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Original poster

Offer rejected but still invited for second viewing

33 replies

Gaab1900 · 03/11/2021 06:31

Good morning everyone,

I’m in a very strange situation. My offer on a house was rejected yesterday for a second time. I arranged a second viewing on Monday. Whilst the EA mentioned that my offer was rejected and the vendor wanted a higher offer, she also mentioned that there were no offers so far. And asked me to come to the second viewing anyway.

I am not sure how to read this? Is she hoping that I will increase my offer or is there still a chance to get the property for the price I’ve offered?

OP posts:
GeorgeTheFirst · 03/11/2021 06:34

Both!

FingersofFish · 03/11/2021 06:37

I would have assumed they are expecting a higher offer after second viewing.

rrhuth · 03/11/2021 06:38

If you are still interested in the house, go for the second viewing. You lose nothing and you can a) check the house more thoroughly and b) say to the EA you will leave your offer on the table and they should come back to you if anyone offers more.

Some people revise their price expectations over time.

Silkieschickens · 03/11/2021 06:49

I would say they are hoping for a higher offer or to use your offer to get a higher offer out of someone else but there is a smaller chance if that fails they will back down and accept yours. I would keep looking elsewhere as well.

StormyTeacups · 03/11/2021 07:29

That doesn't sound in the least bit strange Confused the vendor has just refused your offer, but you're welcome to continue to engage or whatever and up your offer if you see fit

TheLette · 03/11/2021 08:20

They could be hoping that a second viewing - timed alongside other viewers - will drive up the interest and encourage another offer. So perhaps say no to the second viewing for now (don't help them drive the price up!) and just ask them to come back to you after the weekend. Say you remain interested but for now your offer is as is. You could also ask what kind of offer the seller is willing to accept, to work out how far you are apart.

SpookyPumpkinPants · 03/11/2021 08:26

I'd go & have another look around, then decide how you feel. You can raise/drop your offer, or leave your current offer on the table. If I was going to leave it on the table I'd do it for a limited time, probably 48 hours.

It's all smoke & mirrors

MrsMoastyToasty · 03/11/2021 08:37

I would go but would take the time to look at the structure of the building rather than the aesthetics. If you go ahead and make an offer then at least you can say to your surveyor "I noticed that xyz was a bit iffy can you take a look at it in detail? ". Then it will be flagged on the survey and you have a bargaining point.

LawnFever · 03/11/2021 08:39

It’s not particularly strange, they want a higher offer and hope that after a second viewing you’ll love the house so much you’ll raise your offer.

Can you go higher? Do you want to? If not tell them that’s your final offer but be prepared to lose the house.

DaisyNGO · 03/11/2021 08:42

doesn't sound strange, sadly

Is it nearby? If so, then go for a second viewing. Then just say "nah".

Unless you really want the place of course.

steppemum · 03/11/2021 08:46

@Silkieschickens

I would say they are hoping for a higher offer or to use your offer to get a higher offer out of someone else but there is a smaller chance if that fails they will back down and accept yours. I would keep looking elsewhere as well.
this. They are keeping their options open, and hoping you will up your offer
Namechangedox · 03/11/2021 08:55

I hate this why doesn't the vendor say what they bloody want instead of all the guessing games , I'm not a mind reader !!

Biggleton · 03/11/2021 09:15

@Namechangedox Isn’t that what the asking price is for?

SeasonFinale · 03/11/2021 09:16

@Namechangedox

I hate this why doesn't the vendor say what they bloody want instead of all the guessing games , I'm not a mind reader !!
The vendor has said what they want.

They have said the offer is too low.

They have said the potential buyer can still come to the arranged second viewing if they want to.

Absolutely nothing ambiguous at all.

fuddleducks · 03/11/2021 10:47

They are hoping that you will increase your offer after a second viewing. They obviously want to retain your interest.

Offer what the house is worth to you and no more.

Londongent · 03/11/2021 11:21

I'd just ask the EA what the vendors realistically want for the house. Puts the ball in your court

CombatBarbie · 03/11/2021 11:48

How long has the house been on the market? Is it overpriced or does your budget not allow you to go to asking price?

If there are no other offers and it's been on a while I'd leave the offer on the table and take the 2nd viewing to show willing that you are serious about buying it.

Bells3032 · 03/11/2021 12:35

We had this happen last July (2020). Loved the house on first viewing. We were chain free and recognised the house wasn't worth what it was on for as it needed a bit of work. They rejected our offer in the hope we'd come in a bit higher. We went for a second viewing and decided actually the issues were bigger than we thought and if we went any higher we wouldn't be able be to do the repairs.

