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Original poster

Vendors Divorcing - want to put in a cheeky offer

176 replies

Isitover23 · 13/08/2023 09:31

Hi

we viewed a property a few weeks ago that is over our budget.

It was originally on for £950,000 in May and has since been reduced twice by £25k a time, and is now advertised for £900,000.

we know they are divorcing but the EA said they aren’t in a rush to move! It’s a lovely house but does need a bit of work. We are in the South.

if we were to offer, we would want to put in a cheeky offer and I was thinking 15% below the asking price (£765,000). We aren’t in ‘love’ with it so wouldn’t be too sad if the offer isn’t countered! But this seems like a lot of money and is nearly £100k less than what they paid for the house last year when they bought it.

has anyone has any experience with a vendor divorcing, as I would think they would just want to see to enable them both to move on?

thanks

OP posts:
lljkk · 13/08/2023 13:47

I am not following PP at all.

Just put in your low offer & see what vendors say. There's nothing morally bad about a low offer as start place.

Gazundering 3 days before exchange can be unpleasant thing to do, but not a low start offer.

sodthesodoff · 13/08/2023 13:49

rainingsnoring · 13/08/2023 13:24

'I still find it strange that you got so riled up when you had other offers. Just accept them. No need to be so angry with the people offering.'

Exactly. It takes a couple of minutes to say 'no' via the EA. Far more time keeping the house cleaning, removing the children, etc before multiple viewings plus all the form filling.

To be fair I get more riled up by the wank puffins on mn than about any house offer... perhaps I just have a low tolerance of fuck wits.

Besides the ea was the one who got pissed and told all the other estate agents. I'll let him know he needs to calm it down

Coastalcreeksider · 13/08/2023 14:19

When a previous property was up for sale after just 18 months, I told the agent to not mention we were divorcing in case it put people off if they thought we might be difficult to deal with. If asked, I just told viewers it was a job move.

House sold very quickly and with no problems, had three offers, one above price too.

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:10

But sticking to the facts, the house sold for about 865k in 2022? Their EA was an idiot for valuing it at 950k in the first place and for blabbing about their personal circumstances to potential Buyers

perhaps the sellers told the EA they wanted X price which EA didn't agree with hence why he/she is telling about the divorce?

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 15:16

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:10

But sticking to the facts, the house sold for about 865k in 2022? Their EA was an idiot for valuing it at 950k in the first place and for blabbing about their personal circumstances to potential Buyers

perhaps the sellers told the EA they wanted X price which EA didn't agree with hence why he/she is telling about the divorce?

It's unprofessional of the EA and against the interests of their clients so it was wrong of them to do so. Even if they wanted to put the house on at a lower price which is pure speculation. They still agreed to list it at that price.

XVGN · 13/08/2023 15:17

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:10

But sticking to the facts, the house sold for about 865k in 2022? Their EA was an idiot for valuing it at 950k in the first place and for blabbing about their personal circumstances to potential Buyers

perhaps the sellers told the EA they wanted X price which EA didn't agree with hence why he/she is telling about the divorce?

But the EA is still an idiot for taking the property on. We have heard from a few EA's on here complaining about how Joe Public waste their time and how they don't get paid unless they make a sale. Well, hard cheese. A good EA would only take on properties priced correctly and would do things to improve the chances of a sale.

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:19

It's unprofessional of the EA and against the interests of their clients so it was wrong of them to do so. Even if they wanted to put the house on at a lower price which is pure speculation. They still agreed to list it at that price

I'm not saying it's not unprofessional but we are talking about EAs 😆. Of course they would go with the seller as they still want the sale.

EldenRing4 · 13/08/2023 15:23

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 15:16

It's unprofessional of the EA and against the interests of their clients so it was wrong of them to do so. Even if they wanted to put the house on at a lower price which is pure speculation. They still agreed to list it at that price.

Show quote history

@lovewoola I don't think EA had any choice. OP had asked why the house was being sold after such a short period of time.
They could lie, as @Coastalcreeksider but I'd imagine the truth might come out if the divorcing couple went on to buy their own properties immediately after and formed a two-pronged chain.
Less chance if they were just going to sit on the money but you never know who might spill the truth. People don't like being lied to

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 15:24

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:19

It's unprofessional of the EA and against the interests of their clients so it was wrong of them to do so. Even if they wanted to put the house on at a lower price which is pure speculation. They still agreed to list it at that price

I'm not saying it's not unprofessional but we are talking about EAs 😆. Of course they would go with the seller as they still want the sale.

I just feel like you have made up the bit about the sellers telling the EA they wanted X price which the EA didn't agree with.

I mean you could be right but you're just guessing aren't you? Most people do go with an EA valuation rather than plucking a figure out of thin air.

PurpleSteak · 13/08/2023 15:33

IME a divorcing couple is the worst kind of vendor as a buyer. There's always one party who will do everything they can to delay. You can offer what you like, but they won't accept it.

All the people outraged at "capitalising on someone misfortune" are talking nonsense. The house is worth the best offer they get for it. If OP isn't that she won't be capitalising on anything. No one ever pays more than they need to for a house.

Chickpea17 · 13/08/2023 15:40

That's not a cheeky offer that's just taking the piss. If I was the vendor I would laugh and not take you serious. But what you've got to lose by asking.

yellowgecko · 13/08/2023 15:41

PurpleSteak · 13/08/2023 15:33

IME a divorcing couple is the worst kind of vendor as a buyer. There's always one party who will do everything they can to delay. You can offer what you like, but they won't accept it.

