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Original poster

Vendor taking ages to reply

15 replies

Anxietygirl100 · 20/03/2024 14:26

My fiancé and I put in an offer for a house on Saturday. We’re both first time buyers, with no chain, a mortgage in principle stating we can afford the house, deposit, lawyer and mortgage advisor all sorted. We both have good jobs too. So we’re in a great position.

We went in quite a bit lower as didn’t feel it was worth asking price but we liked it, it was rejected straight away (within an hour), we upped our offer by £10,000 within 30 minutes and explained why we wouldn’t be offering asking price (crack in ceiling, walls needing re plastering etc). We didn’t hear anything, so I emailed the EA after 24 hours just seeing if they received my increased offer. He replied later that day saying yes and that the vendor was discussing with her power of attorney and would get back to the EA by this morning.
I’m still waiting. I know it’s not been long, but I’m getting a bit frustrating we’re being made to wait now a few days. Obviously we’re good to move forward immediately, so waiting around is frustrating.

Even if it was rejected or they were waiting for other viewers to make offers, I’m just not being told what the hold up is and keep being told I’ll hear and I don’t.
It’s making me more nervous that it’s being delayed without indication why, as it makes me concerned we’ll be messed about.

I suffer with anxiety already, so this really isn’t helping not being informed. I don’t want to be pushy, but I just don’t know when it’s acceptable to push.

OP posts:
mrsed1987 · 20/03/2024 14:36

I suspect they have other viewings booked so don't want to accept until they know where the land lies.

When did you last chase up? Estate agents are also notoriously slow

PuttingDownRoots · 20/03/2024 14:39

Honestly? The whole process will be like this. All the professionals (EAs, solicitors, conveyancers, mortgage people) will be dealing with multiple transactions, not just yours. It all takes time.

Then suddenly, it all comes together and its all a rush to actually do the moving bit.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 20/03/2024 14:41

Three and half days since you made an under asking price offer, and you have told EA that you won’t be offering what the Vendor wants ( and presumably agreed with the agent).

I can see why they aren’t hurrying themselves, OP.

NewFriendlyLadybird · 20/03/2024 21:10

Sorry, but as @PuttingDownRoots said, you’d better start getting used to it if you’re buying a house.
They may get back to you, but for future reference, making a list of reasons why you won’t be offering asking price never goes down well. Just make your best offer and wait.

Ilikewinter · 20/03/2024 21:22

I think you need to prepare for your anxiety to go through the roof OP. Moving home is hands down the most frustrating and stressful process ever. Are you still looking at other properties?, I would so you dont pin all your hopes on this one. Good luck!

slippedonabanana · 20/03/2024 22:14

I agree that it's always annoying when buyers give you their reasons why they make a low offer, as if the crack in the ceiling is news to them. You've probably been relegated to the status of 'only if we're desperate in two months'.

Yours is a starter offer and the EA should be doing everything possible to get them a higher one before they consider settling for yours. The process could take a few weeks before you get an answer.

sweetpickle2 · 21/03/2024 12:44

Unfortunately agree with others, your reasons have likely put their nose out of joint. A crack in the ceiling could be anything from the roof falling in to a bit of shoddy plasterwork, until a surveyor takes a look it's not really a good reason to offer significantly under.

Also agree that you need a thicker skin for this process! The whole thing is just waiting and anxiety and delays and frustration.

You say you increased by £10k, but on what price of property? Thats significant on a property that is £150k, on a million pound house it's less so.

comeundone · 21/03/2024 12:54

If there's LPA involved, this is likely a sale of necessity to support care costs, and you have to expect the vendor to be seeking the best price they can get. The EA has furthermore seen the crack and plasterwork, and likely priced accordingly. So I'd be suprised if anyone on that side prioritises a lowball offer. They'll be waiting to see if after less than a week they can tease out a better offer.
Your anxiety is not the problem of the EA nor the vendor, and is the only thing at the moment in this situation which is in your control, so I'd try to address that as a priority, as buying a house is full of stressful delays and things beyond your control. As kindly was I can put this, three days wait is nothing in house buying terms.

ChaoticCrumble · 21/03/2024 13:30

You offered under so of course it's not going to be an immediate yes.

I was really anxious when we moved house so I get it, but this is honestly the easiest bit! The waits get much longer and often for no reason at all!

BlueMongoose · 22/03/2024 19:20

You offered under, then upped the price in 30 mins. That seems like you're chancing your arm. That's fair enough, you can do as you like, but I'd certainly not be rushing back to you.

If a crack in a ceiling phases you (unless it's wide enough you can stick your finger in it) or you think a place needs replastering ( unless there are chunks of it that have dropped off, like one house I saw recently) I suspect you're going to have to adjust your approach before you get a survey on anything or you will panic yourself out of buying anything when you read even a perfectly normal survey.

And I'm afraid a wait of two or three hours after a HA said a vendor would get back to you is nothing in the housebuying game.

Newgirls · 22/03/2024 19:22

How long has it been on the market? If only a couple of weeks they might have viewings this weekend and next?

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 22/03/2024 19:29

comeundone · 21/03/2024 12:54

If there's LPA involved, this is likely a sale of necessity to support care costs, and you have to expect the vendor to be seeking the best price they can get. The EA has furthermore seen the crack and plasterwork, and likely priced accordingly. So I'd be suprised if anyone on that side prioritises a lowball offer. They'll be waiting to see if after less than a week they can tease out a better offer.
Your anxiety is not the problem of the EA nor the vendor, and is the only thing at the moment in this situation which is in your control, so I'd try to address that as a priority, as buying a house is full of stressful delays and things beyond your control. As kindly was I can put this, three days wait is nothing in house buying terms.

This, in it's entirety.

Gloriasub · 22/03/2024 22:07

If this rate of response makes your worried, I can't imagine the story afterwards...
cause the process is kinda long - waiting for searches, waiting for enquires to be answered, waiting your solicitor to get back to you, waiting for exchange contracts.... etc

The vendor may have other offers/viewings therefore s/he or even the EA is not giving you a straight answer at this point

slippedonabanana · 25/03/2024 13:54

Any word back yet, OP?

OMGitsnotgood · 25/03/2024 13:57

A house is worth whatever people are prepared to pay for it so even with issues like you mention, most houses in our area are going for above the asking price. I guess the vendors are holding out for higher offers. But I feel for you OP, such a stressful time x

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