So we walked away. We found another house we loved which was cheaper and in a better position for us. A month later they came back accepting our offer but it was too late.

I just saw on the estate agents facebook that they exchanged on the house yesterday - 16 months later.

greenlynx · 03/11/2021 12:45

I think the vendor is hoping that you will increase your offer. You can always cancel the second viewing which will send them a message that you don’t want to offer more. However I would go for the second viewing to be sure you haven’t missed anything.

Original poster
Gaab1900 · 04/11/2021 05:31

Thanks for your reply everyone. It is much appreciated. For me it felt ambiguous as I did tell her that after the second I wouldn’t be able to increase my offer that was it. I just financially can’t afford it. It’s my max.

Then she started to talk about the owner not wanting to settle for what I offered 6% below the asking price (offered 590k asking price 625k). Which is decent. Considering that the fence is broken (front and back) paint is coming of the window frames.. Garden looks terrible..
The house was redecorated by the previous owner. This owner bought the house in 2012 and everything looks the same (well worse actually). So no further investments made. The property is currently a rental. Owner bought the house for 363k.

She kept going on about a similar that was sold for 618k last year on another road. But I could’ve afford that if it was stamp duty holiday.. The price for that property is just not comparable especially because that other house was newly refurbished. Then she started to talk about another house that was sold for 624k which was a three bed (I offered on a two bed) and 400sq larger and better condition. The layout of the other houses is also much better. Bathroom upstairs with two rooms and extension downstairs (larger kitchen). House I offered on didn’t have the extension and bathroom downstairs.

When I showed my disappointment in the rejected offer she kept saying don’t worry don’t worry. Just come and see the house again on Thursday don’t cancel it and we can talk. Nobody has offered so far.

I decided to cancel the viewing to send out a strong signal. Mentioned in the email that I can’t afford to put in a higher offer and therefore cancel the viewing. I also asked her to contact me if she finds something within my budget. If they come back, I can always ask for a second viewing.

I am the first that viewed and put in an offer. That might got the vendors hopes up. The most expensive house on the street was sold last year. Is larger than the one I offered on was newly refurbished and went for less than I offered on this tiny house (de 585k).

I guess it’s on to the next. I know that another one will be marketed soon on the same street. The EA did mention that it needs to be ‘updated’ but ready to move in. Marketed at 550k.

OP posts:
Yusanaim · 04/11/2021 05:49

Is she the EA or the seller?
I would think maybe the EA thinks it's overpriced.
I would have gone for a second viewing as you don't know the vendor's situation - they might have spotted something they need to bid on soon so might reconsider your offer. Can you scrape another thousand or 500 if it hasn't gone in another week or so?

evelynhugo · 04/11/2021 05:58

This just happened to me. I had to wait 3 weeks before they accepted my offer. I think they were hoping they would get other offers and raise the price in a bidding war. I held fast at my offer and waited which was really hard. I also leafletted the road and had three other properties come back to me who wanted to sell. One was viable and I told the estate agent I would buy that one if they didn't either accept my offer or come back with the figure that they would immediately proceed with. They accepted! I move in December snd I'm so excited. Hang in there!

maofteens · 04/11/2021 06:03

A second viewing is always a good idea before you put in any offer, thought the heat of the market in the last year has prevented that in many cases. But that isn't the issue here, so if they do come back to you I'd insist on another viewing.
Stand firm, your offer is still on the table. Also if they do eventually accept your offer and there are still tenants there do not exchange until they have vacated.

Redsquirrel5 · 04/11/2021 06:52

Do I understand correctly that you cancelled a second viewing? I would never view a house only once if I was interested and my budget is a lot lower than yours. You see so much more in the second viewing and I turn carpets up at the corner if possible to check floorboards, damp etc. I never offer without a second viewing first. You can register interest after the first viewing then the EA keeps you informed.

Go for a second viewing and take a notebook. Do your homework on estimates and stick to the price if that is all you can afford and state why. Let them know why you think the other houses sold for more.
Leave your offer on the table or withdraw it if you have changed your mind. I have left a lower offer on the table on a house and they took it. I also let the agent know I was viewing other properties.
They may come back to you.

Original poster
Gaab1900 · 07/11/2021 11:34

Hi @yusanaim, It’s the EA. The seller doesn’t live in the property. She lives elsewhere. According to the EA she is happy to just wait and get an offer as close as possible to the asking price.

OP posts:
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