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Original poster

Gazumping. Should we do it?

184 replies

Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 15:55

We viewed a house about 6 weeks ago. Loved it. Had a second viewing and wanted to make an offer. Spoke to seller, explaining we were awaiting an offer on our house first but we had someone who had seen it 3 times and was apparently "just waiting for her husband to return from his business trip on Friday" and then would offer on ours. Well unsurprisingly she then went radio silence. I was in touch with sellers EA regularly letting them know we wanted it but still weren't in a proceedable (?) position. Even put forward a full asking price offer if they'd hold on for us. They didn't want to wait. Fair enough. Well this morning I looked on RM and it says it's SSTC. It wasn't on Friday. Thing is we've literally (like 2 hours ago) accepted an offer on ours so now we ARE proceedable. We are considering getting in touch and offering them £750k - asking price was £735. What do you think? Is this too immoral? Would you do it?

OP posts:
Strongbeatsskinny · 05/08/2024 18:03

No don’t put an offer in you’ve lost out unfortunately. But do tell the agent if it falls through that you’d happily make an offer. I’d be more than devastated if I’d been the one that had been gazumped it’s the nasty and spiteful thing to do. Move on and start looking for another house.

Lochroy · 05/08/2024 18:04

Don't do the "phone the EA and just in vase it falls through" thing. That's woolly. Put in a proper offer they are obliged to put forward. Re-state your position and then it's out of your hands. They've known you're interested all along, but have wanted someone in a position to proceed. You know nothing about the status of the other people, so you may not get it anyway. But if you don't formally offer you'll never know, and you're putting the ball in the sellers' court to make the decision.

newpussmum · 05/08/2024 18:10

If you are meant to have this house you will have it.

However IMO gazumpers are only one step down from gazunderers.

Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:13

Strongbeatsskinny · 05/08/2024 18:03

No don’t put an offer in you’ve lost out unfortunately. But do tell the agent if it falls through that you’d happily make an offer. I’d be more than devastated if I’d been the one that had been gazumped it’s the nasty and spiteful thing to do. Move on and start looking for another house.

It's definitely not "spiteful" that's ridiculous. We've wanted it all along, they've just offered on it and been accepted. I totally understand they'll be pissed off and I wouldn't do it if it was further along and they'd spent money. I'm not even sure whether I'm happy to do it right now anyway - going to discuss with DH this evening - but if I do it's definitely not going to be out of "spite" it will be because we want the house!

OP posts:
Sitdownrosa · 05/08/2024 18:14

There's no chance id lose out on a home that i could see myself living in for 20 years because someone else put an offer in a day before.

Karma isn't real, either.

Tupster · 05/08/2024 18:14

It's a horrible thing to do and I hope they reject the offer. But you are obviously going to do it anyway and just posted here because you wanted people to tell you it was fair, but it isn't.

I bet you'll try and haggle them down during the process anyway. People who are only out for themselves usually show that in all aspects of their transaction.

3CustardCreams · 05/08/2024 18:18

Do it.

Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:18

Tupster · 05/08/2024 18:14

It's a horrible thing to do and I hope they reject the offer. But you are obviously going to do it anyway and just posted here because you wanted people to tell you it was fair, but it isn't.

I bet you'll try and haggle them down during the process anyway. People who are only out for themselves usually show that in all aspects of their transaction.

this is spiteful.

OP posts:
Tupster · 05/08/2024 18:20

Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:18

this is spiteful.

Show quote history

maybe, but it's also true.

Sitdownrosa · 05/08/2024 18:20

Just ignore them. If they were in that position and they were about to see their perfect house sold to someone else for the sake of one day, they would absolutely make an offer.

Gamergirl86 · 05/08/2024 18:30

I wouldn't trust someone who offered 15k over the asking price after my house had gone up as sstc the day before.

I would be expecting you to make excuses not to pay what you originally offered and tbh I'd be wary from the off. I'm sure you'll knock the 15k off somwwhere down the process.

But the vendors aren't me and you have clearly already made your mind up. The general consensus seems to be it's morraly wrong but do it if you really feel you need to.

Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:37

Actually @Tupster I wouldn't be reducing my offer at the last second, nor do I plan to gazump if the other buyers have already spent money on this house. I'm a lot less bothered if all they've invested is their time over the weekend.
I do very much hope something similar happens to you though. I really don't like the hypocrisy of calling me spiteful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:40

Gamergirl86 · 05/08/2024 18:30

I wouldn't trust someone who offered 15k over the asking price after my house had gone up as sstc the day before.

I would be expecting you to make excuses not to pay what you originally offered and tbh I'd be wary from the off. I'm sure you'll knock the 15k off somwwhere down the process.

But the vendors aren't me and you have clearly already made your mind up. The general consensus seems to be it's morraly wrong but do it if you really feel you need to.

The thing is though we HAD already offered. We just weren't proceedable. So I doubt they'd think we're up to something strange. It's pretty obvious we just wanted it from the start. They may well not accept (if we do give it a try) and that's fair enough, but I don't think it will be because they think we're trying to pull a fast one.
Also for all the Judgy McJudge pants out there DH and I have decided we absolutely won't do it if they've already spent money on it. I doubt they would have yet though.

OP posts:
Atethehalloweenchocs · 05/08/2024 18:41

So many sales fall through at the moment, why dont you let them know you would have liked to put in an offer and would be interested if anything goes wrong with the sale.

Tupster · 05/08/2024 18:41

Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:37

Actually @Tupster I wouldn't be reducing my offer at the last second, nor do I plan to gazump if the other buyers have already spent money on this house. I'm a lot less bothered if all they've invested is their time over the weekend.
I do very much hope something similar happens to you though. I really don't like the hypocrisy of calling me spiteful.

wasn't me that called you spiteful so don't start having a go at me for that bit.

Onlinetherapist · 05/08/2024 18:42

@Itsrainingten do what’s best for you and your family like everyone else would do, including those on this thread that insist they wouldn’t! It’s human nature to put your own family first.

good96 · 05/08/2024 18:43

Offer the £750k if you desperately want the house - the onus is on the vendor if they accept your offer. Depends what the vendors are like - are they cash greedy or are they moral?
I’d do it tomorrow as soon as the EA opens - it’s still very early in the process so chances are surveyors probably won’t have been instructed yet (but they probably will) later this week so get the ball rolling asap.

You’d need to know one way or another as you need to look at other properties for yourself otherwise.

TheBizzies · 05/08/2024 18:45

its not nice and I've lost two houses because of it so I would do it. Seems normal now. There should be a process in place to prevent it. But there isn't ! Good luck

FeelingUnsure99 · 05/08/2024 18:45

I would. It's so very early in the process that the other buyers won't have spent anything (or very little) yet. And you were genuinely interested in the house and offered even though you couldn't proceed at that time. It's not like you've come along half way through the sale and thrown money at it.

Of course the vendors might not accept, so be prepared for that too.

penguinonmybag · 05/08/2024 18:46

SSTC means they have exchanged so you're too late

Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:47

penguinonmybag · 05/08/2024 18:46

SSTC means they have exchanged so you're too late

Eh? I'm pretty sure it can't do. They hadn't had an offer last time I spoke to the EA. That was 16 days ago.

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 05/08/2024 18:48

This thread is the perfect example of why and how the English selling system is so flawed. It’s ripe for overhaul…

Original poster
Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:49

harriethoyle · 05/08/2024 18:48

This thread is the perfect example of why and how the English selling system is so flawed. It’s ripe for overhaul…

You're not wrong.

OP posts:
AnOldCynic · 05/08/2024 18:50

Just make the offer.

I viewed a property on a Friday after an offer had been accepted on the Monday. Been on the market a while. I didn't know about the offer until the EA told me during the visit. The EA also told me there had been radio silence from the buyer since the Monday. I actually offered what worked out as 3% less than the accepted offer on the basis I had a conveyancer lined up, they'd seen my proof of ID and funds already and I could send the details through immediately.

They accepted it.

harriethoyle · 05/08/2024 18:51

Itsrainingten · 05/08/2024 18:49

You're not wrong.

Show quote history

YOU’RE the problem 🙄