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Original poster

EA telling people not to make an offerl

63 replies

Highho · 14/08/2022 16:25

We viewed a house yesterday that ticked a lot of boxes for our family. It needs a lot of work but has potential and we would move there with a view to living there for the foreseeable.

Our current home is not on the market. We've had it valued and are finishing off the garden and then it will be advertised. When we explained this to the agent yesterday, he told us to not bother making an offer as we would be overlooked having not sold ours yet.

I've never known an estate agent try to dissuade a potential buyer before and when I arranged the viewing in the first place, I had to explain our current situation. Why didn't they say don't bother then!

Is this really how the market is now? Would you still try to put an offer in?

OP posts:
Anniefrenchfry · 14/08/2022 16:27

Yes generally you need t be on the market, so he’s right, no point making an offer till then. Before that you’re all talk and no trousers. Most folks wouldn’t entertain you.

33Carr · 14/08/2022 16:29

We got advised not to even bother viewing a property as ours wasn't on the market yet!

MolliciousIntent · 14/08/2022 16:30

Yeah no one is going to sell to someone who's house isn't on the market, so you making an offer is just a waste of the EA's time.

Beees · 14/08/2022 16:30

Things might be slowing down in terms of the market but yes that's not at all abnormal. You say you're almost ready to go on the market but if that was true surely you could be on the market already? Until you're actually on the market you're not proceedable and an offer is pointless.

HippeePrincess · 14/08/2022 16:31

I’m surprised they even let you view without your own house being sstc.

Christmasiscominghohoho · 14/08/2022 16:31

Yeh we got told the same thing

2bazookas · 14/08/2022 17:09

I employ as estate agent to advertise the property AND to filter the responses so that I don't waste time with viewings by no hopers and timewasters.

Many sellers already have a time-frame; a date by which they need to start a new job/move the kids school / get paid for the house they are selling to buy the next one.

You're not cash buyers. As your money is tied up in a house that's not ready for sale or on the market you've got no date on the horizon.

NotApplicable · 14/08/2022 17:12

My house is currently on the market. I wouldn't accept any offers from anyone whose current home wasn't on the market yet if they weren't a cash buyer with the funds already there. It will halt all my plans to move on. It's completely wasting my time when I can accept an offer from someone who is ready to go.

Ohnonevermind · 14/08/2022 17:20

We bought our new house (moved in a month ago). Our own house isn’t on the market yet but someone has put in a deposit on it having contacted the estate agent who will be selling it

The estate agent didn’t even want to show us the house but luckily we were able to contact the vendor directly who told the agent to arrange a viewing.

EinsteinaGogo · 14/08/2022 17:27

Only accepting offers from buyers who can actually proceed makes sense.

I think you will feel the same when your own house is on the market.

I don't know why they allowed you to view though. Seems counter-intuitive.

Clymene · 14/08/2022 17:32

Why would anyone be interested in an offer from you? You haven't even put your house on the market.

You don't have the money to buy the house you went to look at.

And this is nothing new. I last bought and sold property over 10 years' ago and it was what you did then - sell your property, then look for something to buy.

crumpet · 14/08/2022 17:35

Yep. I’m helping a relative sell their house and we are 100% not interested in even letting people view the property unless at a minimum they are already under offer.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/08/2022 17:36

Yep, why would anyone accept an offer when you haven't sold, how have you come up with your offer if you don't know how much you are getting for your house? You aren't proceedable, and who knows how long itvwould take you to sell your house

Choice4567 · 14/08/2022 17:38

Two years ago I wasn’t allowed to view or offer on houses unless my house was sstc

Dougieowner · 14/08/2022 17:40

HippeePrincess · 14/08/2022 16:31

I’m surprised they even let you view without your own house being sstc.

This.

We sold earlier this year and potential buyers who weren't already sold and living in temporary accommodation weren't even allowed a viewing.

girlmom21 · 14/08/2022 17:53

This is standard. You're not in a position to buy.

Kite22 · 14/08/2022 17:55

Another who is surprised they even let you view in the current climate.

No-one would accept an offer from someone who hadn't even put their house on the market. That's not new. That's not even in a slow market.
You aren't in a position to buy or even close to it.

Hurdling · 14/08/2022 17:56

yes most won’t arrange viewings if you’re not on the market yet.

Original poster
Highho · 14/08/2022 17:56

@HippeePrincess That's the most annoying part! They could have told us on the phone when we arranged the viewing and then we wouldn't have got our hopes up for nothing. They specifically asked about our position and never mentioned a thing 🙄

OP posts:
Anniefrenchfry · 14/08/2022 17:57

I’m also surprised they were allowed to view normally agents don’t allow it,if you aren’t even on the market. Weeds out the time wasters.

Original poster
Highho · 14/08/2022 17:58

Thanks for your messages all. This is the first time we've moved so it's all new but it just seemed like a bit of a slap in the face 😂

OP posts:
Anniefrenchfry · 14/08/2022 17:58

Highho · 14/08/2022 17:56

@HippeePrincess That's the most annoying part! They could have told us on the phone when we arranged the viewing and then we wouldn't have got our hopes up for nothing. They specifically asked about our position and never mentioned a thing 🙄

so Put it on the market first thing tomorrow.

Beees · 14/08/2022 18:01

Highho · 14/08/2022 17:56

@HippeePrincess That's the most annoying part! They could have told us on the phone when we arranged the viewing and then we wouldn't have got our hopes up for nothing. They specifically asked about our position and never mentioned a thing 🙄

It's not the agents fault though. It's frustrating they let you view and as the vendor I'd be cross as it was a waste of everyone's time but equally maybe the agents got their wires crossed.

It was a bit daft to even bother trying to arrange a viewing in your position. It's pretty obvious you're not in a proceeable position or able to make an offer.

Bananacrumpet · 14/08/2022 18:07

Yes to be honest I wouldn't bother accepting an offer (or allowing a viewing) for someone who wasn't on the market. Annoying they were not clear but your offer means nothing until you've moving ahead with your sale.

We actually said we weren't interested in anyone viewing who wasn't already under offer. We then had an open day. We had 15 viewers on that day and just did best and final. We went with the second to best price because they were first time buyers and their mortgage was in place etc.

We viewed the house we wanted the next day. Again best and final. We put an extra 5K in the pot on the basis our seller for our new property chain broke as they were buying a new build (notorious for delays). They did. Completed in 8 weeks.

This was before the market went covid silly. The market is so fast right now you need to get sold before you look at anywhere you're remotely serious about.

Chickpea17 · 14/08/2022 18:08

I'm surprise they even let you view the property when you're not even on the market know lots of Estate Agents who wouldn't.