Is this a bit cheeky?

[FinishYourBrekkie]

We're chain free and have been house-hunting since early February.

The market is very slow at the moment and we've viewed what's within our budget and haven't found "the one" yet.
The market is very slow at the moment and we're now at a point where we're just sitting and waiting to see what comes on the market next.

We've noticed quite a lot of properties are being reduced. Our budget is £450k, we might be able to stretch to £460k.

I've seen a house that fits what we're looking for. It was listed in December for £525k, and reduced mid-February to £499k.

We don't want to view it and fall in love with it if the vendor wouldn't be open to a lower offer.. so I'm considering calling the estate agent and asking whether the vendor would consider an offer of £450/460k. If they would, then we'll book a viewing. If not, then at least we know and I can move on and stop dreaming about it.

Is asking for that much of a reduction a bit cheeky? We're not really "in the know" when it comes to house buying, so just wanted some thoughts.

Thanks!

I think virtually everyone wants the house thats just outside of their budget when they’re house hunting. Its a tale as old as time.

Having said that, you won’t lose anything by calling and asking the EA if the vendor is up for a very reduced price.

No harm in asking

I know someone who did just this, house was advertised for £925, they heard on the local grapevine that the vendor would take less, so said to the estate agent they could afford an offer of £835 and could they view on that basis. They bought the house for £835

And for every one of these there are ten more who got rejected.

id say ask, you might hit lucky, but the first poster was right, it’s a common thing to look at the next house up,from what you could afford and wonder if you can swing it,

Of course ask-you never know! And I’d still go and see it, just set your expectations. And generally be cautious of thinking there’s a “the one” house. No house is perfect and you’ll always discover issues when you move in

Sunnyfunnytimes Yeah sure but it’s not cheeky to ask.

Ask the question. There’s no harm in asking.

Why is it called cheeky when you offer a low price and yet it’s not called cheeky when someone puts something on at a lubriciously high price? The concept of a ‘cheeky offer’ was invented by estate agents to try and shame people into paying more, it’s one of the oldest behavioural tricks in the book. Offer what you like, who cares if they don’t like it! And if they do you might get yourself a house.

You can offer whatever you like. The seller decided whether to accept it or not.
Whether it is 'cheeky' or not depends on the market and it doesn't seem to have sold following the reduction 6 weeks ago so the price is probably still too high.

We did that on our house. Was on at 695, we could only go up to 660. Agent said yes the vendor would accept that offer so it’s worth the viewing. I didn’t feel cheeky offering it because I was just being honest and had nothing to lose.

I'd go and view it tbh without letting the EA know what you can go up to first. They may have had no or very few viewings. It's been on the market for a while.

I'd contact the estate agent, say the current pricing is over budget and ask if there's much movement on price.

Bear in mind, though, that if you max out your mortgage offer you're not going to have anything left to make any repairs etc that would need doing.

Not cheeky at all.

Before Covid, a neighbour down the road couldn't sell their house. They were asking too much, they had an offer but turned it down saying it was too low. After nearly two years, they ended up selling for less than the first offer. Give it a go

I would just go and view it. If you like it put in a reduced offer.