. People do tend to massively overestimate the value of inherited houses. It will probably sit on the market for a very long time.

It’s such a shame as it would have been perfect for both of us without having to involve estate agents or fees etc, alas he doesn’t want to know. Oh well, moving on....