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Original poster

Offer etiquette

97 replies

Hurdlingover · 03/05/2023 13:44

Is it bad form to leave an offer on the table for a few weeks without a yes or no, asking price has been offered which I didn’t expect.

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 03/05/2023 13:46

You can do what you like, but it would be a very unusual thing to do and the chances are that after a week your buyers would walk away.

TheSnowyOwl · 03/05/2023 13:46

I would expect a buyer to continue looking elsewhere if the seller does that and probably find somewhere else.

hidethexylophone · 03/05/2023 13:47

If it's asking price, why not accept? If I was the buyer, if I've offered asking price and the seller won't give a response either way then I'd assume they're going to awkward through the whole process, even if they eventually accept, so would look elsewhere.

Original poster
Hurdlingover · 03/05/2023 13:48

It was only put on the market 5 days ago.

OP posts:
Kentlassie · 03/05/2023 13:49

Yes. If I were the buyer I wouldn’t be happy, and would continue to look and or withdraw my offer.

WoolyMammoth55 · 03/05/2023 13:49

OP, are you the vendor leaving the asking price offer without a response?

If so then yes, definitely bad form and unlikely to end well.

House buying needs a reasonable amount of trust and good-will on both sides, and treating others as you'd like to be treated.

If you're the potential buyer and they're leaving you hanging then I'd move on, this will set the tone for the next several long and expensive months - if they're dragging their feet on day 1 it's not going to end well!

JauntyJinty · 03/05/2023 13:54

hidethexylophone · 03/05/2023 13:47

If it's asking price, why not accept? If I was the buyer, if I've offered asking price and the seller won't give a response either way then I'd assume they're going to awkward through the whole process, even if they eventually accept, so would look elsewhere.

This is exactly my thoughts.

I'd also worry about being gazumpted - I know it can always happen but this would make me think the seller would be actively looking for higher offers right up until exchange

Fisherstevens · 03/05/2023 14:08

Five days is plenty of time - all the motivated buyers will have viewed/enquired at this point.

Do you have more viewings lined up? Is that the problem?

Original poster
Hurdlingover · 03/05/2023 14:16

2 more viewings but I would like to give it at least another weekend?

OP posts:
CatOnTheChair · 03/05/2023 14:16

Weeks? Not great.

I'd be ok (just about) if the vendor said they would honor viewings booked for the weekend, but would make a decision on Monday.

Original poster
Hurdlingover · 03/05/2023 14:17

Do you think the buyer will get pissed off, I haven’t said yes or no yet?

OP posts:
CatOnTheChair · 03/05/2023 14:19

You don't need to say yes or no, but I would keep in touch, and not just be silent.
As mentioned above, house buying requires trust and good will (and comminucation).

Ask the estate agent to tell the purchaser that you want to honor the weekends viewings.

JassyRadlett · 03/05/2023 14:23

This feels like the reverse of a thread earlier in the week where a buyer was getting incredibly frustrated that their offer was being left 'on the table' while they held out to see if they could do better.

She got a lot of good advice about time-limiting her offer to avoid having herself used as leverage with other potential buyers.

Ultimately, you run the risk that this is as good as it's going to get - asking price in the current climate (depending on your local market) is a great result - and that while you're waiting for a better offer, your asking price offer might find a better property to offer on. Or just get annoyed with you.

greensquirrel · 03/05/2023 14:39

I think you’d be a complete idiot to do this. You have an offer for asking price. You’re going to annoy them and lose the offer and you might not get another.

greensquirrel · 03/05/2023 14:40

Fisherstevens · 03/05/2023 14:08

Five days is plenty of time - all the motivated buyers will have viewed/enquired at this point.

Do you have more viewings lined up? Is that the problem?

And this, 100%.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/05/2023 14:46

I would pull my offer before the other viewings took place. I don't play these games when buying and selling houses. I offered what you asked for, you arr trying to use that offer for a bidding war so I would walk away. Imagine going in a supermarket and seeing the last loaf of bread and them saying well no you can't buy it yet for the 1.25 as someone else might come in and buy it for more.

Be careful what you wish for OP. If you have these other viewings and they come to nothing you may lose out altogether.

OnYerBikeSteve · 03/05/2023 15:03

'For a few weeks'? Yes! It's bad form to leave anything unresponded to for a few weeks, let alone a major purchase.

It sounds like a buyer who knows what they're looking for, knows what they can afford, and doesn't want to mess about playing games. I think you know deep down that the reason you haven't responded is because you know that saying, We want to see if we get a better offer, is likely to lead to them withdrawing theirs. I wouldn't blame them.

Unless your agent knows the viewings booked in for the weekend are likely to offer, I would accept the offer and get the sale moving, before anything else happens.

DrySherry · 03/05/2023 15:05

That's nuts, your really lucky to get an asking price offer in the current falling market. Your greed may well bite you in the butt..

Original poster
Hurdlingover · 03/05/2023 15:12

Sorry not a few weeks, just until after the weekend.

OP posts:
greensquirrel · 03/05/2023 15:20

How would you feel if you lost this offer and didn’t get any more?

If the answer isn’t ‘fine’ then take this offer.

GasPanic · 03/05/2023 15:34

I think it always pays to keep people informed of whats going on.

It does seem a bit strange that if someone offers the price you have asked for if you don't accept.

I can imagine the agents would be a bit pissed too.

CharlotteSometimes1 · 03/05/2023 15:37

In this situation it’s not unusual for the EA to say that you’d like the viewings that are booked in for the weekend to go ahead.

NewKidOnTheBlock99 · 03/05/2023 16:00

If they have offered asking and are proceed-able I would take it OP. The last thing you want is them realising no one else wants it and lowering their offer or walking away.

TheSnowyOwl · 03/05/2023 16:05

The buyer can view plenty more places by the end of the weekend to fall in love with a different property.

I’d consider you difficult and not committed, so would probably look elsewhere even if the offer was accepted and appeared to be progressing.

N0tANOoDl3He4D · 03/05/2023 16:06

Currently have a buyer and have also found our onward purchase. We lost the first purchase.

It would have titted us the fuck off not to receive feedback on an offer. The process is nerve-wracking enough without being string along while someone waits for a better offer which may never come. It also suggests you'd be more likely to back out later if someone tried to gazump.

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