Estate agents

[jmc05]

Hi,

I'm after a little advice before I pull my hair out. We have sold our house and offered on a property. It has taken us a couple of weeks to find 'the one' and I cannot let this house go, it's perfect for us.

We submitted an offer on Saturday and was told we'd not hear until Monday, fair enough it's a weekend. Monday came by and we didn't hear anything from them so I called to be met by a rude receptionist who simply said 'we will call when we have news', that's fine but atleast keep your prospective buyers in the loop, y'know I'm not just buying a handbag here.

Monday goes and we still haven't heard anything so I call again on Tuesday to be told the person who is dealing with it isn't around and she'll pass a message on to call me back. Late Tuesday afternoon arrives and we've still had no phone call so I email the person in question. Around 10 mins later I get a call from somebody different to say that her colleague had been in 'meetings' all day so had passed it onto her to 'get to the bottom of', I wasn't sure why she chose to use those words as why does my offer on a house need 'getting to the bottom of'.

She explains that they have received another offer (great, thanks for telling me.. why couldn't your colleague have just dropped me an email to say she was in meetings all day but this was the situation) and that the vendor wanted to know our absolute best offer.

So I return with our best offer around 20 mins later and receive this morning an automated email confirming our offer. Alongside our revised offer I also forwarded a letter to be sent to the vendor which I hope would count for something when deciding which offer to accept, I atleast expected the estate agent to acknowledge it but nothing.

Since then I've emailed her for an update and have received no response.

I am not the most patient person in the world but am I being unreasonable expecting this to be moving quicker than it is? I placed the offer on Saturday and it's now Wednesday evening!

I appreciate that all estate agents are very busy at the minute but they would help themselves out a lot more if they just kept folk informed, is that too much to ask?

I'm nervous that if I keep calling they will take a disliking to me and persuade the vendor to chose the other buyer because I've pissed them off but I know it's not totally unreasonable to expect a response, I don't trust estate agents unfortunately and feel this is something they could do.

Any help or advice on what to do next if we don't get an answer tomorrow would be appreciated, thanks

Are you sure they are not playing you/inventing another offer?
How long has that place been on the market?

I cannot let this house go, it's perfect for us

Unfortunately there in lies the first issue.

The house isn’t yours to let go... hard as it is, you need to remain transactional.

If it’s this hard at this stage, imagine what it would be like at exchange/completion?

I’d be tempted to say the offer is withdrawn at midday tomorrow and explore going into rented. But that’s just me.

@DespairingHomeowner

Are you sure they are not playing you/inventing another offer? How long has that place been on the market?

I don't know... perhaps? Does this sound like the case? Do EA's often do that?

I know they had quite a few viewings at the weekend hence why we offered quickly to try and get ahead so I assume they've also had other offers.

@DespairingHomeowner

Are you sure they are not playing you/inventing another offer? How long has that place been on the market?

Sorry, meant to say. It's been on the market for just over 1 week.

@RHOBHfan

I cannot let this house go, it's perfect for us

Unfortunately there in lies the first issue.

The house isn’t yours to let go... hard as it is, you need to remain transactional.

If it’s this hard at this stage, imagine what it would be like at exchange/completion?

I’d be tempted to say the offer is withdrawn at midday tomorrow and explore going into rented. But that’s just me.

I know, and thanks for the reality check I suppose. I try and remind myself 'what will be will be' and that immediately relieves abit of pressure/stress.

It does worry me yes as the EA's haven't got a great reputation. Whether this issue is them being slow or whether the vendor is holding up proceedings I don't know but yes it doesn't give a great first impression..

Don’t piss off the agent, but it’s the vendor who decides

Maybe the vendor is seeing who else will offer/driving them up

It’s really important to detach a bit (easier said than done!)

Your problem is potentially partly because you "offered early to get ahead". Unless your offer was way over asking, as a vendor I wouldn't be cancelling any booked in viewings, but instead using your offer as a benchmark. If yours was highest at the end of that time, then great, if not then it might have helped push another bidder up. Win win for the vendor.

This is why the advice is usually to submit best and final a short while before the deadline.

@LooseMooseHoose

Your problem is potentially partly because you "offered early to get ahead". Unless your offer was way over asking, as a vendor I wouldn't be cancelling any booked in viewings, but instead using your offer as a benchmark. If yours was highest at the end of that time, then great, if not then it might have helped push another bidder up. Win win for the vendor.

This is why the advice is usually to submit best and final a short while before the deadline.

I'm not aware of a deadline date or that advice?

Are EA's meant to tell you this?!

I would imagine as its only been on a week they are holding your offer an trying to see if better offers come in / doing more viewings as well as other offer.

We were never given a deadline when asked to submit best and final offers because the EA was still having viewings. Ours took about a week which surprised me as other 2 I bought were decided in couple of hours. Those 2 had been on the market a long time though.

It'll depend on vendor what they will accept and how attractive you are relative to other buyers.

A letter to be sent to the vendor? What did it say?

Is this your first purchase?

Letters mean little unless it's along the lines of : cash buyer can move quickly'.
Agents do not request best and finals unless they have multiple offers. But you should be informed when the vendors will make their decision. The agents in question here are not doing the sellers any favours.
However, you have had your answer to your saturday offer. What you are waiting for is the answer to your best and final offer made today. It is not unreasonable for the vendors to think about it overnight.

As it's only been on a week and you've offered asking price fast, they of course want to have more viewings and see if they can get even more / see if you could raise it still. The agents should tell you this though, it's lazy/impolite not to keep those who offered in the picture. But ther aer many lazy agents who can see you aer 'n the hook; so they don't bother with extra effort, they know you'll wait.