Would you gazump?

[Whattodowhattodo246]

Morning all. I saw a property last week in a desirable catchment area. The house came on the market at the beginning of May, was on sale for a week and sold. It then reappeared for sale last week as the sale fell through (buyer had more money to spend on a house than he had thought). I viewed the house on the Tuesday and planned a 2nd viewing for the Saturday (next time the agent could fit us in as my husband couldn’t make the 1st viewing due to him working away). I then saw online on the Wednesday that the house had sold. I called the agent who confirmed that it had sold but did not mention if I could put a counter offer in and I did not ask; the agent merely said they would contact me if the sale fell through.

I was speaking to a friend who suggested I call up the agent tomorrow and ask to put forward an offer (asking price or higher) and see what the owner says.

I have just sold my property to a first time buyer and keen to get moving ASAP. The house I would like to buy does not have a chain.

if you were the owner of the other house, would you consider a counter offer despite already accepting an offer?

I bought my first (my current) home which was a new build so didn’t go through the whole counter offer situation.

It’s only just been marked as sold so no harm in making an offer. Surprised the seller accepted the other offer despite knowing you had a second viewing tbh.

Yes offer, you have nothing to lose.

THe worst they can say is no.

Thanks @GreenFairies - yes, that’s what I was thinking, especially as the agent didn’t seem to care that there could be a bidding war, which in turn could mean more money for them. It literally was a call to say “tough luck, it’s sold”. My husband hasn’t seen the interior and wanted to see the inside of the property; he is now happy to purchase if we can without him seeing it. It’s a lesson for us not to dawdle with decision making, I guess!

Ah, with your update I wouldn’t take an offer from you if your husband hasn’t seen it.

@ThroughThickAndThin01 please can I ask why? I did have my dad with me (to act as a second pair of eyes to check for any issues with the house) so I could always say he was my very elderly husband 😂

In case he doesn’t like it. Often when anyone views the perfect-on-paper property they don’t always like it once they’ve seen inside, can’t imagine living there, feels an ‘off’ vibe etc. Honestly,until he sees it the agent shouldn’t recommend an offer to the vendor.

Maybe they’ll let him in to view if you suggest you’ll offer a higher amount, but as the vendor I wouldn’t accept your offer until you’ve both viewed it.

You could say he’s your much older husband!, but at the end of the day your dad isn’t the one who will be living there.

I'd feel the same as @ThroughThickAndThin01 , if I knew your DH hadn't viewed the house. It would make me question how serious you were about going through with the sale if I did accept.

Both my sister and I offered on (and bought) houses without our husband having initially seen them, when time is off the essence you need to go for it.

That’s it @TenderChicken - we know the area, it’s literally that he didn’t see the inside of it - the agents’ latest viewing was 4.45pm so no time for DH to get back from his office out of county. To be honest though, we bought our current house off plan so didn’t see inside until we bought it. He is happy to put an offer in and trust me, but I do understand that the owner may want DH to have a viewing - totally understandable for your reasoning @ThroughThickAndThin01. I will see what the agent says / recommends in the morning.

Sounds a good plan, good luck.

If there wasn’t already a buyer then I would agree that most vendors would be open to more risky offers, but would they be prepared to ditch a buyer already proceeding for someone who hasn’t seen it? I wouldn’t.

I tried gazumping once. The estate agent was very curt/ nasty with me and the response that came back was a no as the sellers didn't agree with it morally. Possibly right to be honest, it is a mean thing to do to someone or is excited to be under offer, the estate agent made me feel like I was trying to kill a kitten or something.

This happened to me when I was buying my current house. The only effect was that I ended up paying £15k more to match their offer on condition that vendors would not try to start a bidding war, so really only the vendors won. If they have said they've accepted an offer and so cancelled your second viewing it is likely that they would be morally opposed to taking a higher offer now and my outcome would be the only likely one. So I personally wouldn't.

What about putting a note through the door explaining who you are , how proceed-able how much you love the house offer asking price . it's only just sold so the new buyers won't have done surveys etc ? If it was an asking price offer from the other buyers I'd leave it though .

I wouldn't take an offer without both parties seeing it. I've had this before, and once the other half saw it they backed out.
They already have a seller, why take the risk with you?

If I had accepted an offer from someone I wouldn’t accept a higher offer from someone else whose husband hadn’t even viewed the property.

If they had both viewed the property it would be a moral dilemma.

You should still be able to offer and the seller should be able to consider. I would as others have said detail your position, procedable no chain, mortgage in place etc. but also add your willingness to complete / exchange in x weeks, get survey etc completed in x weeks etc. it may be that the sellers are in no hurrry themselves, but you can ask.

Maybe they wouldn't accept an offer if both parties hadn't seen the house, but you will only know by trying. I wouldn't actually mention it though, I'd just give the estate agent my offer and see what happens. The agent has to pass on all offers, so their opinion is irrelevant (if they have one). I think it's likely that the current buyer will then offer more, but again, you won't know unless you try and you've nothing to lose

Thank you all - I spoke with the vendor’s agent today and said that I wanted to see if I could put an offer in as the house was perfect for us and I had a 1st time buyer in place. I was basically told off and the agent said he would not even consider asking the vendor to think about my offer, which on one hand I do understand but on the other, if my agent did that and turned away a potential £££ increase on my sale, I wouldn’t be overly happy.

So that’s that then - I have been turned down for my meagre attempt to gazump and will continue to look for another house ☹️

I was of the impression that they legally had to pass on all offers to the seller?

I guess the offer made was stronger than yours eg they were renting so could proceed quickly. That might be better for them than a higher offer and a slower process. Never mind on to the next one

Put a note through the door. That way at least the seller can make up their own mind

This is true.

I wouldn't sell to someone who was prepared to do this. The owners can remove it from the market if they accept an offer. Thanks Phil & Kirstie.