Help make an offer

[Frogalot]

Looking to put an offer in on a house we like - but we know it's going to be popular. What's the way to do this? Should we phone estate agent to discuss/ or go straight to solicitor to put a note of interest in/ go straight to offer (&which) We want sellers to know we are FTB with a substantial cash deposit and comparatively small mortgage - at what point is this communicated so they know what they are dealing with with offers come in? Thanks for any help!

The solicitor can put all the info about being first time buyers into the cover letter that they send with the offer. Just make sure they have all the info. You could try put in an offer although at moment most houses are going to closing dates so they can push the bids up as high as possible. Could you arrange another viewing of the house to let them know you are serious? And also tell the owners your circumstances. I would cheekily ask the owners what kind of offer they are looking for. I'm still searching for a house, been outbid so many times!

You could ask your solicitor to put in an offer and see what happens. Always worth a shot if you like it. If it's very popular I guess they'll want to go to closing to push up the price though.

You get your solicitor to put in a note of interest and then once the buyers have a few of these, they set a closing date and you make your best offer at the closing date (via solicitor).

We've been going through this process too OP and we've found that not going via a solicitor in the first instance has worked best for us. We've had an informal offer accepted on a house in a very desirable area (we changed our minds after researching how busy the road was, so didnt make a formal offer) and we have just had another informal offer accepted and all other viewings have been cancelled. Again a very popular area and lots of viewings booked. It's all been done via the estate agent.

We rang the estate agent, said we wanted the house but didn't want to go to a closing date so were making an offer based on the house coming off the market. We offered slightly below what we could afford, the estate agent spoke to the vendors, there was a bit of toing and froing on price, once we agreed, that was it. Then on to the formal offer. A chain free, keen buyer offering a sensible sum can be attractive to vendors. It saves then all the hassle of viewings and gives them some certainty. Definitely worth a go

Putting in a note of interest seems pointless in the current overheated market, I think it's worth going via the estate agent and seeing if you can agree a deal directly with a price that works for everyone, then put the formal offer in, in the knowledge the vendors are happy.

I’d phone the estate agent and make a verbal offer - you can mention that you have a large deposit and mortgage approval if you like.

Personally I’d not say you are FTB as they have a reputation for being difficult and indecisive. If however you can be flexible on entry date then say that.

The agent is legally obliged to pass your offer to the sellers. I’d give a timescale, no longer than 24 hours. If I called first thing I’d say my offer expires at 5pm that day, for example.

Make sure your solicitor is kept informed as they will want a written offer the next day if they accept.

Thanks everyone!

@Frogalot how did you get on?