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Original poster

Seen a house I REALLY want - 20 others seen it in block viewings - tips on clinching it?

98 replies

LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 17:09

Sorry, I keep boring you all with this saga. I am a cash buyer, not in a chain. It is on at a good price already (£50k was knocked off the asking price last week) though it needs completely gutting. I really want it so badly. We are living in a tiny flat at the moment with a small baby and have already had one house fall through. I am making an offer below the asking price first thing on Monday morn (estate agent said she wouldn't be considering any offers until then) - I am desperate for this house. How can I get it? Will I have to pay more than the asking price, I wonder? Seems crazy in this climate.

OP posts:
FairLadyRantALot · 27/06/2009 17:53

seems unusual that the Estate agents are closed for the weekend...I know when we were looking around for houses, we viewed all teh houses on Saturdays and Sundays... because that is when it was most convineient, and that is the same for most people, I would say, so EA's will cater for that....

PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 27/06/2009 17:54

Offer asking price. There won't be too many cash buyers able to buy, and willing to go straight in at asking price, so if you think it is a good deal at the full price get in there first.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 17:56

Oh gosh. I really want to get it right. I am not interested in screwing the vendor - I just want to get the house and for it not get bid up out of my reach.

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FabBakerGirlIsBack · 27/06/2009 17:58

It isn't an auction - it shouldn't get bid up. How could it be unless the asking price is offered and then everyone else who has made an offer is told and asked if they want to offer more.

Heated · 27/06/2009 18:07

Offer the asking price as a cash buyer on Monday, no chain, want it as a family home. If somebody wants to pay more then let them. But you would sound like just the buyer I'd want to sell to. You can't really do more.

Mintyy · 27/06/2009 18:40

FBG - it could be bid up if more than one person offers the same highest price. With 20 viewings on this property (are you confident that it really is that many, op?) the likelihood of that happening seems quite likely.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 18:45

Minty - yes - 10 viewings when we were there and another 10 booked in for the viewing for the afternoon.

I guess it's just fate now...

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 18:47

Having spoken to you lot I think I might just offer the asking price first thing Monday morn and cross my fingers. Unless anyone has any better ideas

OP posts:
jeee · 27/06/2009 18:50

If that many people want to view it in the current market it seems to me that the vendors have probably put it on at a very low price, and are hoping to get a bidding war. And in my experience vendors won't go for the nice person, or even the cash buyer. They'll go with the highest offer. Put in a bid that you consider fair, and try not to get too attached to this house. Good luck.

Mintyy · 27/06/2009 18:53

Good luck, fingers crossed for you LadyT.

No chance we could have a link is there? I promise I'm not a rival bidder!

Original poster
LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 18:55

Thank you Minty. I'm so sorry, I don't really want to link it if you don't mind. Hope you don't think I am being a spoilsport! Other rival bidders may be reading it

  • some had little kids with them
OP posts:
CarGirl · 27/06/2009 19:00

I just want to say gutting a house with a young child is really really hard work especially if you aren't going to have the funds to pay other people to do all of it.

Try not to get attached and don't pay more than you can really afford.

We've just had our house rewired and that was enough to give me a near breakdown!

Mintyy · 27/06/2009 19:02

Ok then

[disappointed]

but quite understand

noddyholder · 27/06/2009 20:12

At 50k off does it look good value?Or couldthey have had it on at an inflated price originally?

dinkystinky · 27/06/2009 20:22

I'd offer asking price too if you really want it and can affod to do so - if you cant afford to do so, offer what you can but make it cler you're a cash buyer and can move quickly and are not interested in price chipping further/messing around. Also write a letter to the vendor via the estate agent explaining why you really want it, how you want it to be a family house for you and your daughter and fell in love with the place on first viewing - that's what clinched it for my DH's colleague when there were 5 asking price offers on a property they were going for. Good luck

Original poster
LadyThompson · 27/06/2009 20:41

Noddy, I thought it was good value at 259k, personally! But the EA said (when it was originally on for that) she thought it was way overpriced as there was a lot to be done on it (it doesn't have central heating, for eg). Have been waiting to view it for ages, otherwise would have made an offer before. And they dropped the price before I got to see it! Well, it has certainly done the trick with all this interest drummed up.

Dinky, I think that's a really nice idea.

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noddyholder · 27/06/2009 21:33

It is 9k over the SD threshold though so I would think they are expecting 250

Fimbo · 28/06/2009 20:29

I personally wouldn't phone at 9am tomorrow (although I know it will be hard not to), as it may seem a bit too desperate. Try and hold your nerve until slightly later in the morning.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 28/06/2009 20:34

Well, DP has suggested I turn up at the EA's offices. He thinks the personal approach would be a good one.

I am worried it will make me look mental, particularly as their opening hours aren't on the web or on the office, so I will just have to loiter nearby.

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Cazwa · 28/06/2009 20:38

Good luck for tomorrow morning, I echo what others have said and offer asking price.
I have had exactly the same situation this weekend, we secured our property saturday afternoon - hurrah! I rang my agent who we are selling with for advice as it was turning into a bidding war and we had reached our limit. She gave great advice:

  1. give your best and final offer. Work out what is the maximum you can pay for it and be prepared to walk away. Dont put in an offer and then when youve been outbid put in 2k more. Accept that if you lose it you couldnt have afforded to go any higher.
  2. To put yourself in a more favourable position put your offer in 'subject to contract' as opposed to subject to survey. This means you have agreed not to negotiate on price if the survey brings back a load of problems. This is useful in your position as the house needs a refurb and the vendor might prefer someone who has agreed not to faff on after the survey.
  3. Offer the agent proof of cash monday morning (for me i was going to offer my agents mobile to confirm I had an offer in on mine).

Let us know how you get on.

FairLadyRantALot · 29/06/2009 03:44

wow at anyone who has 209K cash and than money left over for repairs...must be a fab house, if it is still worth that much money even without central heating...

Anyway, good luck this morning, and keep us updated....hope it works out for you!

Tambajam · 29/06/2009 12:54

Any news?

Original poster
LadyThompson · 29/06/2009 13:49

I went in to the EA this morning to make my offer, they had had no other offers at that time (but it is on with two estate agents so obviously they couldn't speak for the other lot) and promised to keep me posted...

OP posts:
Fimbo · 29/06/2009 14:04

Hope you get it Lady T - fingers crossed xx

FairLadyRantALot · 29/06/2009 15:07

fingers crossed

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