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Original poster

I'VE FOUND MY DREAM PROPERTY- how do I navigate the viewing/putting in an offer?

99 replies

dottypencilcase · 07/04/2022 20:36

After looking for months and viewing over 57 houses (in random locations- we can work anywhere because of WFH), I've found my dream- ABSOLUTE DREAM- property!!! It's in an area I've been praying a house becomes available and it has!!! It was added on Rightmove today and I want to view it NOW! I've sent the EA an enquiry but want to know how I should navigate next steps? I want to offer without viewing but that's not an option so apart from dancing through the house when I'm there, what should I do? Should I share how excited I am and how much I want the house or should I play it cool? I don't want to be overpaying for the house but want it regardless. It's currently £55K under our max budget. Should I put in an offer on the spot or play it safe and do the overnight thinking thing? Please help me secure this house!

OP posts:
SpeckledlyHen · 08/04/2022 12:56

@Swisscheeseleaves

It’s OK to put in an offer later that day, or the next day. Probably not from the car as you drive away, though

I viewed 40 houses when i was looking for my current house. I saw my one and it was perfect. Made a call to the estate agent while sitting in the car after the viewing and offered full asking price and it was accepted and taken off the market within 2 hours. Been here 10 very happy years.

In the current climate i wouldn't be pissing about if i loved the house. Get your offer in.

Absolutely this. I have been looking for a house for a year. You can't hang around, they are literally sold within a week. The house I just bought had 6 offers on it, most at or over asking.
Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 13:34

Update!

I called the agency first thing this morning and there had already been 7 viewings booked in for Saturday- I was to be number 8! Had a lovely chat with the receptionist and told her how excited I was for tomorrow and it was a shame we couldn't view today as we'd most definitely make an offer. Lots of other pleasantries and then said bye. I got a call 5 mins later from her but missed it as was sorting toddlers out. Got another call a few minutes later and the receptionist told me that the company director had overheard our conversation and could tell how enthusiastic I was and had agreed to show us around this morning instead- I nearly fainted on the spot but told her I loved her (yes I did) and would see him at the property in an hour! Went ahead and almost ran at him for a hug for getting us in first! Resisted the urge. Got in and lost control and from the hysteria of not getting much sleep last night and worry of wanting the secure the house, launched straight in and gave him a very honest picture of our position and finances. He said he appreciated my honesty and would have to honour tomorrow's viewings but would see what he could do over the weekend. I did a little dance just before we left and then hugged the guy! The house itself is one of the smallest we've seen but it's got such a good feel about it- tall ceilings, original fireplace still in place downstairs, a butler sink and a range cooker in the kitchen- I'm in love! All we'd need to do to this place is move our current furniture in and that's it. There's potential to go into the loft and extend out into the garden but that's something we can't do atm. The layout needs rejigging at some point but again, not for a few years yet. The house is close to the station but we couldn't hear any train noise. There's no allocated parking and I thought that would be a deal breaker for my husband but he didn't even flinch- just shrugged his shoulders and said it didn't matter (previously I'd been told he wouldn't move unless the house had a drive/garage). So, I've sent the EA an email following the wonderful advice Ive got from this thread and now must wait... we're going to continue the viewings we've got booked in for tomorrow but I really don't want to. However, I must engage the sensible part of my brain and keep our options open 'just in case'.

OP posts:
cutebutscary · 08/04/2022 13:35

Oh I'm feeling your excitement !! We are trying to buy our dream home too at the moment tho it's taking forever ( since December due to hold ups in the chain ) I have felt so excited at times I could burst . Driven past the house a zillion times , watched the YouTube video of it over 300 times in the last few months Blush . I really really hope you get it !!! Keep us updated 😃

Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 13:36

Ps. We put an offer in at the asking price and said our maximum would be £650- that's £15 over asking. Again, overpaying is not something I agree with. In the past, I've blamed people who do this as being responsible for pushing up prices on an already over-inflated property market but I broke away from all that today and joined them!

OP posts:
Whinge · 08/04/2022 13:37

I'm really pleased to hear you managed to view the property. Grin Perhaps I missed it in your update but have you actually made an offer?

