Should/can we offer on a house before both our places sell - what’s the done thing?

[rainydaysandmondaysagain]

DP and I are each selling houses in order to buy one together. DP has accepted an offer, mine is on the market (with a good amount of interest so far, thankfully). We’ve seen a house we love. The estate agent suggested we put an offer in (even though I’m not proceedable yet) just to be kept in the loop with that house, any other offers they get, etc. Obviously it works in their favour if we do that as they can tell other viewers that they’ve had an offer. Is it worth us doing it, from our own perspective? We really do love the house and would make an offer tomorrow if mine was sold. We’re serious about wanting it and we want the buyers to know that. But we don’t want to accidentally help them sell it to someone else! Not sure how this all works. Is there any world in which a seller would accept an offer from people in our position, and wait for mine to sell? Or is that wishful thinking?

Only if you’re prepared to get a bridging loan and proceed with the purchase so you’re not messing the buyer around?

Yes, we did but we claimed as soon as his house sold and got it back quite quickly.

Have you actually sold, or is it SSTC?

Bridging loans can be expensive?

We are in a similar position and not making an offer until we get one, though we've told the agents that we are very interested. We plan to make a low offer and don't want to nudge the seller into lowering their asking price before we are ready . However they have been on the market a long time with no offers, this may be different for the one you are interested in.

They sound probably open to a low offer.