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Original poster

Is my vendor about to pull out?!

29 replies

YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 16:23

Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster.

DP and I had our offer accepted on a house a week ago today after a long process of searching and disappointment that I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with (wishing everyone all the luck in the world if you’re still searching!).

We offered on a house listed as “OIRO £X”. We went just over £15k higher than the base amount listed and nabbed it by apparently a few hundred. We’re very happy.

I’ve just gone back onto RM to get the original add to show a friend and the ad is now reading as OIRO £17k more than originally listed number which is an additional £2k above our accepted offer.

I’m terrified at what this random change means. It’s happened in the last couple of days, possibly today and has happened since our offer was accepted and since the ad was updated once already to show it as “SSTC”.

Is my seller about to pull out and relist? Anyone with EA knowledge or background know why the ad would be changed this late in the listing process?

Any thoughts or advice very welcome!

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 21/02/2022 16:25

Vendors have decided that if you will pay +£15k. someone else might pay +£18k.
They are bascially inviting gazumping

A580Hojas · 21/02/2022 16:30

Phone the vendor's Estate Agent. We don't know!

unfortunateevents · 21/02/2022 16:34

Honestly, you are wasting time posting here and waiting for replies. Phone the EA and ask what the heck is going on?

Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 17:05

I had phoned estate agent and was told that person I needed to ask was on other phone and person I was speaking with didn’t know why this had happened, hence me posting in meantime for thoughts. Sorry if it was a pointless post, just anxious.

OP posts:
tirednewmumm · 21/02/2022 17:17

Yes I think they're hoping someone else will offer more than you

Tulipvase · 21/02/2022 17:23

Your post is no more pointless than 90% of posts on here.

I really hope you get the news you want. Is the chain complete?

Northernlurker · 21/02/2022 17:25

Ring the agent and stay on the phone until you get the person handling it. Then ask them what they think they are playing at. Your offer was accepted. You are proceeding with the purchase. The house should be off right move or you walk away.

Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 17:31

Got a call back from the person in the know.

They said that they’ve upped the price on the ad because surveyors and mortgage valuers often look at RM ads and they wouldn’t want the house to be “downvalued”

She assured me there was nothing “sinister” going on but I’m still feeling wary about it all!

OP posts:
Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 17:32

Thank you Smile

As far as I’ve been told there’s no chain. We are in rented and vendor has already moved into their partner’s place

OP posts:
Imdoingitnow · 21/02/2022 17:35

You need this in writing

Tulipvase · 21/02/2022 17:35

That sounds plausible but it’s not something I’ve ever seen and it hasn't happened to me. Have you appointed a solicitor yet - mine was amazing but terrifying and I’d have been tempted to mention it and see what their thoughts were.

stealthninjamum · 21/02/2022 17:39

I wouldn’t trust that as an explanation. I’d be telling them you want the advert to say under offer or Sold stc. Basically you want a commitment that it’s not open for viewings.

unfortunateevents · 21/02/2022 17:41

Does the house still show as SSTC? I've never heard of an EA doing what this lot are suggesting. The surveyor isn't going to increase the valuation just because you have now (theoretically) paid less than the asking price? They might use comparables of other similar houses on the market as a guide but that would require the prices of those properties to be increased, not the one that you are buying? Do you have an undertaking from the EA not to arrange any other viewings of the property?

MadeForThis · 21/02/2022 17:45

Get a friend to phone up and ask to view the house.

Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 17:49

Yes the house is still showing as SSTC which was pointed out by the first person I spoke to and, even though they couldn’t answer the why, did confirm that this meant they wouldn’t be arranging any more viewings or taking anymore offers. Wondering now if I need that in writing though!

OP posts:
Summersdreaming · 21/02/2022 18:03

@MadeForThis

Get a friend to phone up and ask to view the house.
Definitely do this! In fact if they have an enquiries email get it in writing.
ISeeTheLight · 21/02/2022 18:08

I would be asking them to completely take it off RM. We actually added that to our offer we made a week ago (ie property won't be advertised, listed online in any way or offered to ant other parties).

spottedstick · 21/02/2022 19:35

I had this and I asked my mum to phone and visit the property, the agency was more than accommodating in letting her see the place despite us already having soma survey booked!
I really don't have much good to say about estate agents. Apparently some of them are good but I've never come across one as a home owner, seller and landlord.

OhFuckBloodyHell · 21/02/2022 19:42

Thing is though, I think I'm right in saying:

Assume they're telling the truth re no viewings (I wouldn't, btw) if they get an offer without a viewing, they are legally obliged to pass it on to the seller.

I'd be telling them my offer requires them to take it off rightmove / their website / out the bloody window and if that hasn't happened by lunchtime tomorrow you're withdrawing your offer and resuming viewing other properties.

My worry is, it's a sellers market. They might say 'no, ta.' So that's a risk.

Lastqueenofscotland · 21/02/2022 19:44

It will likely be so the mortgage company don’t downvalue it. I wouldn’t worry

Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 19:47

@spottedstick that’s horrible, I’m sorry that happened to you. When you say you had the same, do you mean with the upping of advertised price after offer accepted? What was the outcome in your situation if you don’t mind me asking?

OP posts:
Original poster
YankeeFanatic · 21/02/2022 19:51

Thanks for the replies and advice! My worry with pushing for the ad to come down is, if they say no, I’m worried about threatening to pull out because we really love the house. It’s perfect for us in every way (subject to survey lol) and I wouldn’t want to pull out. That said, I don’t want to waste lots of time and money on surveys / solicitors if they’re still accepting viewings so I think getting a friend to call and ask about viewing may be the way to go!

OP posts:
bellac11 · 21/02/2022 19:54

Ive never heard of this being for the reason they gave, I would say they need to remove the ad from rightmove.

spottedstick · 21/02/2022 19:54

I didn't actually explain that well, yes, the vendor had already expected more after we had an offer accepted so we agreed and gave more, then after this, the property reappeared for even more on an advert. At this point we asked the estate agent what's going on and they said all was ok not to worry it's just an old advert that's reappeared, they must have thought us absolutely daft to think we believed it so we got my mum to phone and see. They were definitely lying and showed my mum around as they would any potential buyer my mum even asked if they've had any offers to which they said one but it hadn't been accepted. It had been, by email!

Good luck with yours, it could still be ok but I have had so much problems with estate agents I am wary to say the least.

Bubbles456 · 21/02/2022 19:55

I have recently sold my house for 15k over asking price and my EA did exactly this. It is to try and protect the vendor from having their property downvalued by your mortgage company.