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Original poster

How to respond to this?

41 replies

Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 08:37

I put in an offer in on a house only to be told the vendor has now gone on holiday and is unreachable? What would you do?

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 01/06/2023 08:41

Nothing. They will find out about the offer when they return.

Original poster
Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 08:44

Is it not just a way to keep in taking viewings?

OP posts:
PyjamaFan · 01/06/2023 08:45

That's so annoying for you!

Gazelda · 01/06/2023 08:46

Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 08:44

Is it not just a way to keep in taking viewings?

Possibly, but not necessarily.

What would I do in your shoes? I'd find out their return date and then say that my offer stands until 3 days after they're back from hols.

There's not much else you can do.

senua · 01/06/2023 08:48

Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 08:44

Is it not just a way to keep in taking viewings?

So what if it is? You can't stop them letting the competition other people having a view.
Has the house been on the market a while or have they only just put it up and then scarpered?

senua · 01/06/2023 08:49

I'd find out their return date
I was going to suggest that but would the EA tell strangers when the house was going to be unoccupied? - it's a security risk.

HeddaGarbled · 01/06/2023 08:50

It’s quite likely that they really have gone on holiday. Unreachable seems a little less likely but I suppose it’s possible.

Original poster
Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 08:51

senua · 01/06/2023 08:48

So what if it is? You can't stop them letting the competition other people having a view.
Has the house been on the market a while or have they only just put it up and then scarpered?

Show quote history

No I can’t but I can make a decision of whether I want my offer left on the table to push others up. It gives me a chance today thanks but no thanks.

OP posts:
SaveMeFromForearms · 01/06/2023 08:51

I would wait until they came back from holiday...

It's June, a perfectly normal time of year to get away. Houses can be on the market for months.

senua · 01/06/2023 08:59

Play them at their own wishy-washy game. Tell the EA that you are minded to put an offer in but won't put a price on it until the vendors are back and a conversation / discussion can be had.

pizzaHeart · 01/06/2023 09:14

Ask EA by which date you can expect an answer and then think if it’s suitable to you.
In the meantime book yourself to view something else with the agency.
Did EA show you around? It might be truth both ways especially considering that it’s half term week. They are on holidays and the viewings are continuing.

KievLoverTwo · 01/06/2023 09:19

Isn't it half term in most places? Holiday seems quite likely.

Dinkler · 01/06/2023 09:28

I've had numerous variations of this reply. It's a common stalling technique. Let me guess you offered asking?

Original poster
Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 09:30

@Dinkler Yes I did!

OP posts:
senua · 01/06/2023 09:31

KievLoverTwo · 01/06/2023 09:19

Isn't it half term in most places? Holiday seems quite likely.

It seems likely but it makes you wonder how serious they are about the sale. It's either a casual / non-committed attitude or (as OP fears) a deliberate tactic. However, it could backfire and put off potential bidders; it has certainly put OP's back up.
It's not a good start to negotiations, it doesn't create good relations.

KievLoverTwo · 01/06/2023 09:35

senua · 01/06/2023 09:31

It seems likely but it makes you wonder how serious they are about the sale. It's either a casual / non-committed attitude or (as OP fears) a deliberate tactic. However, it could backfire and put off potential bidders; it has certainly put OP's back up.
It's not a good start to negotiations, it doesn't create good relations.

Show quote history

Must admit it seems kinda slack from the vendors for not telling them they had a holiday coming.

SaveMeFromForearms · 01/06/2023 09:39

That makes no sense, my house was on the market for four months and in that time we had a holiday 🤷🏻‍♀️

Doesn't me we weren't committed to selling; it's a time-consuming and expensive process and life continues in the meantime.

Original poster
Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 09:44

@senua That’s it really. I totally get it might be true but it just feels a bit wishy washy as you said and does not fill me with much confidence going forward.

@Dinkler Why does asking price make a difference?

OP posts:
Dinkler · 01/06/2023 09:45

SaveMeFromForearms · 01/06/2023 09:39

That makes no sense, my house was on the market for four months and in that time we had a holiday 🤷🏻‍♀️

Doesn't me we weren't committed to selling; it's a time-consuming and expensive process and life continues in the meantime.

Did you always plan your holidays just as you received the offer that would drive the price up?

friskybivalves · 01/06/2023 09:47

It's not the 'on holiday' part that's surprising - it's the 'unreachable' bit! That's where they are being overtly tactical.

SaveMeFromForearms · 01/06/2023 09:49

We just had a pre-booked holiday. Not a tactical holiday.

Maybe it's different here in Scotland.

FurierTransform · 01/06/2023 09:58

I'd ask the estate agent when they expect them to be back & when you csn expect a response to your offer.

Personally id do the same as the sellers. I don't want to be burdened with weighing ul house offers whilst on holiday.

Polik · 01/06/2023 10:15

We had this when making an offer - vendor 'just left for holiday' and we're (allegedly) uncontactable.

Time and hindsight allowed me to realise that the house wasn't really avaliable for offers. AKA, they were wasting my time.

What actually happened was - house went on market 4 months earlier (when we weren't in a position to offer). It sold and sale progressed. Went back on market 4 months later, EA told us the sale fell through, which was why it was back on the market. We offered well over asking price.

Turns out what actually happened was EA was annoyed at how slowly chain was progressing, persuaded seller to put back in market purely as a bully technique to speed up chain progress. There was never an intention to break the chain and accept a new offer (from us). House went off the market as completed within 3 weeks of our offer. I think it going back on the market was a tool to push for contracts to be exchanged in the chain.

Massive waste of my time and emotion investment.

mondaytosunday · 01/06/2023 12:28

Are they away a week? A month?
I'm sure the sellers gave the agents some instructions about what level they will accept. And it's surprising that the sellers would not check emails while on holiday with such a major thing going on.
So your choice is to leave offer on table til they come back (snd still look at other properties), give them a deadline irrelevant to what the agent says, or take back the offer.
I'd be inclined to do the first.

Original poster
Daffodillyb · 01/06/2023 12:47

mondaytosunday · 01/06/2023 12:28

Are they away a week? A month?
I'm sure the sellers gave the agents some instructions about what level they will accept. And it's surprising that the sellers would not check emails while on holiday with such a major thing going on.
So your choice is to leave offer on table til they come back (snd still look at other properties), give them a deadline irrelevant to what the agent says, or take back the offer.
I'd be inclined to do the first.

No idea, no info given about it.

Thats what I thought. Wouldn’t you leave info to the estate agent as to what you’d accept? Why risk a buyer walking. Hey ho. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts: