How long should I wait for a response from vendor

[Gettingthereslowly2020]

I made an offer on a property slightly below full asking price. I made the offer on 13th September but still haven't received a response. Is that normal?

I've sent an email to the estate agent each day asking if there has been a response but he keeps saying they're vendor is difficult to get hold of. I'm wondering if that is a bad sign. It's a buy to let owner and the property is now empty.

I haven't sent my daily email yet, what should I say? Or should I leave it and look at other properties? I'm a FTB with a decent deposit.

I think that's too long personally, and in the climate I'd be wondering if they're taking other viewings and hoping for a better offer.

I think that's exactly what they're doing. I've sent my daily email asking for an update. I've said I want a response from the vendor either way.

I'd give it a week and keep looking at other properties in the meantime. You can always withdraw your offer.

You're under no obligation to keep your offer exclusive just as the vendor is under no obligation to keep the property off the market until they accept any offer.

Look at other properties (if there are any) you might find something you like better. If the vendor really wanted to accept or negotiate they would have done so by now.

You can keep looking and offering if that works for you (speaking from experience as I had three weekends of making 3-4 offers before one was finally accepted). Don't feel any loyalty to a vendor!

The estate agent said he can't get hold of them, he said he's stopped all viewings until they respond to my offer. I think he's getting a bit annoyed with them too now

But yes, I will keep looking for something else

If the vendor really wanted to accept or negotiate they would have done so by now.

This. It’s pretty obvious they are waiting to see if they get an increased offer from another interested party. You would do this if you were selling yourself surely?

If you really want this particular property, increase your offer to the asking price or as high as you can go/think the property is worth and give them 24 hours.

Otherwise play the game and be prepared to be refused or gazumped.

I’d leave it. Your best case is that he accepts but is really difficult to get hold of. Our buyer is a nightmare to get hold of and it’s slowed everything down immensely, it takes four or five days of chasing to get any reply, even a half-hearted one.

Yes, my worry is that even if they accept my offer, they could then take ages to respond to everything else