Reconnecting with a house that is off the market

[WingsofRain]

Back in the summer we saw a perfect house for us and were very excited. Unfortunately it was priced at the absolute top of its valuation and after paying estate agents and taxes we wouldn’t have been able to afford it.

Because of this, despite the estate agent encouraging me to go for a second viewing and to submit an offer before our house was on the market, we decided that working on getting ours ready for sale and waiting to see if the price would be reduced so we could be sure where we stood.

However instead of reducing the price, the seller took it off the market a few weeks ago. I expect that it will be readvertised next year once the snow season is over (it’s in an area that becomes inaccessible once it snows so viewings will be difficult in the winter).

Would it be appropriate to ask the agent it was advertised with what the plans are, or is it likely the lack of offers mean they won’t be dealing with it if it comes back onto the market? Is it better just to carry on scouring Rightmove and hope it pops up again?

I’ve not come across this before so I don’t know what the etiquette would be.

Just ask, what's the worst that can happen?

I think you would come across as quite desperate for the house if you approached the estate agent and put you in a poor negotiating position. They obviously weren’t motivated sellers.

Personally I’d put a message through the sellers door saying you’d be interested if the property was to go up for sale in the future. The sellers may be waiting for spring and may do a private sale in a few months.

No not at all. I actually have first hand recent experience of this.
we viewed and made an offer that was rejected. 6months on house is taken off sale, called the agent who I don’t believe re out our offer forward. The vendor was fixed on the price they wanted and some are really not prepared to compromise on that until they really need to or their circumstances change. Jump forward another year, we still haven’t moved but employ a buyers agent who asks about property we have looked at and what we liked and not and why. She contacts the vendors directly, the house has been off market for a 14 months by this point. We end up buying it two years later for less than our original offer. Ok, we had buyers agent fees to pay so that negates the difference, but totally possible.

offer what you believe it is worth, what it is worth to you, and what you are comfortable with paying for it. Don’t be pushed to go higher than that. It will come off or something better will make itself known to you.

Of course ask.

My friend was in this situation once and put a note through the door. The couple who owned it ended up renting next door for a while as they built a house. They became really good friends.

Put a letter through door.

Definitely contact them - this is how we sold our house. Our eventual buyer had viewed once, but not offered. We had a couple of subsequent offers which were very low so, being in no hurry to move, we took the house off the market. We were approached by the agent three months later about a second viewing and made it very clear what our lowest acceptable offer would be - the sale proceeded successfully from there.

Yes stick a note through the door. No need to go via the agent.

Thank you everyone, that’s really helpful.
I’ll not bother the owner over Christmas (the person isn’t living at the house anyway, they have moved elsewhere already) but I’ll try contacting the agent or going to the house and leaving a note in the new year.

Funny you ask because im considering doing something similar. Perfect house was on this Spring, went under offer twice then was withdrawn. We expressed strong interest but weren't in a position to offer. Planning to write to the owners once we are.

I hope it works out for you.
I admit my heart sank when it came up in my daily search as “off the market”, but knowing it’s a common thing at this time of year gives me a bit of optimism.
In two years of searching this is the only suitable house I’ve found, so it’s a tricky situation when it’s just out of our price bracket.

The sellers might be very glad to hear from you. Many houses have been selling for less than the asking price recently so don't be put off from offering lower. Good luck.