Estate Agents not letting us put in an offer?

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Hi all. We have no experience with dealing with estate agents so I was hoping someone would be able to advise on the below!

We really want to put in an offer on a property. It’s listed on Rightmove (and has been for 5 weeks), and is a £900,000 house on a street full of £2m+ properties. The area is full of elderly people in average properties that are then typically snapped up by developers and resold for insane amounts.

I initially rang hoping to view the property after it has been on the market for 2 weeks. I was told that there are to be no more viewings as the seller has accepted an offer in principle, but was waiting for them to sell their own house. End of call.

I rang back a week later and asked about the house again as it was still on RightMove. I was told that it was still on Right Move as it hadn’t sold as the seller was waiting for the buyers own house to sell. I asked if I could view as I may want to put an offer in too and was told no as the buyer had accepted the sellers offer (then surely it should be taken off of Right Move?).

A couple of weeks on and the house is still available to view. I rang off of another number and was told the same story again.

Can anyone shed any light onto this? Surely if the sellers are waiting on the buyers to sell, then they may still be interested in receiving new (potentially higher) offers? I can’t help but think something dodgy is going on by the estate agents as the house is such a bargain in a very desirable area.

There’s no rush if it’s probate

Right Move is always updated last.

My local estate agents told me most houses are sold to people on their books, by time you get to Right Move you’re left with the dregs.

If you want a house, develop a relationship with the estate agents.

In my extensive experience with EA's, the majority of them lie and use dishonest tactics, so I would come to the conclusion that they are selling cheaply for a kickback

I wonder if the agent has a "family" member who is interested but is having trouble raising the money?

Personally, I would put an offer in writing, subject to contract, as agents have to forward all offers to the seller. Just for good measure enclose an envelope addressed to yourself for any reply. You would then, hopefully, be able to view without committing yourself to any formal contract.

Is this in London? In the area we lived in, were were convinced one developer in particular had some agents in their pocket... They would also spend time chatting up the elderly residents of whatever street they had a current project on and get in there - it was pretty gross.

You sound unlikely to get past the EA in this case. You could try knocking on neighbours doors to see if they know anything about the family - you might strike lucky and get contact details for them directly, or some other way to find them. Or if you put a note through the door, it's possible a family member visit and might find it before the EA / developer does.

It’s up to them if they want to leave it up. 🪧 🏠 No point speculating the whys. Their prerogative.

Bottom line is you’ve been told numerous times you’ve missed the boat, and unless that changes maybe accept no for an answer (there’s only so many ways they can say don’t call us we’ll call you) and let it go.

Doesn’t matter a jot how much you have in bank. +You probably have a nickname in the Estate Agents now as irresistible force comes to mind. Hoping the first buyers house sells and they enjoy their new pad.

How is it a stronger offer? She hasn’t viewed the house, she doesn’t know what the other offer was, she doesn’t know why the other buyers were picked (eg the owners liked the family bidding enough to choose them over the “best possible” offer).

Oh, and she hasn’t actually put any numbers on paper. She’s just asked to view and been told no, because the property is under offer.

We came across this a few times. The Estate Agent is following the instruction of their client. The vendors have accepted the offer in principle and don’t want any more viewers. The EA isn’t working for you as a buyer, they are working for their client - the vendor. There is nothing wrong with leaving it on Rightmove as it’s visible to other interested parties, so that if the sale falls through, they can then view and offer at will. Enquiries via Rightmove will be met with the same response you have had, and when the buyer has their own buyer then the property will be marked as under offer and will move through the stages of sale.

They are not legally obliged to pass an offer on if the vendor has asked them not to.

This is extremely normal practice and I'm not sure why you are questioning it to be honest. If you didn't do it then chains would constantly collapse and house selling would be nigh on impossible. Otherwise it would be no-one can buy until they've sold. So unless you found a house to buy and a buyer on the same day, you would never be able to sell or buy. Once a house is sold subject to contract the buyers MIGHT not buy, they MIGHT change their mind, they might drag their heels for months which is why it stays on Right Move. You can't swoop in though because that would prevent everyone else in the chain selling or buying.

Well yes if a stupid vendor has explicitly in writing asked not to be informed. Reasonable if the offers are below a certain level idiotic if not.

Cash, no chain.

This is only stronger if the seller wants a quick sale, but they do not seem too bothered about this since they accepted a buyer who has no offer on their own house. If they offered above asking, their offer might be stronger for the seller, we don’t know

In probate the executors have a legal obligation to get the highest price for a the property.

If they’re turning down cash offers in favour of one contingent on a house sale they will have to explain themselves to the beneficiaries.

Viewing request, no offer.

(Oh, and the EA only has the OP’s word for the cash buyer thing. If the buyer were allowing viewings, they may set parameters around info that should be gathered first. Why would the EA go to that verification trouble if the buyer has said “no more viewings”?)

It’s nothing to do with speed, the seller can negotiate delayed completion if necessary. It’s a clean offer with no contingencies.

Maybe put a note through the door in the hope someone sees it or see if the neighbours know anything. Other that not sure what else you can do 🤷🏻‍♀️

Apologies I haven't read every post but Estate Agents are legally obliged to inform sellers of all offers on their property.

The request to view is because OP wants to make an offer.

She doesn’t need to view the property to make an offer. Or she can make a verbal offer at the viewing, then write it up and provide proof of funds that day.

DBro and I are both the executors and the beneficiaries of my mum’s will, when the time comes. If we want to take any given offer for any reason or none, then we will.

And the “bird in the hand” argument is also reasonable - if an offer has been accepted, conditional on no further viewings, and OP views but doesn’t offer or offers lower, and the original buyer finds out and withdraws, then the beneficiaries are in a worse position.

We were in almost this exact situation. We were willing to put a very good offer forward but the agents said no. Turns out they themselves had a builder interested! We have since found out that if you put an offer in writing they have to put it forward.
Is the house you are interested in still occupied? Does it have a for sale sign? If so I would be tempted to go and knock on their door!

She could offer without viewing. As yet, she hasn’t.

Once more for the cheap seats, though - if the current offer is conditional on no further viewings, then it would be bad practice for the seller to permit OP to view.

• Legal obligation: Estate agents must pass on all offers to the seller in writing, regardless of the offer amount, until contracts are exchanged. This is a legal requirement under the Estate Agents Act 1979 and reinforced by the Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme.
• Exceptions: The only valid exception is if the seller has given written instructions to withhold offers below a specific threshold (e.g., “do not pass on offers under £300,000”

I’d send your cash offer to the EA via email. Copy in the EA management. They’re legally bound to pass to the Seller.