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Original poster

EA tried to show me a sold property. Why?!

23 replies

IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 14:41

I am first trying buyer so looking for some wise words.
I rang an EA to look at a house for sale (£320k). Just come on the market. Dooer upper. On a good road and got a good sized garden for any future extension. EA made me an appointment.
She then asked if I wanted to see a property a few doors down that has been done up on at £350k. She said I could see it straight after seeing the other one. I said sure, why not. She then told me that it was sold. I asked why she was showing people round and she said something vague like the contract hasn't been signed. Anyway, the more expensive house didn't have a drive way so I declined to view.
So, I assumed she was trying to see if my budget stretched that far.
But when she showed me round the cheaper house she asked me again about viewing it.
Is this normal for EAs to continue to do viewings for a house that has had an offer accepted?
And crucially, when I do eventually get an offer accepted on a house, can I prevent this happening? Seems pretty shit to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 14:42

First time buyer! But first trying buyer seems appropriate too.

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Donotgogentle · 01/02/2021 14:45

Maybe she thinks that sale may fall through given contracts haven’t been exchanged yet. She might be trying to line up other buyers in case that happens.

GrumpyHoonMain · 01/02/2021 15:13

The EA prob thinks you’re a good quality buyer and wanted to get a feel for your preferences / budget range. It’s also likely the buyers who offered on the more expensive place offered 320k or less so it’s possible she might have been able to bump you up if you were interested

Pumpkinstace · 01/02/2021 15:15

Also possible she was just showing you the potential by showing you the done up one.

Indecisive12 · 01/02/2021 15:49

Maybe it was under offer but the buyers hadn’t sold theirs yet so seller still open to offers? Maybe it was to show you the potential and give ideas. I’d have looked just for that, might have helped when negotiating a price for the one you looked at too.

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 15:55

So grumpy, is it standard to keep showing people round houses that have accepted an offer in the hope of a higher offer?

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Notsosnug · 01/02/2021 15:56

No it’s not standard. It’s legal but bad practice

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 15:57

Indecisive, it only had a new kitchen and bathroom and coat of paint so wasn't worth my time looking at it. The photos on Rightmove were clear enough. If it had an reorg, extension or loft conversion I would have taken a look to see how they had done it.

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Morituritesalutant · 01/02/2021 15:57

Personally when I’ve purchased houses part of my offer conditions are that it’s taken off the market but not everyone specifies that and some vendors do keep them on the market just in case (which is crap in my opinion but it’s there choice!)

Dogsandbabies · 01/02/2021 15:57

Are you sure they are not showing it to you to show you what the house you are interested in can be like if you renovate it? Although some EAs are terrible and they may be dragging you there to try and commence a bidding war.

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 15:58

Not, how do I try to avoid this? I want to learn from this experience!

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Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 16:00

Dogs, no I don't think so. When she showed me round the dooer upper she would have seen that I was fully able to see the potential/ what needed doing.

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Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 16:00

Mori, ok, I will remember that.

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GrumpyHoonMain · 01/02/2021 16:03

@IsabellaMozzarella

So grumpy, is it standard to keep showing people round houses that have accepted an offer in the hope of a higher offer?
Yes I’d say so if contracts aren’t signed. Many estate agents locally will tack on local stc properties to viewings due to the reasons I mentioned. I once even viewed a 600k property (when my top budget was 500k for something that required no work) because the estate agent was convinced their buyer would pull out and we could get the property for 550k. The buyer did pull out and we did see the property again but by the time we were ready to offer it had been sold again lol
Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 16:05

Ok, thanks grumpy. House buying is clearly a wild ride! Better approach it with my most chilled head on.

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PowerslidePanda · 01/02/2021 16:28

You asked how you avoid this... don't buy a property that's listed with this estate agent! Difficult if they happening to be selling the one you want though.

There was a thread on here a few days ago from someone selling a house who was most annoyed that her estate agent wanted to stop marketing it once she'd accepted an offer. The responses were pretty much unanimous that that's not how it's done - and if an estate agent is accredited by the Property Ombudsman then it's against their code of conduct too. So it's fortunately not that common and not something you'll encounter with most estate agents.

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 17:02

Power, yes that was my first thought - I need to avoid this EA, but sadly they seem to be one of the main ones in my area and have marketed several properties in my range recently.
I think that's mainly why I posted, because I know I can't necessarily avoid them so wanted to arm myself with knowledge of how best to handle them.
I will try to find that thread you've referenced.

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Indecisive12 · 01/02/2021 17:09

I would say that we’ve been in the position where we’ve accepted an offer and then our ‘no chain’ buyers ended up with their buyers pulling out. We’d had an offer accepted to buy a house and so we put our house back on but said if buyers found another buyer quick enough we would cancel viewings, our seller did the same.
My friend has just been in the same position and even though they were happy with the offer they accepted they allowed viewings and offers again to avoid delays because of chain collapse further down. All parties involved were fully aware of the situation.
Could it be a similar situation? Although you’d expect EA to be open about that.

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 01/02/2021 17:44

Thanks indecisive. The EA was very vague. Maybe she's would have divulged more if I had viewed and expressed an interest.
Nice to know what the different possibilities were so if it was to happen again I know what to ask.
It's such a huge decision and process I want to avoid being totally blindsided/ totally ignorant

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GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 01/02/2021 17:57

Lots of offers fall through. I read not long ago that it’s around 50%. So I dare say the EA wanted another iron in the fire.
Or maybe he was hoping you’d make a better offer. Many people no longer seem to feel duty bound to stick with an offer they’ve accepted if a higher one comes along.

PowerslidePanda · 01/02/2021 18:01

I see... definitely trickier if the estate agent is one of the main ones for your area! However - that tactic still only works if the seller agrees to it. From a moral perspective, a lot wouldn't - plus a lot wouldn't want to keep getting the house ready for viewings if they didn't have to!

What I'd do in your position is a bit underhand - but it's only because of the behaviour you've already seen from the estate agent... I'd be explicitly clear when making the offer that the house is to come off the market. Then a few days later (before spending money on solicitors, etc) - I'd get a friend to phone them up... "I saw the house on Rightmove, but it went to Sold before I had chance to call you. I'm really keen - any chance I could view it anyway?" And if they allowed the viewing (not just a provisional "yes" from the estate agent, but got the seller to agree to it), I'd be withdrawing my offer.

GeorgiePorge · 01/02/2021 18:32

@IsabellaMozzarella

Like others have said Estate agents can do this, but encouraging gazumping of accepted offers is bad practice. My own experience is that most EA have a policy on not allowing this. It is possible the EA knew the chain was collapsing and that the property would be back on the market 'officially' in the near future.

If you are placing a strong offer on a property I suggest making it a condition of the offer that no further viewings take place. This is something I agreed both when selling and when buying.

House buying (and selling) can be really stressful. You will be told to 'leave emotions' out of any purchase, but I am yet to meet the person that can do that when they are looking at buying a home to live in.

You do need to have resilience though as lots of sales fall through for many different reasons outside of your control. The longer the chain the more things to go wrong. Keep positive, plan as if it will all go through, just be prepared it may not, or at the least might be bumpy on the way.

best of luck on finding your first home!

Original poster
IsabellaMozzarella · 02/02/2021 10:09

Thanks all.
Power, that's a great idea. I will deploy that tactic if required! My friend recently got gazumped. Must be gutting if you've spent money on a survey or anything.
Georgie, I will make it a condition. I agree about the heart. I know people obviously buy property as an investment but a lot of people are buying a home. How can you not get your heart involved in that?
We're in a good position, happily renting in a fab house and no stressful, time pressuring chain. So I hope that works in our favour.

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