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Original poster

AIBU? Seller’s won’t take house off the market

79 replies

Permanentlyfrazzled · 19/05/2023 19:11

Put an asking price offer right at the top of our budget last week as our very best offer. We are in a very short completed chain of two. The offer was probably above what the house is worth, but on the premise the house was taken off the market as I believed was the done thing.

We were expecting our offer to be accepted outright - but instead the sellers said they will accept on principle…unless someone puts in a higher offer, and therefore won’t take the house off the market for at least another week.

The house has only recently come to market - they have a number of viewings over next week and said they will come to a decision at the end of that.

We’ve been left very confused. We have sold and bought a few times and have never had this before.

It’s now been a few days and we haven’t heard any more, but it doesn’t sound like they’ve had another offer.

The agent says they will likely come back to us to proceed but to be honest the whole thing is making us quite nervous of them as sellers. I’m sure from their POV they are just trying to get the best price for the house, but we were very upfront and put down our best offer, at the price they were asking.

It has made us feel like they were trying to force a bidding war, knowing we couldn’t offer any more. We are sure our offer is being used as leverage at every viewing now ‘there is already an asking price offer on the table’….

We worry these people take the first opportunity to gazump us if a better offer comes in before exchange.

Are we right to be nervous? Would you walk away?

AIBU?

OP posts:
Dreamingofthishouse · 20/05/2023 08:17

So far, though we are only in early stages of the conveyancing process so time will tell. We are all ready on our side and our buyers side ready too so hoping the vendors side goes well!

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 16:53

Still no news...now two weeks after our asking price offer. Can't get hold of the agent but office says no other offers have come in.

I'm so confused! Do we take the offer off the table?

Whole thing making me incredibly anxious! Market very slow up here. Perhaps we should just move over the border to Scotland, we aren't far away and the Scottish system for buying/selling houses seems to be much fairer! Or stay in our house. The cats will be happy!

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 22/05/2023 16:58

Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 16:53

Still no news...now two weeks after our asking price offer. Can't get hold of the agent but office says no other offers have come in.

I'm so confused! Do we take the offer off the table?

Whole thing making me incredibly anxious! Market very slow up here. Perhaps we should just move over the border to Scotland, we aren't far away and the Scottish system for buying/selling houses seems to be much fairer! Or stay in our house. The cats will be happy!

Email the agent and say you want an answer by xyz time and day or the offer is off the table. 2 weeks is more than enough time to have viewings and any offers to come in. Start looking at other houses, they are taking the piss.

Valour · 22/05/2023 16:58

I'd set a time limit now. Say that the offer stands until Friday.
I don't blame them for what they're doing really- they just want the best price for their home- but this can't go on indefinitely.

tweener · 22/05/2023 17:03

I don't think what they initially did was unreasonable, in fact it's quite sensible to see the viewings through and get a view of all offers first. They may have got lower offers but from people more proceedable so it's not always about the money.
However, it's now been two weeks so I'd be saying you have a number of days (end of day tomorrow maybe?) or you'll be withdrawing the offer.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/05/2023 17:06

Did you make an initial lower offer then go back with a higher "take it off the market" one? If not, you sort of lose the bargaining chip really as you could have said "as it's not off the market then X lower offer is now our only one"

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 17:07

Thanks @tweener. Maybe. But we are in a very short chain having sold to cash buyers which is proceeding well, proof of funds with mortage in place for us, solicitors already instructed. They haven't had any other offers from what we can understand with the office so can't understand why they seem to want to hold out. We are a family of 5 not developers!

To be honest even if they'd stayed in touch that would be better. We've just had radio silence and have been waiting and waiting for two weeks. We're told decisions would be made after the weekend but still nothing...I know how stressful the process is, I wouldn't do this to anyone 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 17:08

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/05/2023 17:06

Did you make an initial lower offer then go back with a higher "take it off the market" one? If not, you sort of lose the bargaining chip really as you could have said "as it's not off the market then X lower offer is now our only one"

No we didn't. Just a straightforward asking price offer on the understanding it was taken off the market. Here we are two weeks later...wish we had done that.

OP posts:
Nousernamesleftatall · 22/05/2023 17:09

I would email the agent and say our offer stands until close of business tomorrow.

mistlethrush · 22/05/2023 17:10

I would book some viewings of other properties with the same agent so that the agent is very clearly aware that you're looking for alternatives - and frankly, that is what I would be doing - they will want to bump the price up at any opportunity and you might find you've done the survey and spent money on solicitors for a new buyer to come along and offer a little bit more money and you'll be dropped...

Saschka · 22/05/2023 17:14

I think it is clear they don’t want to proceed with your offer, for whatever reason (might be greed, might be reconsidering selling, might be anything). We are still technically “waiting” for a response from an offer we made in Feb!

After a week or so, if it isn’t a clear “yes”, it’s a “no”.

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 17:14

mistlethrush · 22/05/2023 17:10

I would book some viewings of other properties with the same agent so that the agent is very clearly aware that you're looking for alternatives - and frankly, that is what I would be doing - they will want to bump the price up at any opportunity and you might find you've done the survey and spent money on solicitors for a new buyer to come along and offer a little bit more money and you'll be dropped...

This is our worry, we feel like we might be being strung along here and even if our offer were accepted that they would drop us without a second thought if more money came along...

