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Original poster

Vendor not budging on house price

126 replies

BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 21:36

Hello Mumsnetters,
We have sold our house and about to exchange. We found a property that we like, that ticks almost all of the boxes, but is located on a very busy and fast moving road. The house has been on the market for 6 months, having also been on the market last year for 6 months. Last year, they had 'a buyer' that offered their asking price, but ultimately this buyer did not proceed as apparently there was an issue with their mortgage. So essentially, they had no buyer!
There are 3 other houses on this road, all priced 100k less, who have also been on the market for 6 months plus. The reason we want the house over the others is because it has a bigger garden and a separate annex for my mum.

We offered 8% below asking on this house and it was rejected, with the owners citing 'we got the asking price for it last year' (which has made me mad as they clearly didn't get the asking price from a proceedable buyer or it would have been sold!)

As soon as we find something we are ready to exchange on our house. Our AIP and solicitor is ready to go. The vendor has said they will accept 2% off their asking price (for reference, the house is just under 1m)

I am getting super frustrated as we have accepted a 5% below offer on our own house due to the market being a buyers market at the moment.

I suppose I am just looking for some advice, for someone not emotionally connected to this, on how we should proceed. My thoughts were to place a 5% below offer and walk away if they don't budge. The reason being the house is overpriced (but suits our needs) and is on a road that we will likely struggle to sell again in the future as it's so busy (but it's going to be our forever home to raise our family, so I'm not too bothered about that)

I also want to feel like I have got a good deal (who doesn't?!)

Should we just keep looking?

OP posts:
BCBird · 12/08/2025 21:40

Although u don't want to hear this, it is the vendor's perogative to hold out for the asking price. You either pay it or lose it, it's that simple. If u don't want to lose your buyer why not go into rented accommodation without your buyer, there isn't a future purchase for you. How much would it cost to build an annexe in one of the other properties on the road? Is this an option?

Mauro711 · 12/08/2025 21:41

In all likelihood, the mortgage issues the last buyer had is probably that the house is over valued and they couldn't borrow what they needed for it. Unless you have a lot of cash and are willing to pay above its value then you will have the same issue.

SkylarFalls · 12/08/2025 21:44

A whole livable annex and a bigger garden will add 100k around here too

They sound like they have to luxury of time

A move might just not be worth it for them if they get less

TeenLifeMum · 12/08/2025 21:45

My in laws have their house on the market. They have a set price and unless they get it they won’t sell as they won’t have enough to move to where they want to be. They’re in no rush - been on the market for over a year but are adamant it’s not the price (it is but that’s their prerogative. You can offer less but they don’t have to accept.

pizzaHeart · 12/08/2025 21:47

Nothing you can do. The owner is not in a hurry obviously and can wait, maybe he hasn’t found their next house yet plus on that price even 1% makes a noticeable difference.
It’s who blinks first situation, so work out what you are ready to pay, put your offer with your arguments -and a deadline, and hope for the best. Start looking again asap and notify EA about that.

SkylarFalls · 12/08/2025 21:47

I've always had a price in mind I would not go under, because it just wouldn't allow us to buy what I need. So zero point selling .

Luckily I've always been valued a little above that so could take small offers. But would have stayed out without the amount that would facilitate a step up.

you really cannot make anyone accept less than makes it worth their whole.

Ohmeohmyohme · 12/08/2025 21:47

8 percent of £1m is £80,000! I’m not surprised they wouldn’t accept. They probably see it as handing £80k to a stranger. Not much you can do about it so I would move on or buy one of the cheaper homes and put your own annex on.

Original poster
BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 21:49

@BCBird thank you for your quick reply, I am also thinking they can hold out for whatever they like. It also makes me think we should have held out for more on ours, and that's upsetting me too.

Sorry I should have said, we will go into rented if we have to, to let our sale go through. Our buyer has a very small baby and they want to move to be closer to family so I wouldn't hold them up. Our issue is the added cost of 2 moves, and trying to find a rental near schools and work, with a dog is tricky.

The other properties gardens are too small to build a separate annex. We could renovated the garage, but it will take time and money and wouldn't be of the same size as the annex on the other house.

I honestly hate this, I thought selling was the hardest part!

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/08/2025 21:53

BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 21:49

@BCBird thank you for your quick reply, I am also thinking they can hold out for whatever they like. It also makes me think we should have held out for more on ours, and that's upsetting me too.

Sorry I should have said, we will go into rented if we have to, to let our sale go through. Our buyer has a very small baby and they want to move to be closer to family so I wouldn't hold them up. Our issue is the added cost of 2 moves, and trying to find a rental near schools and work, with a dog is tricky.

The other properties gardens are too small to build a separate annex. We could renovated the garage, but it will take time and money and wouldn't be of the same size as the annex on the other house.

I honestly hate this, I thought selling was the hardest part!

Sounds like this house being 100k more than the others on the street is valid then to be honest. The vendor has answered your offer so I’d pay what they want or move on. The ‘good deal’ feeling comes from avoiding 2 moves and having the house with the big garden and full annex

pizzaHeart · 12/08/2025 21:55

There are real reasons why this house is more expensive then others - it’s got bigger garden and an annex. Obviously vendor knows about that too and acts accordingly.

Original poster
BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 22:09

Thanks everyone..I knew these would be the answers. Will sleep on it tonight and figure out how much we want the house and how much we are prepared to go. And if our max is not accepted, we keep on looking!

OP posts:
SkylarFalls · 12/08/2025 22:12

BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 22:09

Thanks everyone..I knew these would be the answers. Will sleep on it tonight and figure out how much we want the house and how much we are prepared to go. And if our max is not accepted, we keep on looking!

To be honest, it feels scary at the time, but we've done sell - rent - buy before and it turned out to be absolutely the best thing in the long run

rainingsnoring · 12/08/2025 22:18

BananaMoon4 · 12/08/2025 22:09

Thanks everyone..I knew these would be the answers. Will sleep on it tonight and figure out how much we want the house and how much we are prepared to go. And if our max is not accepted, we keep on looking!

As you say, offer whatever it is worth to you and then just move on if they don't accept. Personally, I would be very cautious about over paying in a falling market but it's a personal decision. The sellers sound unrealistic if none of the houses in the road are selling but that is up to them. There are a lot of unrealistic sellers around, many of them marketing their houses for 2 or 3 years at this point. A lot of them will end up feeling disappointed but it's their decision.

sopsmu · 12/08/2025 22:24

Sounds like you want a deal - their house is clearly more valuable and if they have the luxury of time they can wait until someone comes along that pay what they perceive it to be worth. If you are paying £1m ish I wouldn’t let £60k (they have told you they will accept 20k off) hold me up.

Overwhelmedandunderfed · 12/08/2025 22:33

I feel your pain! We viewed a house and offered 5% under asking price the same day and they declined. Fair enough it hadn’t been on the market long. 3 months later they had received no other offers and reduced it by 2.5% of the asking price. The estate agent called me and asked if I could up my bid and she laughed at how ludicrous they were being as 5% is pretty standard (we’re talking much smaller figures than you) People pretend they don’t care about moving but I don’t believe people when they say it, how many people are willing to have to tidy up for viewings and deal with estate agents and view other properties if they don’t really want a sale? It sounds like you’re in a similar position to what I was, the house is probably worth what they’re asking but only to someone looking for something very specific (ie you and I) I relented and met them halfway but I do believe I over payed but I went in with my eyes open and decided I was happy to over pay slightly to get exactly what we needed right now. Beware though, the seller was difficult throughout the process hence the stubbornness over the asking price.

27pilates · 12/08/2025 22:34

Just pay the asking price if you want it. The vendor doesn’t owe you anything and where you’re up to in your sale / your proceed-ability is of no consequence to them. It’s a business deal, they want a set price for their house. What happened last year was last year, that’s none of your business. Just accept “them’s” the terms and either go for it or don’t. But don’t feel frustrated OP, it’s their house to do what they want with after all. You sound like you need to charm them more to get what you want here.

HeddaGarbled · 12/08/2025 22:37

No need to be cross. They’re negotiating, which is encouraging. 5% sounds like a good next offer, as it’s half way between your 8 & their 2. Whether you’re then prepared to walk away if they reject that, is up to you.

We once said we were done when a vendor rejected our second offer and they came back the next day and said they’d reconsidered, so do be prepared for some possible continued attempts to get you to offer more and be clear in your own mind about how high you’re prepared to go.

Lafufufu · 12/08/2025 22:38

BCBird · 12/08/2025 21:40

Although u don't want to hear this, it is the vendor's perogative to hold out for the asking price. You either pay it or lose it, it's that simple. If u don't want to lose your buyer why not go into rented accommodation without your buyer, there isn't a future purchase for you. How much would it cost to build an annexe in one of the other properties on the road? Is this an option?

This.

A house with an annex is hard to find and more and will only be more in demand over time IMO.

Id be annoyed but I'd probably pay

.

seenabeena · 12/08/2025 22:44

For 30 years+in your forever home it’s….
£60k or
£2k a year or
£5.48 a day
not much when you break it down 👍🏻

SkylarFalls · 12/08/2025 22:49

Also the value of not building your own annex to me has more value than just monitory value.

Renovations can cost marriages! I would over lay if I had means for the luxury of never ever building anything again

PyongyangKipperbang · 12/08/2025 22:57

FFS....why do people get like this?! They get one valuation that is nice and high and then in their heads that is the price that the house is worth and thats what they want.

They simply cannot accept that a house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it! I wouldnt bother with another offer. I would just walk away. The house will still be on the market in 2 years and she will be baffled why it hasnt sold.

PyongyangKipperbang · 12/08/2025 23:00

Mauro711 · 12/08/2025 21:41

In all likelihood, the mortgage issues the last buyer had is probably that the house is over valued and they couldn't borrow what they needed for it. Unless you have a lot of cash and are willing to pay above its value then you will have the same issue.

Yeah this crossed my mind.

SkylarFalls · 12/08/2025 23:04

PyongyangKipperbang · 12/08/2025 22:57

FFS....why do people get like this?! They get one valuation that is nice and high and then in their heads that is the price that the house is worth and thats what they want.

They simply cannot accept that a house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it! I wouldnt bother with another offer. I would just walk away. The house will still be on the market in 2 years and she will be baffled why it hasnt sold.

Some people are like that

For other people though it's all about the onward move: and a price that won't allow them to move to where they need to be next, isn't worth doing and they'll stay where they are rather than take whatever is offered.

That was our case in our last move. We woulda been better off staying out than taking a penny less than we did, because it just wouldn't have allowed us to meet our needs if we had.

There's another side to the coin re the phrase "only worth what someone's willing to pay" and that's that it's only worth selling if you get enough to move forward not backwards.

PixelatedLunchbox · 12/08/2025 23:07

Annexes are a challenge to find. If you like the house and it meets your needs AND you can see it as your forever home AND you can afford it, don’t lose it for the sake of a few percentage points.

nocoolnamesleft · 12/08/2025 23:08

I would have thought an annexe and a bigger garden would be worth another 100k, in properties around the price mark you mention. Certainly I would expect it to cost rather more than 100k these days to build your own half way decent annexe.