Love a house that’s for sale but not yet sold ours

Pinklady81 · 2025-05-03T10:40:56+00:00

Hello as above our house is currently on the market and have viewings this weekend again but we have now seen a house we are very serious about . We are going back for a second viewing any tips know we are not in a situation to proceed but it’s our dream house .

DenholmElliot11 · 03/05/2025 11:43

Why aren't you in a position to proceed? Can you offer potential buyers a discount for quick purchase which would enable you to buy the house you're after?

Original poster

Pinklady81 · 03/05/2025 11:48

At the moment we have been told by agents as we haven’t sold, we can’t put an offer in only an expression of interest? We have discounted ours in the last few days but want to go back and torture ourselves perhaps by seeing the house

OP posts:

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 12:35

The EA has already told you what to do. Put in an expression of interest. The seller will be pleased they have an interested party, but until such time as you have sold yours they won’t accept an offer from you.

Nothing more you can do really. Apart from reduce the price on yours to get it sold quicker.

Advocodo · 03/05/2025 15:23

If it’s your dream home and you want to be in with a chance of buying it then you need to make sure your house is the best there is at your price point.

tillytoodles1 · 03/05/2025 15:34

You're the sort of person who made my blood boil when we were selling our house. Clean the place from top to bottom, send my H out with the kids and the dog, then show them around only to find out they weren't in a position to proceed because they hadn't sold their own house. I'm surprised agent don't check first.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 03/05/2025 15:40

tillytoodles1 · 03/05/2025 15:34

You're the sort of person who made my blood boil when we were selling our house. Clean the place from top to bottom, send my H out with the kids and the dog, then show them around only to find out they weren't in a position to proceed because they hadn't sold their own house. I'm surprised agent don't check first.

I agree, we specifically told EA we would only allow SSTC buyers only.

CoastalCalm · 03/05/2025 15:43

Agree shouldn’t be viewing until proceedable

andweallloveclover · 03/05/2025 15:49

tillytoodles1 · 03/05/2025 15:34

You're the sort of person who made my blood boil when we were selling our house. Clean the place from top to bottom, send my H out with the kids and the dog, then show them around only to find out they weren't in a position to proceed because they hadn't sold their own house. I'm surprised agent don't check first.

God same here. The effort it takes to get the house ready for a viewing. Putting all the dog beds and stuff away and presenting the house and garden to its best. Then DH takes the dogs out of the way for an hour only to find viewers not proceedable. Its VERY annoying and we also then told our agents that we didn't want any viewings unless they were in a position to proceed. I am surprised you have been able to view this house twice!

Init4thecatz · 03/05/2025 15:54

Bridging lone?

TasWair · 03/05/2025 15:58

tillytoodles1 · 03/05/2025 15:34

You're the sort of person who made my blood boil when we were selling our house. Clean the place from top to bottom, send my H out with the kids and the dog, then show them around only to find out they weren't in a position to proceed because they hadn't sold their own house. I'm surprised agent don't check first.

Hmm. I'm not so sure about this. Our house is on the market and our estate agent always lets us know when telling us about potential viewings what is the position of the viewers. If the viewers are not in a position to proceed, you can reject the viewing. (I never do reject them, they might sell next week!)

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 16:02

CoastalCalm · 03/05/2025 15:43

Agree shouldn’t be viewing until proceedable

What nonsense. Many people don’t put their house up for sale until they know there is actually a house they want to buy. Motivated people can then get their house on the market and sold fairly quickly. Or maybe when they’ve found the house they want , they realise then can afford to cut their asking price to get a quick sale.By banning any viewers who aren’t SSTC you risk losing out on a potential sale.

Bluevelvetsofa · 03/05/2025 16:18

I disagree @Doris86. I think people decide to sell, then look seriously for a property when their house is at least getting interest.

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 16:27

Bluevelvetsofa · 03/05/2025 16:18

I disagree @Doris86. I think people decide to sell, then look seriously for a property when their house is at least getting interest.

I disagree. I found a house I loved and subsequently put mine up for sale. Within 2 weeks I accepted an offer on my house, and got an offer accepted on the one I wanted.im living there now.

If the seller had refused to let me view it because I wasn’t SSTC, then they would have lost out on a sale to me.

I know plenty of people who have done similar. Mainly people who didn’t desperately need to move, but once they saw something they loved decided to go for it.

Mayhemabounds · 03/05/2025 16:31

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 16:02

What nonsense. Many people don’t put their house up for sale until they know there is actually a house they want to buy. Motivated people can then get their house on the market and sold fairly quickly. Or maybe when they’ve found the house they want , they realise then can afford to cut their asking price to get a quick sale.By banning any viewers who aren’t SSTC you risk losing out on a potential sale.

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We are in this position. We know our house will sell quickly but don't want to sell and then find we can't find anywhere to buy. We are the sort of buyers many people would want but we want to be sure we have somewhere in our sights before putting it on the market.

Mrscharlieeeee · 03/05/2025 18:10

We were in this position 18 months ago. Ours wasn’t even on the market yet, we’d had photos done and were waiting for the listing to go out and boom; I found our dream house. We viewed it and expressed our interest. I kept in touch with the EA throughout. The first person who viewed ours offered and we accepted immediately and made our offer on dream house. There’s literally nothing you can do until yours sells. Fingers crossed it happens quickly for you! I wouldn’t torture yourself with another viewing until you’ve accepted on yours. I’m currently sat in said dream house so I hope it works out for you too!

