Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Has anyone ever offered on a property that was already sstc?

14 replies

TeacherKS1 · 30/03/2022 13:33

We are cash buyers (due to awful circumstances) and are trying to get on to the property ladder. We just missed out on a great house and I can’t stop thinking about it.
The house needs complete renovation and you wouldn’t really be able to live there until it was finished. Waiting lists for building work is around 7/8 months until start date. We are fortunate to be renting and able to afford to stay here until the house is ready.
I’m wondering if the house has been bought by a developer.
I’m wondering whether to put a note through the door to say we are interested in buying.
Has anyone ever done this? It feels completely immoral but I’m so sad and keen to give my children some stability.

OP posts:
jusdepamplemousse · 30/03/2022 13:34

All’s fair. The vendors can only say yes or no. Go for it.

DistaffSide · 30/03/2022 13:40

No. But what I have done is contact an estate agent to register interest in a property should it come back in the market if the sake falls through.

I didn't get it and it turned out to have sold for 20k over asking so I wouldn't have been competitive as a purchaser.

My sister recently sold and people were continuing to make offers, well over asking through the estate agents. Apparently they were legally obliged to pass them in although they knew she wouldn't entertain them.

Roselilly36 · 30/03/2022 13:46

The only advice I would give if the vendors accepted an offer from you, what would stop them from doing the same to you? They would also still have to pay the EA their commission etc. Personally I would keep looking, but entirely your call. Good luck in your search, I hope you get a property soon.

TatianaBis · 30/03/2022 13:54

Ring the agents and let them know you’re a cash buyer who can step in if the purchase falls apart.

Some agents mark houses sold when they’re still under offer and some don’t until after completion - it depends where they are.

I recently bought a flat as investment property that was under offer when I first saw it. I rang the agent several times to see how the sale was progressing, and 2 months on I was the first person they called when the buyer pulled out.

Original poster
TeacherKS1 · 30/03/2022 13:57

Thank you. I have already registered interest and am on the reserve list should the sale fall through. I offered £10k over asking price so no idea what the successful offer is. I could increase my offer a bit if I had to.

OP posts:
TatianaBis · 30/03/2022 14:09

Have you asked them how the sale is progressing? Is it a mortgage purchase?

It’s super worth calling the agents and charming them - so they call you first.

otherusername · 30/03/2022 14:17

If it is being bought by a developer they may be interested in selling to you once it's renovated? Or they may sell it for a bit more than they paid without doing anything?

Billandben444 · 30/03/2022 14:36

Sounds as though you're only guessing it's gone to a developer so how would you feel if you were the couple who've committed to buying it and were gazumped at the last minute by someone with deeper pockets? Leave your details with agent and if it falls through...

RealRaymondReddington · 30/03/2022 14:38

No. How would you feel if you got to within say a week of exchange and the same happened to you? Something better for you is bound to come up, but don't tread on other people to get it.

Original poster
TeacherKS1 · 30/03/2022 17:48

Thank you. I think I’ll keep in touch with the estate agent and see what happens.

OP posts:
Pookymalooky · 30/03/2022 18:06

Morally no I would never. But some people would. It’s a pretty disgusting practice tbh but as we don’t have a decent system it allows this behaviour to happen.

Starseeking · 30/03/2022 20:25

You are asking if anyone here has been successful in gazumping before? Morally wrong, legally fine. As long as you don't mind if it happens to you down the line, or on another property, go for it Confused

Lunalicious · 30/03/2022 22:01

We were in a similar position and called the agents to say we loved the house and please let us know if it comes available again. A few weeks later we got the call to say it was about to come back on the market, so we put a new offer in and we exchanged last week!

lemontova · 31/03/2022 16:53

Sometimes sales do fall through so worth throwing your hat in the ring. A week after closing date our (cash) buyer pulled out. We were lucky that it was so soon really as our second choice buyer was still looking and delighted to get a call from the EA. If it had been further down the line we would have been happy to consider new offers though.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page