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.

I think after reading the thread it is the unusual action of a seller keeping the property on Rightmove but then refusing any more interest.

every time we have bought and sold a property we have agreed to take it off the market and expected the sellers to do so also. This meant pulling it off all websites so it was unavailable completely so no one could take any further interest.

I think it is strange to keep it up for sale and it not being on sale. That is why everyone is being suspicious. Just seems odd personally

What?

To quote the OP:

I was told that there are to be no more viewings as the seller has accepted an offer in principle

So either the seller has not said this to the EA (in which case, EA is a liar) or the seller has said this (which is their prerogative and the EA is not a liar)

Which law are you talking about?

It’s in the OP.

Perhaps no offer has been actually accepted yet or the sellers are waiting on a higher offer. When no higher offers come and the sellers believe there is little interest in the property, then the developer offer gets accepted?

The law that says that unless the EA is notified in writing that they want no further offers they’re obliged to present them.

Are you in London op?

This.

We made an offer on a house subject to the sale of ours. Seller accepted and agreed not to let anyone else view. It remained on Rightmove for weeks. Maybe around 4 weeks until our house was officially sold (we received an offer after 9 days but it was a few weeks until all official through solicitors).

That’s what SSTC is for

1. you have no information on the level of the offer made
2. if it was an offer from a developer, then the developer would also be a cash buyer

Put an offer in writing via the EA and through the property door if you are so convinced. I doubt it will get you anywhere but you do you.

So no cash offers because you specifically want a mortage + chain that could fall apart at any point. Ok.

The sold price of all properties is listed on Rightmove, not necessarily immediately, normally approximately 6 months later. So if you have proof that your offer was in excess of the sold price you might have grounds to take appropriate action against the EA under the EA Act.

Please clarify your liar point.

The OP hasn’t made an offer, so the EA cannot be in breach of any law about putting an offer forward.

Agree but it took a while to update that. Weeks. Perhaps like others have said it looks good for the EA.

My suspicion is that they’ve either accepted an offer in principle (from a friend/developer), but would be happy to still receive higher or stronger offers (but the EA are not passing on further offers), or that there has been no offer, and the EA will persuade the seller to accept a lower offer (from a friend) as there’s been no interest.

If the vendor has told the EA, in writing that they don't want any more viewings / offers, then the EA is not obligated in law, to pass on any further offers.

My suspicion is that they’ve either accepted an offer in principle (from a friend/developer), but would be happy to still receive higher or stronger offers (but the EA are not passing on further offers)

You haven’t made a further offer.

It wasn't listed on RM as the EA didn't list it as they knew exactly who they wanted to buy it. I've searched on Land Registry and it doesn't show the sale price.

Which is why I’ve suggested she makes a verbal offer.

Which I have already said pages back.

In practice that’s really rare.

You are wildly speculating that the EA is somehow crooked, without proof - they have accepted an offer in principle and don't want any further viewings or offers.

You don't know what the offer they recieved was - you are assuming the EA is not communicating things to the vendor.

That's that - its up to them, not up to you - and the more you harrass the EA and the vendor, the less likely you would be considered even if this one falls through.

‘EA will persuade the seller to accept a lower offer … as there’s been no interest.’

I’d bet this is the case. Seller is relative of dead person (dead house owner). Doesn’t live in the area. Trusting EA to sell at best price. Look it’s still on the market - no more offers!! Etc.

Sure, but you stated that “the EA isn’t following the law.”

Which is untrue.

Again, please clarify how the EA is “crap” but not a liar?

What is more normal (and I have done this in every time I have moved) is that you don’t say no more offers but you agree to stop marketing the property so in effect no one sees it and knows it is for sale.

Is it “really rare” to stop viewings once an offer is accepted? We’ve put that condition on both our house purchases and it was accepted readily.