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Original poster

Do I ask too many questions/appear awkward? WWYD

82 replies

DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 20:08

Hello, just would like some perspective from a seller's point of view...

I've seen 2 houses I like, 1st one I was 'gazumped' (not really as v early stages), 2nd one few weeks later I now have an offer in but not yet accepted (its been 2 days)

In both cases, I have sent a list of questions to EA about property before offering: is there subsidence/damp/when was roof repaired/have you been burgled etc?

I do this as: 1) would like to understand major deal breakers before shelling out thousands for a survey, 2) to save walking away eg 2 months down the line

I think 1st house this may have gone against me (they def wanted ask no questions FTBs, so I think maybe they have something to hide). The current house - I asked if they had rising or penetrating damp, & got reply 'no rising damp': so I've just gone back to EA to clarify if they have had penetrating...

My questions are polite & definitely not derogatory to the house/sellers: I also make it clear to EA that I expect some things to need rectifying in an older property

My question is: if you were selling, would this put you off/make you favour someone else? Should I kill the questions?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:24

@Onamugsearch: I wish I had a time machine to take me back a few hours :(

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Dinosauraddict · 03/11/2020 21:25

Yeah sorry OP, I would be desperately hoping for an equivalent offer from someone else so I didn't have to deal with you. Rightly or wrongly I'd think you'd be a nightmare further down the line and would either try to pull out or heavily renegotiate following a perfectly average survey.

Onamugsearch · 03/11/2020 21:32

Nothing is insurmountable, you just need to show you are serious. I do t know how you do this, but perhaps wait and see what they say about the offer first. If they reject ask what will make them accept?
Good luck? Your enthusiasm might have got ahead of you Smile

Gaoth · 03/11/2020 21:32

@Dinosauraddict

Yeah sorry OP, I would be desperately hoping for an equivalent offer from someone else so I didn't have to deal with you. Rightly or wrongly I'd think you'd be a nightmare further down the line and would either try to pull out or heavily renegotiate following a perfectly average survey.
This. I would assume you were looking for issues as leverage for a massively reduced offer, or else that you were hopelessly naive about the likely things that would come up on the average survey. If I wasn't desperate to sell, I'd possibly look elsewhere in the anticipation you would be likely to cause issues.
Mum2b2020 · 03/11/2020 21:32

It would definitely put me off accepting your offer if I had another one the same or not much lower. I'd think you would be a pain during the whole process, possibly keep looking to have money taken off the price for minor things especially after survey and I'd rather save myself a headache. I dont have anything to hide either.

roastedsaltedpeanut · 03/11/2020 21:33

It depends on the value of the house for me. If it’s a relatively inexpensive house and you come in all guns blazing I would think you are too pedantic as a person to deal with. May bombard me with obvious questions and take up much too much of my time. For more expensive houses sellers would have much more patience to explain anything and everything.

Also remember most people only sell their “home” a handful of times in their lives, inevitably they will be rather emotional and easily offended that someone dare ask questions about their treasured possession.
So, although all great questions, you should perhaps proceed with a bit more tact.

Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:36

thank you @Dinosauraddict - not what I want to hear but thanks for the truth check Sad

@Onamugsearch: thanks. I went in high to show I was serious, but I think asking lots of questions after might make them think i was frivolous

I do really like the property, am not planning a massive gazunder (they hold the cards anyway as moving into rented), & have offered asking price practically...

I think my worries about buying the wrong house/having to pull out because of a disastrous survey (and then having no where to go) have made me get a bit ahead of myself!

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Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:38

@roastedsaltedpeanut: I know.. I was v offended by the few questions I was asked about my own (really not that special Wink flat Sad

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HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 03/11/2020 21:39

Apparently I'm an outlier. I'd welcome questions. Someone wants to spend £x00,000 on my house, they'd better be sensible enough to ask about things. I'd be far more confident that a buyer was real than if they didn't.

Not asking is like going to a job interview and not interviewing them. Terrible idea.

maryberryslayers · 03/11/2020 21:39

@DespairingHomeowner It would make me think you were going to be awkward so if I had 2 offers and yours was the same or only very slightly better then I'd choose the other one. If you were way more I'd likely go with you. I'd walk if you started chipping or being pedantic though.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 03/11/2020 21:41

Crossposted - why on earth would you be offended? Maybe that's why I'm an outlier!

I mean, if it's someone saying "Why does this place look like a shit tip" when you're in showroom condition, fine, that's offensive. If it's "What's the plaster like under that wallpaper" I'd be pleased.

Mum2b2020 · 03/11/2020 21:42

It would definitely put me off accepting your offer if I had another one the same or not much lower. I'd think you would be a pain during the whole process, possibly keep looking to have money taken off the price for minor things especially after survey and I'd rather save myself a headache. I dont have anything to hide either.

Mum2b2020 · 03/11/2020 21:43

It would definitely put me off accepting your offer if I had another one the same or not much lower. I'd think you would be a pain during the whole process, possibly keep looking to have money taken off the price for minor things especially after survey and I'd rather save myself a headache. I dont have anything to hide either.

MustWe · 03/11/2020 21:44

I think you know the answer here as you have had the same thing done to you and you didn’t like it! I know you say their questions were unreasonable but that’s how your questions will come across to others.

Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:46

@HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks

Crossposted - why on earth would you be offended? Maybe that's why I'm an outlier!

I mean, if it's someone saying "Why does this place look like a shit tip" when you're in showroom condition, fine, that's offensive. If it's "What's the plaster like under that wallpaper" I'd be pleased.

@HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks: its because I received an email saying 'it looks like she's got some dodgy wiring' : it was the phone & broadband cables tucked behind my dining table...

what offended me was the assumption that there was something wrong & I was hiding things

I don't make assumptions about things, I just ask...'is there a history of x, have you been burgled' etc.. quite neutrel, getting the facts..

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Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:47

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

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Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:49

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:50

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:50

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:50

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:51

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:51

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:51

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

OP posts:
Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:52

OMG, @maryberryslayers: I'm sorry for the spam!

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Original poster
DespairingHomeowner · 03/11/2020 21:52

@maryberryslayers: thank you, I realise trying to knock money off won't help! Is there any way I can come across as 'easy going' now?

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