All the people outraged at "capitalising on someone misfortune" are talking nonsense. The house is worth the best offer they get for it. If OP isn't that she won't be capitalising on anything. No one ever pays more than they need to for a house.

This.
We tried to buy from a divorcing couple. It was horrendous, we pulled out 6 months in as our mortgage offer was expiring. He wanted to sell, she apparently did not.
Good luck OP.

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:43

I just feel like you have made up the bit about the sellers telling the EA they wanted X price which the EA didn't agree with.

I mean you could be right but you're just guessing aren't you? Most people do go with an EA valuation rather than plucking a figure out of thin air.

Of course I'm surmising & of course I could be wrong hence the "perhaps" as it's a little unusual for the EA to reveal the divorce.

I have to disagree with your last point, I've known a few people who have had a price in their head or have gone with Foxtons because they used to deliberately overvalue.

pilates · 13/08/2023 15:45

I would be very wary buying of a couple divorcing. It can be problematic if one doesn’t want to sell and drags their heels.

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 16:10

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 15:43

I just feel like you have made up the bit about the sellers telling the EA they wanted X price which the EA didn't agree with.

I mean you could be right but you're just guessing aren't you? Most people do go with an EA valuation rather than plucking a figure out of thin air.

Of course I'm surmising & of course I could be wrong hence the "perhaps" as it's a little unusual for the EA to reveal the divorce.

I have to disagree with your last point, I've known a few people who have had a price in their head or have gone with Foxtons because they used to deliberately overvalue.

The fact that Foxtons routinely overvalue to win business is not something I would dispute, I know there are certain EAs like that.

But that is different from your previous suggestion that this EA (whoever they are) is divulging personal information about the Sellers because they made them list the property at a higher price than the EA wanted them to.

oiltrader · 13/08/2023 16:29

offer what you think it is worth. whatever they pay for it it is irrelevant x

EldenRing4 · 13/08/2023 16:34

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 16:10

The fact that Foxtons routinely overvalue to win business is not something I would dispute, I know there are certain EAs like that.

But that is different from your previous suggestion that this EA (whoever they are) is divulging personal information about the Sellers because they made them list the property at a higher price than the EA wanted them to.

Show quote history

I don't understand all this back and forth there is a very clear reason for the EA to reveal the divorce. Because they are selling up so soon after buying.
If the EA doesn't reveal any 'personal information' the choice is to either lie to buyers or keep schtum which doesn't bode well. People will think something's wrong with the house!

None of it looks good though. More PP have come on to say what I was getting at earlier in the thread... buying a house from a divorcing couple is a right PITA. For that reason alone I'd expect a lower price than comparables. Just like how FTB and cash buyers have a bit more negotiating power.

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 16:37

But that is different from your previous suggestion that this EA (whoever they are) is divulging personal information about the Sellers because they made them list the property at a higher price than the EA wanted them to.

I said perhaps in my initial post & subsequently said I could be wrong, what on earth has triggered you?

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 16:53

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 16:37

But that is different from your previous suggestion that this EA (whoever they are) is divulging personal information about the Sellers because they made them list the property at a higher price than the EA wanted them to.

I said perhaps in my initial post & subsequently said I could be wrong, what on earth has triggered you?

I'm not triggered I just don't agree with your suggestion about why the EA revealed personal information.

In a way it is irrelevant but in another way the EAs mistakes have contributed to this whole scenario. Firstly in valuing the house too high in the first place and secondly in saying the couple are divorcing when they could have just cited "personal reasons" or a change in circumstances. Mentioning divorce will give some people (like the OP) ideas about the vendors being desperate to sell.

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 17:01

I'm not triggered I just don't agree with your suggestion about why the EA revealed personal information.

I don't think anyone was confused about whether you agreed me with or not! The bizarre part is the back & forth, it was a flippant comment not a personal attack. And no, you don't need to respond telling me you disagree 🥱

Twiglets1 · 13/08/2023 17:27

lovewoola · 13/08/2023 17:01

I'm not triggered I just don't agree with your suggestion about why the EA revealed personal information.

I don't think anyone was confused about whether you agreed me with or not! The bizarre part is the back & forth, it was a flippant comment not a personal attack. And no, you don't need to respond telling me you disagree 🥱

The back & forth is you just as much as me 🤷🏼‍♀️

good96 · 13/08/2023 18:04

Soooo…. You want to offer £185k less than what the property was initially marketed at?

  • its not a cheeky offer… it’s taking the piss.
Sound the estate agent out and see what is the lowest they are prepared to take. You got to bear in mind they both got to buy properties. If I was in this position and the property is now advertised at 900k, the lowest I would be prepared to take is £850-£865k. Anything lower and you can go sod off…
lovewoola · 13/08/2023 18:06

You replied to my posts telling me I'm guessing, personally I think my "perhaps" made my meaning clear. you

You also accused me of making something up, of course i'm going to respond to that because it's illogical!

rockpoolingtogether · 13/08/2023 18:11

That's way too low

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 13/08/2023 18:17

Guess it depends on their position. You could think oh well each one only takes half the hit so maybe they will go for it. But they both have to fund a new house each and being in negative equity makes that unlikely so will probably not for it. 🤷‍♀️.

friends of mine are currently divorcing and selling and they are not telling the estate agent as they don’t want the risk of people thinking they can make silly offers as they might be desperate to sell which apparently is a thing.