OP posts:
LuluBlakey1 · 22/05/2023 17:16

I would phone the agent, remind him/her of your favourable position as sellers and that you offered the asking price conditional on the house being taken off the market, and say you require an answer by close of business tomorrow or the offer is withdrawn. And mean it.

We live in the north-east, in Whitley Bay, and houses are still moving pretty quickly here and getting asking prices + for the right properties. That they haven't had other offers suggests they are not going to get one quickly and are using yours to try and bump a higher offer up. There is always another house OP .

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 17:16

Saschka · 22/05/2023 17:14

I think it is clear they don’t want to proceed with your offer, for whatever reason (might be greed, might be reconsidering selling, might be anything). We are still technically “waiting” for a response from an offer we made in Feb!

After a week or so, if it isn’t a clear “yes”, it’s a “no”.

Yep, this is our thought too. I am very confused about why they don't want to sell to us, but I think the fact they aren't even coming back to us is probably a clear sign. We are their only offer and in a short completed chain of two so it's all very strange. Maybe they are just considering moving as you? Probably a blessing in disguise as we REALLY need to move...would be worse if we started down this road and then they changed their minds about moving...

OP posts:
Weedoormatnomore · 22/05/2023 17:30

Was the house marketed as guide price ? Seems to be way they sell houses that you wait to get a few offers. Have you looked at any other houses ?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 22/05/2023 17:38

If you offered the asking price, and are in a good moving position, they are just not really interested in moving IMHO. Probably just ‘testing the water’, got nowhere to go etc etc.

Don’t waste any more time on them, don’t get into any expense.

( BTW, not all Scots would agree that their system is better. It’s just a very complicated, expensive and stressful purchase. Good luck).

MyNewWittyUserName · 22/05/2023 17:39

Permanentlyfrazzled · 19/05/2023 19:11

Put an asking price offer right at the top of our budget last week as our very best offer. We are in a very short completed chain of two. The offer was probably above what the house is worth, but on the premise the house was taken off the market as I believed was the done thing.

We were expecting our offer to be accepted outright - but instead the sellers said they will accept on principle…unless someone puts in a higher offer, and therefore won’t take the house off the market for at least another week.

The house has only recently come to market - they have a number of viewings over next week and said they will come to a decision at the end of that.

We’ve been left very confused. We have sold and bought a few times and have never had this before.

It’s now been a few days and we haven’t heard any more, but it doesn’t sound like they’ve had another offer.

The agent says they will likely come back to us to proceed but to be honest the whole thing is making us quite nervous of them as sellers. I’m sure from their POV they are just trying to get the best price for the house, but we were very upfront and put down our best offer, at the price they were asking.

It has made us feel like they were trying to force a bidding war, knowing we couldn’t offer any more. We are sure our offer is being used as leverage at every viewing now ‘there is already an asking price offer on the table’….

We worry these people take the first opportunity to gazump us if a better offer comes in before exchange.

Are we right to be nervous? Would you walk away?

AIBU?

I wouldn't be able to pull my offer fast enough.

Minikievs · 22/05/2023 17:48

PP have said that the sellers are being reasonable, as they want to maximise their offers. Well yes they do, but it's a really odd way to operate, and isn't the usual process, surely?! It shouldn't matter if it's only been up a few days, they should say yes or no, not leave you in limbo?
When I viewed my current house, I was viewer number 2, at 5.30pm, the day it went up. Two more viewings after mine that evening. I called at 9am the next day, offered asking price, on the proviso they took it off the market immediately. They accepted.

If I were you, I'd keep looking and would be very very nervous of being gazumped. It's so rude of them, they're effectively just to ignoring your offer.

Happygirl79 · 22/05/2023 17:56

I would pull out. Because if you don't they will probably do the dirty on you right at the last minute

tonyatotter · 22/05/2023 18:10

I'd just leave it, keep looking, leave your offer on the table. They are new to the market, presumably your offer was not full asking price, they have other viewings so they want to see what they bring - so far so normal.

If you put a time limit on your offer you look pushy / desparate, just leave it on the table and if they come back to you, and if you've found nothing else and are still in the market, happy days.

InSpainTheRain · 22/05/2023 18:11

My prediction is that even if they say they will sell to you, at any sign of another offer you'll be gazumped. I think I'd walk away.

WallaceinAnderland · 22/05/2023 18:12

What do you mean you can't get hold of the agent? Does no-one answer the phone?

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 18:12

tonyatotter · 22/05/2023 18:10

I'd just leave it, keep looking, leave your offer on the table. They are new to the market, presumably your offer was not full asking price, they have other viewings so they want to see what they bring - so far so normal.

If you put a time limit on your offer you look pushy / desparate, just leave it on the table and if they come back to you, and if you've found nothing else and are still in the market, happy days.

Offer is full asking price, we are in a completed chain having sold to cash buyers 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
tonyatotter · 22/05/2023 18:28

Permanentlyfrazzled · 22/05/2023 18:12

Offer is full asking price, we are in a completed chain having sold to cash buyers 🤷🏼‍♀️

Show quote history

Yeah, well thats a red flag then really, you are giving them what they want plus an easy ride chain wise - if it was me i'd be biting your arm off.

Sounds like they will mess you about...

declutteringmymind · 22/05/2023 18:30

Lower the offer if they don't take it off the market