Whinge · 08/04/2022 13:39

Opps crossed posted with you there. Is there a reason you've only offered the asking price, especially as you know there are other viewings tomorrow?

cutebutscary · 08/04/2022 13:39

God you will be shitting it all day Saturday thinking about all the other people viewing your house !! Can't they just put your offer to the vendors to see if they accept before tomorrow so the other viewings can be cancelled ? I'd be like a cat on a hot tin roof

SpiderinaWingMirror · 08/04/2022 14:06

Really pleased too. Bit perplexed that you can live anywhere but are willing to pay £650 for the smallest house you have seen with no parking, which was a must have! As the saying goes "what's meant to be won't pass you buy". If you don't get, you may well find a bigger house with parking!

Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 14:16

We've offered the asking price based on the EA's advice. He thinks if we offer over as the first people to see it, the vendor might think the property is underpriced and might want it listed higher. He seemed like a genuine person so we've said we'll leave it to him how he puts our offer to the vendor.

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 08/04/2022 14:16

@Whinge

I'm really pleased to hear you managed to view the property. Grin Perhaps I missed it in your update but have you actually made an offer?
Grin Somewhere between the hug and the happy dance, I think.

Good luck! There’s nothing like finding your dream house! We’ve just sold and are embarking on this daunting mission, I’m going to take some of your joie de vivre with me!

Kyrae · 08/04/2022 14:20

Good luck, that sounds fantastic!!! :D It's a bad move offering asking price and saying you can afford more though... the estate agent works for the seller, not you, so they'll probably try and say something to make you pay your maximum as they knows you're willing to pay it, and wants maximum commission. I know it's hard knowing what to say to them when you're offering and excited though :D

Another tactic is to be the first viewer and come in at your best price immediately when you love a house so much and don't mind overpaying a bit, and offer on the condition it's taken off the market immediately and all viewings cancelled (estate agents can absolutely do this, they don't have to honour viewings), that works sometimes, especially if the seller really likes you and doesn't want the hassle of an open day! :)

Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 14:20

@SpiderinaWingMirror

Really pleased too. Bit perplexed that you can live anywhere but are willing to pay £650 for the smallest house you have seen with no parking, which was a must have! As the saying goes "what's meant to be won't pass you buy". If you don't get, you may well find a bigger house with parking!
Everything fits, that's why! We were willing to move out of the area for a bigger place but would be compromising on commute times to work/the Children’s nursery, good schools and we'd be maxing ourselves out which would mean high mortgage repayments, etc. offering £40K lower than our maximum would mean our journey times to work/nursery remain the same, neighbouring area to where we currently live and we'd be £200-300 better off every month. Plus we could also put a bigger deposit down/have money left over for minor repairs, etc.
OP posts:
Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 14:24

@Kyrae

Good luck, that sounds fantastic!!! :D It's a bad move offering asking price and saying you can afford more though... the estate agent works for the seller, not you, so they'll probably try and say something to make you pay your maximum as they knows you're willing to pay it, and wants maximum commission. I know it's hard knowing what to say to them when you're offering and excited though :D

Another tactic is to be the first viewer and come in at your best price immediately when you love a house so much and don't mind overpaying a bit, and offer on the condition it's taken off the market immediately and all viewings cancelled (estate agents can absolutely do this, they don't have to honour viewings), that works sometimes, especially if the seller really likes you and doesn't want the hassle of an open day! :)

It's a vacant/chain-free property and we were told the vendor wanted things to move quickly but equally would be willing to wait for the right offer. Also, because there's just a day between our viewing and the multiple booked in tomorrow, the EA felt the vendor might take our offer as an indication that others would offer over asking too. I left it to him to decide but he knows where we stand. I'm hoping the people viewing tomorrow are out off by lack of parking and the relatively small garden at the back- please God!
OP posts:
Whinge · 08/04/2022 14:26

@dottypencilcase

We've offered the asking price based on the EA's advice. He thinks if we offer over as the first people to see it, the vendor might think the property is underpriced and might want it listed higher. He seemed like a genuine person so we've said we'll leave it to him how he puts our offer to the vendor.
Surely the vendor had several valuations and knows what the market is like in their area?

Whilst I understand not wanting to go too high for your initial offer, there are 7 more viewings tomorrow, and I'd be very surprised by a popular house only recieving asking price offers. It also doesn't help that you've told the agent you're happy to go 15k more, as they're definitely going to pass that back to the seller.

I really hope you get the house, but if it's your dream and you haven't found anything else close in the last few months I would have made a strong offer over asking price, especially as you're lucky it's significantly under your top budget.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 08/04/2022 14:56

Ah well! Best of luck with it all. Fingers crossed you get the right outcome!!

