What's going on here?

[SellingBee]

Both my friend and I are house hunting at the moment. She's not on Mumsnet so said I would post.

The house she liked had been on Rightmove for 6 days when she first viewed. She went for a 2nd viewing 4 days later. This itself is unusual as most houses are being snapped up in a couple of days so no chance for 2nd viewing. It has no curb appeal so we think that's why. It's also priced very high. Not completely ridiculous but higher that others of similar spec.

She put in an offer 5 grand under asking price. This was done in writing with proof of funds provided. When she did so the estate agent said there was already an offer on the table above asking price but it hasn't been accepted as they haven't sold their house. My friend has already accepted an offer on her current house. 36 hours later there was still no response from vendor. Friend contacted estate agent. Different person working and said she didn't know anything about it and there was nothing on computer. However she said vendor had popped into office so would have been told.

She also said more viewings were planned for weekend. Friend decided to offer asking price to avoid loosing property. That was Friday and she still hasn't heard anything back so the viewings obviously went ahead.

It all seems bizaare to me. I think it sounds like estate agents are very poor communicators but my friend thinks it's the vendor being rude by not responding to her offer. Any thoughts? I suggested she pop note through vendors door.

This sounds suspicious to me. At best, poor practice/communication by the estate agent, at worst the estate agent sounds like they could be trying to get an offer in for a friend or particular client.

I don’t understand op, if there is an offer above asking not being accepted until they can find a place, why do you feel they would accept or even wish to know about your friend offering less? Clearly she’s no chance?

@Begoniasforever but she has a buyer, so that puts her in a stronger position in terms of getting the transaction moving. The vendor could be waiting 6 months for the "in excess" bidder to get a buyer if their house isn't reasonably priced.

It does sound more likely that the EA has a buyer in mind and is deterring your friend OP.

They're holding out for a proceedable offer that's higher than your friend's.

Normal expectation at the moment is for a house to go above asking, so it makes sense that it's on the market for a week or two to get a flurry of viewings and then see what offers come forward.

They're not going to take an offer under asking less than a week after going on the market, especially in these times. Unless they've found somewhere and they need to have sold to proceed, they're not in a rush yet and can afford to give it a few more days.

Don't forget, it's half term and the Jubilee weekend. A lot of people will be away, but then also there could be people with time on their hands next weekend who could usefully go and view some houses.

@Justyouwaitandseeagain I agree, very suspicious.

@Begoniasforever The other person to offer hasn't sold their house yet so isn't able to proceed. My friend has accepted and offer on hers and her buyers have already completed their mortgage application so less chance of things going wrong due to under valuation etc. We don't know how much over the other party have offered. If it's loads sure they might wait but either way an offer would usually expect a response in my experience.

@PineappleWilson Yeah doesn't sound great. It's hard enough buying in the current climate without this!

She rang 3 times today and no answer so she's given up but understandebly she would rather have had closure.

@BarbaraofSeville You could be right. It's been on the market 2 weeks now which is unheard of round here for 3 bed detached but I can totally see why they would wait as they aren't in a hurry. The thing I find odd is the complete lack of communication. Not even the vendor has said no or the vendor is waiting to see what else comes in. Just no contact whatsoever. We lost out on a house last week but the estate agents marketing it were great at letting us know where everything was up to at each stage.

It's possible there's something nefarious happening but much more likely that with the speed of the market, vendor is waiting to see if the higher offer can become proceedable quickly.

Vendors aren't in a rush to move so happy to accept a higher offer and wait on sale.

If your friend gets within, say, £5k if that as proceedable they might change their minds or as PP said might wait to see if they get anything equal or higher and proceedable.

Btw we offered a lot higher than the eventually accepted offer because the vendor wanted a small chain. You just never know.