Do EAs lie about other offers?

JeremyFischer · 12/08/2024 13:58

It may be lies, it may not be lies.

The £545k offer may in fact be so speculative (e.g. down-sizer who hasn't put their house on the market, FTB with no mortgage in principle) that it's not proceedable and agent senses they are a time waster.

They may also think they can nudge you up from £535k (even if you know they won't).

I think you have to operate without any assumptions of what other people are doing, as Estate Agency can be a very murky business.

Personally, I wouldn't let what an EA said about any other offers affect how I operated. I'd go and view and put your offer down if you like it; what's the worst that can happen?

invisiblecat · 12/08/2024 14:01

I wouldn't trust an estate agent to tell the complete truth, no.

Original poster

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 14:03

@JeremyFischer true! I just don't want to get my heart into it if it isn't going to go well

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Bobbotgegrinch · 12/08/2024 14:09

I used to work for a company that supplied software to estate agents.

They lie, about everything. Their job is to try and get the best price for the vendor, so they will tell you absolutely anything they can get away with to try and get you to part with as much money as possible.

MothershipG · 12/08/2024 14:14

That is an absolutely classic estate agent lie, although there is the possibility it might be true...

So go for a second view with your sensible head on, if you still like it make an offer you are comfortable with and see what happens.

And try not to get emotionally invested in properties (I know it's hard) but you have to be all business and be prepared to walk away.

Flubadubba · 12/08/2024 14:15

Could be either way. I used to think it was all crap until we found ourselves in the situation you describe as the sellers. This was after a month or so on the market.

rainingsnoring · 12/08/2024 14:19

Certainly, some estate agents tell a lot of lies and it all sounds a bit too much of a coincidence.

Why don't you email them back and withdraw from your viewing for now as the current offer is higher than you are prepared to pay. See what they say. If they chase you or the offer is unexpectedly withdrawn, you can proceed with your second viewing.

Original poster

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 14:29

@rainingsnoring I told them over the phone that maybe there wasn't any point in viewing it again and she pushed for the viewing to happen anyway, which is why I am suspicious

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SeriouslyStressed · 12/08/2024 14:38

It's a lie.

Estate agents are very shady.

I viewed a house opposite a tower block. The estate agent said the tower block was being knocked down within the year. I did my research, it wasn't. The tower block is still there fifteen years later.

Another house, the estate agent said we must also buy the separate garage (around the corner) that was being sold by the same seller because parking was a total nightmare on that road. We were first time buyers, we couldn't afford it. We bought just the house and always found a space but parking was tight.
Six months later a similar house near ours was being sold, (without a garage) I followed the exact same estate agent ("Guy" was his name and he looked like David Mellor) down the road after doing a viewing and he was loudly and confidently telling the viewer that parking in the area was not a problem at all.

UpUpUpU · 12/08/2024 14:39

We have just had something similar.

Newly looking for a house and saw one that has been on the market for a year! Never had a price drop so were unsure if to view as it’s either well overpriced and the sellers aren’t in a hurry or there is a problem. We decided to book a viewing as it’s what we are looking for. Called and booked and were told there was an offer on the table. Was dubious but still wanted to view.

The next day the estate agent called to say there were two more offers on the table (all below asking price and if we were interested we should proceed quickly after our viewing). Decided at that point it wasn’t for us and cancelled the viewing. They have been in contact twice since then (this was June) asking if we’d like to view.

Part of me wants to go see what the issue is but I be arsed!

MothershipG · 12/08/2024 14:41

You are right to be suspicions, an estate agents job is to get as much as possible for their client, the seller. As most work on commission they are incentivised to lie.

So if you like it, view it, make an offer you are comfortable with and take anything the agent says with a bucket of salt.

Wrennyjenwren · 12/08/2024 14:45

We went to view a house a few weeks ago and as soon as we walked in, we were told there was already an offer on it.
We then got phoned an hour later telling us there was another offer, a higher one. We needed to make an offer in the next 30 minutes to be in with a chance.
We stupidly made the mistake of asking where we needed to be to be in with a chance, and we ended up offering 35k over the asking price, which was accepted.
We probably would have got the house for the original asking price (though it was an 'offers over' price), but thankfully it is our dream house and we felt it was very cheap for what it was, so we're happy.