Original poster

Pinklady81 · 03/05/2025 22:08

My god I only asked about this and people saying I’m out of order if they didn’t want me to view they k ew my position! The chain has to start somewhere !

OP posts:

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 03/05/2025 22:10

TasWair · 03/05/2025 15:58

Hmm. I'm not so sure about this. Our house is on the market and our estate agent always lets us know when telling us about potential viewings what is the position of the viewers. If the viewers are not in a position to proceed, you can reject the viewing. (I never do reject them, they might sell next week!)

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This

we viewed a house and then put ours on the market

we have done it twice….once was a very long time ago and the other was 2021

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/05/2025 22:19

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 16:02

What nonsense. Many people don’t put their house up for sale until they know there is actually a house they want to buy. Motivated people can then get their house on the market and sold fairly quickly. Or maybe when they’ve found the house they want , they realise then can afford to cut their asking price to get a quick sale.By banning any viewers who aren’t SSTC you risk losing out on a potential sale.

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I disagree. People moan about how length the house buying / selling process is in the UK. People viewing and even making offers when they are not in a position to actual buy unless they can sell theirs ridiculous and a major cause of delays. I’ve sold / bought many houses over the years, and always made it very clear that I am only interested in viewings for proceed-able buyers or been proceed-able myself. Never had a problem selling or buying any property over a 30 plus year time frame, and it’s never taken particularly long. Quickest offer to completion was around 3 weeks; longest 10 weeks, which included a 3 week break over Christmas and New Year.

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 22:34

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/05/2025 22:19

I disagree. People moan about how length the house buying / selling process is in the UK. People viewing and even making offers when they are not in a position to actual buy unless they can sell theirs ridiculous and a major cause of delays. I’ve sold / bought many houses over the years, and always made it very clear that I am only interested in viewings for proceed-able buyers or been proceed-able myself. Never had a problem selling or buying any property over a 30 plus year time frame, and it’s never taken particularly long. Quickest offer to completion was around 3 weeks; longest 10 weeks, which included a 3 week break over Christmas and New Year.

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I fail to see how letting people view
who aren’t proceedable causes delays. After all the seller isn’t going to accept any offers from them until they actually are proceedable.

However by letting them view, you increase your chances of selling, if it increases their motivation to sell their house quickly. Not letting interested people view seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Yotoyoto · 03/05/2025 22:42

@Tryingtokeepgoing i completely disagree with you - it’s the opposite. If someone doesn’t have a clue where they are going and only start looking once they’ve sold, it delays the wjole
process.

We found our dream home, weren’t even on the market and they let us view. We listed, sold and then put it our offer immediately. Our vendors are now spending weeks looking for their onward purchase.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/05/2025 22:52

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 22:34

I fail to see how letting people view
who aren’t proceedable causes delays. After all the seller isn’t going to accept any offers from them until they actually are proceedable.

However by letting them view, you increase your chances of selling, if it increases their motivation to sell their house quickly. Not letting interested people view seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

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I’ve never seen the need to have more potential buyers; far better IME to focus on buyers who are in a position to proceed, but that’s only my experience. And as I’ve never had a problem selling I don’t see how life would have been improved by letting people who weren’t in a position to make an offer look round. Others may take a different view, and I expect it’s area and house type specific as well. But letting people view who can’t make an offer has to waste everyone’s time.

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 03/05/2025 22:57

Others may take a different view, and I expect it’s area and house type specific as well. But letting people view who can’t make an offer has to waste everyone’s time

as you said area and house specific…also time specific but it doesn’t necessarily mean anyones time is wasted

stichguru · 03/05/2025 23:00

tillytoodles1 · 03/05/2025 15:34

You're the sort of person who made my blood boil when we were selling our house. Clean the place from top to bottom, send my H out with the kids and the dog, then show them around only to find out they weren't in a position to proceed because they hadn't sold their own house. I'm surprised agent don't check first.

Maybe being thick, but how does this work then?
Like how does anyone sell/buy? Don't you just get a situation where everyone has to wait?

Kellywiththelegs · 03/05/2025 23:05

Doris86 · 03/05/2025 16:02

What nonsense. Many people don’t put their house up for sale until they know there is actually a house they want to buy. Motivated people can then get their house on the market and sold fairly quickly. Or maybe when they’ve found the house they want , they realise then can afford to cut their asking price to get a quick sale.By banning any viewers who aren’t SSTC you risk losing out on a potential sale.

Show quote history

Agree, you can get your own under offer in a couple of days if motivated.

Anonyone1 · 03/05/2025 23:11

Currently getting our place ready to go up for sale and have been viewing properties since October last year. EAs happy to take us on viewings. Last week we fell in love with one and have had our offer accepted and a period of exclusivity agreed whilst we try to sell ours. All easily negotiated with the EA. Apparently the seller liked us!
I’ve been moaning at DH, saying there’s no point viewing if we’re not in a position to sell and he’s proven me wrong.
Very stressful for us now, although we’re using the same EA to sell ours so they’re being very helpful already!
It can happen, all the best OP!