Enquiring with Estate Agent about OIRO

[dzungf5]

Is there a polite way to ask estate agent what price range seller is likely to accept on OIRO before arranging a viewing? I'm a FTB and have seen a property which has been on market since April 2023, but it's on for OIRO a price which is 6% over max budget. I don't want to waste time on viewing and fall in love with it, if it's massively over price range.

View it. Offer your best. See if you get lucky.

I don't see any harm in telling the EA what your maximum budget is. An FTB viewing my house did that. You're not obliged to offer that amount if you think it is worth less after viewing, and they will soon tell you if you're wasting your time. It may be that the owners are not in a hurry to sell and won't be interested, but 6% below asking price is not at all unreasonable IMO, so it's worth pursuing if you like the property.

The EA won't necessarily be completely honest with you anyway seeing as they work for the seller.

If it has been on since April they should definitely be open to offers so I would just view it and offer what you think it's worth/can afford.

My advice... don't look at houses over your budget in general.

All houses need work and buying a house comes with fees.