You'll never know, but I'm pretty convinced we were lied to so the EA can rub his hands.

VinoEsmeralda · 12/08/2024 14:52

I made an offer on a house for 312k ( was on for 340k. Estate agent immediately replied 335k is min ( he knew our budget was a lot more) I said I'll think about it . Made an offer on another house, he phoned back an hr later to ask what I thought. Surprisingly in that call he said owner would go to 312k but we proceeded with the 2nd home. It sold for 280k a few months later

MoodEnhancer · 12/08/2024 14:53

They might be lying but I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. Go and see the house and if you want to make an offer, make one that is what it is worth to you, regardless of any other offers (real or otherwise!) I have had refusals and then the seller come back to me later when a higher offer didn’t work out. I have also had a lower offer than others accepted because our position (no chain) was more important to the seller than additional money.

Always remember that the estate agent works for the seller, not you, and that they work on commission. So as a buyer, I would take what they say with a pinch of salt.

Original poster

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 15:41

@VinoEsmeralda ah so annoying, but probably for the best for you guys!

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Original poster

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 15:42

UpUpUpU · 12/08/2024 14:39

We have just had something similar.

Newly looking for a house and saw one that has been on the market for a year! Never had a price drop so were unsure if to view as it’s either well overpriced and the sellers aren’t in a hurry or there is a problem. We decided to book a viewing as it’s what we are looking for. Called and booked and were told there was an offer on the table. Was dubious but still wanted to view.

The next day the estate agent called to say there were two more offers on the table (all below asking price and if we were interested we should proceed quickly after our viewing). Decided at that point it wasn’t for us and cancelled the viewing. They have been in contact twice since then (this was June) asking if we’d like to view.

Part of me wants to go see what the issue is but I be arsed!

I understand the feeling but if you feel the house is right for you I'd try to see it anyway and ignore the annoying agents

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rainingsnoring · 12/08/2024 15:46

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 14:29

@rainingsnoring I told them over the phone that maybe there wasn't any point in viewing it again and she pushed for the viewing to happen anyway, which is why I am suspicious

I agree with you. That's why I suggested withdrawing in writing, citing the other offer. If you are right, it shows up their lie and puts them on the back foot. You can then view again and decide what is the maximum you are happy to pay with less pressure on you.
If you are wrong, they can accept the higher offer and are unlikely to be interested in your lower offer.

rainingsnoring · 12/08/2024 15:49

There seem to be a lot of estate agents out there who haven't adjusted their either their valuations or their sales technique to the changed housing market. In most areas, it's changed from a very fast moving, seller's market in 20-22 to a slow moving buyer's market in the last 18-24 months. Lying about higher offers may well work when FOMO was at its height but not any more!

brightonrock123456789 · 12/08/2024 16:10

There's a really good website called landworth. It will tell you how much comparables sold for and has much more info than rightmove. Knowledge is power and all that

Peonies007 · 12/08/2024 17:24

Spicegirl1234 · 12/08/2024 13:51

House on the market for 555K, we think it's overprices for x reasons. We went for a first viewing last week and have booked in a second viewing for this evening.
Spoke to EA this morning asking to book viewing n2 but said price is too high, the max we'd be offering on the house if 535K, is it worth viewing it? They said yes as ultimately it depended on the vendor.
I got a call 2 hours later to confirm the appointment and, magically, there seems to be another offer on the table for 545K but apparently vendor thinks it's low. I said what's the point of us viewing it then as we wouldn't offer that much and the EA said it was still worth viewing it and if we felt like making a lower offer we'd have to explain the reasons why.

Am I right to sense bullsh..? It's unlikely an offer magically came through 2 hours after we spoke this morning and assuming that was true, why would they encourage a viewing if they know we'd offer even less than that?

It's practically in their job description to lie.
They lie to vendors too!
I caught mine in several lies.
I believe they shouldn't be disclosing offer amount.
hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/can-you-see-other-offers-on-a-house/

Twiglets1 · 12/08/2024 19:10

Just go and view the house and offer what you think it’s worth, if you like it. Simple.