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Original poster

So I have to have SSTC in order to offer on a new house?

37 replies

cloppyklip · 05/01/2024 21:26

Last time we bought we were FTB and we are preparing to put our house on the market next week, just a few DIY bits to finish. We have seen a property that looks like it ticks boxes and it's been on the market since Aug 2023.

We would like to view it but obviously our property isn't sold yet or even on the market, as I haven't sold before I'm just wondering if I'm correct in thinking we should have accepted an offer to buy our current property before we offer on a new one? We have our DIP and we know what the house is worth based on recent valuations but obviously we're not yet on the market.

Is the above the usual etiquette?

OP posts:
CameronCook · 05/01/2024 21:29

Yes it is usual to have an offer on your house before your offer will be accepted.

sweetpickle23 · 05/01/2024 21:29

Some agents will allow you to view before you have gone on the market/sold, but I personally wouldn’t accept an offer from someone who wasn’t SSTC as you’re not proceedable.

Twiglets1 · 05/01/2024 21:35

Yes. Think how you will feel when your own house is on the market.

Someone makes you an offer but their own house isn’t even on the market yet.

Should you accept it? No, because their house could take months to sell and meanwhile you’re in limbo 🤷🏼‍♀️

OneForTheToad · 05/01/2024 21:44

What if the person selling hasn’t found a new house to go to?

11NigelTufnel · 05/01/2024 21:46

If you are interested, speak to the agent. Let them know you are interested in viewing when you have an offer on yours. They may or may not let you look beforehand. Nothing to lose.

Notyetthere · 05/01/2024 23:36

Tbh in this current sloooooow market I will probably be able to view but possibly not have any offers you make accepted until you are sold on your house.

Mottledgrey · 06/01/2024 00:47

We are in this situation except we were waiting for the right house to come up (not many come up in the location we want). Anyway a house came up just before Christmas viewed it and fell in love with it so have immediately put our house on the market. Although our offer on the new house has been loosely accepted it can’t be unless we sell. We have 3 viewings this weekend so fingers crossed!!

Cotswoldbee · 06/01/2024 07:41

A couple of years ago the EA would not even let you view a property unless you were SSTC but nowadays with the market as it is, they are happy to get people through the door but I can't see them taking any notice of you if you are not yet on the market or received an offer.

Twiglets1 · 06/01/2024 07:55

I think EAs will allow viewings as more viewings looks better on them but Sellers normally don’t accept offers from people who aren’t proceedable for obvious reasons.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 06/01/2024 07:57

Not legally, no, it depends on the seller. We weren’t even on the market when we bought our current house (Scotland)

decisionssmecisions · 06/01/2024 07:57

I know lots of people who offered before they had sold & offers were accepted. Sometimes you see a house that triggers a move.

SnowsFalling · 06/01/2024 07:58

The vendors would be crazy to accept an offer from you if you are not proceedable.
So, do you have enough cash and borrowing capability to buy the house without selling yours??!! If so, go ahead.
But preparing a house for a viewing, to discover there is no chance of it getting sold is demoralizing. Get yours under offer.

decisionssmecisions · 06/01/2024 07:58

And even with offers, lots of sales fall through anyway

pilates · 06/01/2024 07:59

You are in a much better position if you have sold sttc.

eurochick · 06/01/2024 07:59

I'm sitting in a house we viewed and offered on before our house was even on the market. We bought it two years ago. We got our house on the market quickly, priced it well and it sold within days.

BingoMarieHeeler · 06/01/2024 08:00

That’s usual but not the only way. We weren’t on the market, saw a house we wanted, offered, seller accepted as long as we sold our house in a couple of weeks. Whacked our house on the market with the same agent and they were motivated to get it sold as it was then 2 sales for them (our house and the one we were buying). That was a couple of years ago but during pandemic,
Good luck!

BingoMarieHeeler · 06/01/2024 08:01

eurochick · 06/01/2024 07:59

I'm sitting in a house we viewed and offered on before our house was even on the market. We bought it two years ago. We got our house on the market quickly, priced it well and it sold within days.

Oh well yes see it wasn’t just us! Totally possible!

KinS24 · 06/01/2024 08:03

Yes. You need to have a conversation with the agent so they know you’re not time wasters.
Selling through the same agents as the prospective purchase is a great incentive for them. My friend has just done this. She made it clear she would sell her house for a reasonable price as she was very motivated and knowledgeable about the one for sale.

pilates · 06/01/2024 08:05

That was in a different market Bingo. Completely different to now.

AlltheFs · 06/01/2024 08:07

It depends entirely on the market.

We have moved a lot and we have made offers when not yet on the market, in most areas at the moment the market is pretty dead so sellers don’t have much leverage.

View it and ask, there’s no etiquette. When buying and selling you need sharp elbows to get what you want.

LizzieSiddal · 06/01/2024 08:14

We live quite rurally and very few houses come up. We’re thinking of moving but only for the right house, local agents know this and actually encourage us to view houses, despite ours not being on the market. They send us details before the house has gone to market.
So do contact the agent and tell them you’d like to view, if you then love the house and want to put in an offer, just go for it. You never know!

MrsCharlieD · 06/01/2024 08:15

I'm in the process of buying a property we offered on before ours was on the market. We'd already put the wheels in motion and had a date for photos to be taken when my dream house came on the market. I was honest with the agent and explained the situation. We offered and buyers were happy with the offer but it stayed on the market until we were proceedable so at any time we could have lost out. Somehow the stars aligned, I kept in touch with the agent and gave her updates from our side. We secured an offer quickly on our property and now everything is moving forward, had our mortgage offer, surveys booked and contract of sale has gone to our buyer's solicitor. So in short, yes you can offer, but it will stay on the market until you're proceedable and it could go under offer accepted before you've sold and then you'll lose out.

Squirrelsonthescaffolding · 06/01/2024 08:17

It is likely to depend on the local market, even the market for that particular house if it’s got something that makes it special in the area (larger garden etc). Also, it might depend on the seller’s position, are they going to wait for the highest offer or are they in a hurry to sell, do they need to find somewhere to move to etc. You’re right describing it as etiquette; I wouldn’t waste someone’s time viewing when I wasn’t serious but if I was I would talk to the agent about that house and get them round to look at yours. If they think yours will sell quickly then you’re in a stronger position. But I’d beware an EA pricing yours low just to get the two sales through quickly . I’d get valuations from a couple of other agents. And/or negotiate the EA fee percentage down for sole agency (managed to do this on last house sale).

KimKardassion · 06/01/2024 08:19

Someone made an offer on my parents house when they had not sold theirs. My parents didn’t accept. My parents have been in their new house for 2 years now and the person that offered on theirs is still on the market!

Squirrelsonthescaffolding · 06/01/2024 08:35

Sorry, clarification, depending on your situation pricing lower/competitively might be fine if you can get the next house you want