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Original poster

Viewing etiquette

23 replies

PeanutbutterPickle · 23/03/2021 16:01

Moving house for the first time in 23 years so a bit out of touch with the property market! Sold our house a couple of weeks ago- the house we wanted went to best & final offers and we lost out. Viewing another house this weekend and thinking of giving the seller my contact details and asking if they would let me know before accepting final offer if this sale also goes to best & final as we may be able to offer more. Is this too sneaky or acceptable if we really love the house?!

OP posts:

ThePricklySheep · 23/03/2021 16:03

For a start, wait and see if it goes to best and final offers before dong anything like that. As a seller, I’d run a mile of you started that at this point.

ThePricklySheep · 23/03/2021 16:03

*if you

Vodkabulary · 23/03/2021 16:06

Honestly I’d be put off by you doing that. House buying is stressful and although I’d clearly love getting the most cash for my property sneaking tactics in house buying wind me up!

hauntedvagina · 23/03/2021 16:08

I wouldn't recommend this. From a sellers perspective, you're paying an EA to deal with negotiations, not to get involved yourself.

If I was selling and had someone try to give me they contact details to sneak past best and final I'd be massively put off and probably wouldn't sell to you even if you were the highest bidder.

ChelseaCat · 23/03/2021 16:08

If it goes to best and final offers then give your best and final offer. In my view this means offering as much as you are willing to pay and that you wouldn’t go over this amount. Otherwise it’s a pretty pointless exercise?!

Bluntness100 · 23/03/2021 16:14

Surely you were told last time?

IamwhoIsayIam · 23/03/2021 16:35

I had an offer accepted after 'Best and Final' a sneaky buyer contacted the seller directly, offered considerably more and the buyer went with them. Even the agent was annoyed.

Ultimately it was wrong of the seller as it make a mockery of the FINAL part of best and final but it was also a nasty trick by the buyer.

May be the saying should be "alls fair in love, war and house-buying"

Original poster

PeanutbutterPickle · 23/03/2021 16:40

Thanks for the advice- guess I won’t be trying that then!! It’s just that all the houses in this area are going to best and final right now as too many buyers and not enough houses. Frustrating and I am feeling menopausal and impatient .....

OP posts:

Dinosauraddict · 24/03/2021 06:48

If you're that worried about losing out, then offer the max you think it's worth to you.

d1157959543599b000178 · 24/03/2021 07:51

My house went to best and final offers at 5 pm yesterday.
A previous viewer booked a second appointment at 4.30 yesterday to decide whether to bid or not.
They tried to put pressure on me on how much I wanted to take it off the market. It was excruciating and I did not like it one bit.
It was the only time I had done a viewing as it was booked so late.
By chance when one of the Estate Agents heard on their way home,she turned around and bombed over to mine.
She "pretended" she had got stuck in traffic when she arrived and took over the viewing.She was fuming so be careful OP.
I would not choose them as Estate Agents had been upfront what the situation was and I do not think it was fair on the proper bidders.

QueenStromba · 24/03/2021 10:32

@IamwhoIsayIam

I had an offer accepted after 'Best and Final' a sneaky buyer contacted the seller directly, offered considerably more and the buyer went with them. Even the agent was annoyed.

Ultimately it was wrong of the seller as it make a mockery of the FINAL part of best and final but it was also a nasty trick by the buyer.

May be the saying should be "alls fair in love, war and house-buying"

The exact same thing happened to me. It took a lot of self control not to post dog poo through their letter box after they moved in.

JimmyJazz · 24/03/2021 12:12

We had an estate agent come back to us to ask us if we wanted to revise our "best and final" offer because we weren't top, which made it pointless - and made me wonder why estate agents even do it? Isn't a bidding war better (for the seller and EA, not the buyer of course...)?

BigRedBoat · 24/03/2021 12:17

The clue is kind of in the name 'best and final', if you're actually willing to pay more it's not your best offer is it?

CupcakesK · 24/03/2021 12:20

Perhaps write a letter to the vendor when you put your offer in/when it goes to best and final explaining your situation and how much you love the house.

I know several people who went with someone they thought was a FTB/ no chain/cash buyer only to find out this wasn’t the case later and wished they had gone with someone else

Original poster

PeanutbutterPickle · 24/03/2021 13:06

Good idea @CupcakesK I will do that when we send our final offer in

OP posts:

dotdashdashdash · 24/03/2021 13:09

We had someone do this when we sold ours. It makes you come across a bit twatty I'm afraid.

dotdashdashdash · 24/03/2021 13:15

I should be clear - asking a vendor to contact you after best and final if you aren't the highest is twatty, not telling them how much you love the house!

Itscoldouthere · 24/03/2021 13:22

We had a few people trying to pressure us when we were selling, some of them then put in lower offers, they were cash buyers who obviously thought they were superior in some way.
We had identical offers in the end and decided on the people we engaged with more.
It’s such a weird thing really.
I’m about to try and buy again soon and I’m not looking forward to it 😳

Original poster

PeanutbutterPickle · 24/03/2021 13:35

yes was hoping complimenting their house won’t make me look twatty!!
Can’t wait until it’s all over and we are settled into a new home whichever one that might be. Will chat with owners on viewing, let them know we are ready to move and hope for the best

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Crimblecrumble1990 · 24/03/2021 13:46

To be honest I don't think you would really see the owners? Unless they are selling through purple bricks then the estate agent is likely to show you round. If you are UK based because of Covid safe practice I would be very surprised if the owners were in the house at the same time as you.

Original poster

PeanutbutterPickle · 24/03/2021 14:33

@Crimblecrumble1990. It has been owners only doing the viewings in our area. The estate agents aren’t attending at all- only going to properties for valuations

OP posts:

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 24/03/2021 14:52

People go to Best and Final as a way to avoid lots of back and forths and negotiations with different parties.

In any case, it isn't always money that swings it. When you say you have your house sold, do you mean under offer?

When you make your offer stress the points that make you 'proceedable' as this is often more important than an extra £1 or 2k .

If your buyers have no one below them in the chain, state that. Emphasise that you have your AIP in place for any uplift in mortgage, and stress how much equity you have in relation to loan - this tends to make lenders more relaxed and less likely to start imposing retentions etc. If you have an idea of the vendors preferred moving timetable (do they want to wait until the summer term has finished, or to reach completion as fast as possible, for example) state your ability / willingness to work within that timetable.

If you have actually sold your house and are chain free you will be in a v strong position.

Original poster

PeanutbutterPickle · 24/03/2021 15:02

Thanks @RainingBatsAndFrogs- this is really helpful. Our buyer isn’t part of a chain and is flexible with moving timetable, we’ve got mortgage agreement in place so hopefully we are in with a good chance

OP posts:

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