Wagsandclaws · 08/04/2022 15:32

Gosh I hope you get it OP.

We viewed our current house and I knew before we viewed it that it was our dream house - it ticked all the boxes.

We offered 5k over asking ( this was 2.5 years ago when the market was a bit calmer ) and had our offer accepted.

We were renting before so it was relatively easy as it's barn conversion that the builder had done so no chain either.

I really am keeping everything crossed for you!

tokyotolondon · 08/04/2022 15:47

Good luck. I can't wait for the day our 'dream property' comes on the market Smile id say definitely worth letting them know you're excited to see it. Make an impression on the EA so they're more likely to remember you/recommend you. Not OTT but sellers could have a more emotional attachment to the home so more likely to go with someone who they feel will really love it. Great that it's under budget so you have scope to comfortably offer over if you need to, to secure it. You will need to update us with how you get on!

Rosylarose · 08/04/2022 15:57

@FleeceNavidadfromtheSheep

You've 'sent an enquiry'? You need to be on the phone charming the agent to be first through the door. Assume you are proceed-able?
This. You have to strike up a relationship with the agent. Charm them. Get want them on your side. Don't be too coy.
Daisydoesnt · 08/04/2022 16:03

I really hope you get the house, but if it's your dream and you haven't found anything else close in the last few months I would have made a strong offer over asking price, especially as you're lucky it's significantly under your top budget

OP if you really want to secure the property one thing to consider would be making your very, very best offer this evening, but make it dependent on the viewings tomorrow being cancelled.

Unfortunately at the moment what you've got is a scenario where the agent has a whole Saturday of viewings lined up, with an asking price offer already in his back pocket. You have in effect set the benchmark for everyone else to bid against. For the agent, this is his dream situation.

If you really want this house, you need to get it off the market tonight. Go in hard now or you will EXTREMELY likely be in a bidding war come Monday anyway.

Summersdreaming · 08/04/2022 16:04

You sound mega excited, understandably! But you've mentioned quite a few compromises there - small, no parking, layout. Sleep on it OP, look at it with your head and heart.

Saying that I knew I'd buy my house before I'd viewed it so I'm no one to talk Grin

Daisydoesnt · 08/04/2022 16:05

Another tactic is to be the first viewer and come in at your best price immediately when you love a house so much and don't mind overpaying a bit, and offer on the condition it's taken off the market immediately and all viewings cancelled (estate agents can absolutely do this, they don't have to honour viewings), that works sometimes, especially if the seller really likes you and doesn't want the hassle of an open day!

Agree with this....especially OP given how much you love the house.

Original poster
dottypencilcase · 08/04/2022 16:25

I feel like £650,000 is a fair and respectable offer and what the ceiling price of the house is. We're getting a mortgage on the property and don't want to offer too much and get down valued later on. We'd probably up the offer by another £5K at a push but wouldn't exceed that. Dream property or not, I don't want us to be silly and get carried away.

OP posts:
Daisydoesnt · 08/04/2022 16:55

sounds very wise!

Hope90x · 08/04/2022 19:07

Ahh OP good luck!!

I found myself in this position at the beginning of the year. The vendor showed us around the house personally and we were very honest about our circumstances, occupations and plans to start a family imminently.

We complimented the beautiful house and advised the size, spaces and area were just what we were looking for.

We walked away having been among the first 3 viewers and decided that other houses in the area had gone for roughly 20-30k over asking price so we went in with an initial offer of 10k over asking. We knew it was well worth it.

The EA rang us back within 2 hours and said the vendor accepted the offer and cancelled all further viewings - the EA said we essentially scared the other viewers off but also that the vendor liked us for his home.

Hope it all works out for you 😊

SarahBellam · 09/04/2022 08:38

It’s amazing what’s important to people. I’m convinced we got ours because my brother and sister had the same occupation as the vendor - her son was selling the house as she was going into a care home, and he was nodding enthusiastically when we were telling him about ourselves - almost like he was ticking off a mental checklist; and because we were a young family. Some of the houses locally were being converted into flats so showing up with a one year old and a four year old, with the four year old excitedly asking which room would be hers, seemed to tip the scales in our favour. Of course, not needing to sell and having a mortgage offer in place probably helped too!