Desperate to sell...eager to buy...

Martin_OB

Hi everyone...don't worry, the weekend is almost here!

To cut a very long story short. My girlfriend and I found our dream home...only to find a stubborn vendor occupying it! As a result, we have turned our attention to another property, which is equally as beautiful.

The best thing about this house is that the vendor is actively looking to sell. She has already lowered the asking price from £149,950 to £144,950 (this happened yesterday - we got a call from the EA) - and we have another viewing tomorrow. It has only been on the market for a fortnight.

Instead of playing a long-drawn out 'cat and mouse' game with the vendors, which I think would irritate them - I was wondering if it would be possible to strike a deal there and then?

The house was bought for £118k in May 2004. We won't pay more than £138k for it. We'd love to get it for £133-135k.

Has anyone got any tips on how we should proceed?

Heartfelt thanks,

Martin

Martin_OB

I should have also added that the property we were looking at was initially for the same asking price, but it was three bedrooms. This one is only two bedrooms.

cattie

The only way you'll know if the vendor will accept a low offer is to actually make it, but I wouldn't hold my breath, especially as the house as only been on the market for a couple of weeks. And also as you say the vendor has just decided to knock £5000 off the price anyway.

Hey,I don't think it's fair to describe vendors as stubborn just because they won't accept your low offers. You could be considered a stubborn buyer for not increasing your offers to asking price. :rotfl:

It's all very well you deciding you won't pay a penny more than the price you decide a property is worth, but if it really is the property of your dreams & you don't want to be left to dream on then maybe you need to be a bit more flexible pricewise or start looking at houses with a selling price closer to the amount you wish to pay.

biting_the_bullet

Rubbish, stick to your guns and offer no more than they paid. The market has tanked since 04, or at least it has in Lincolnshire.

pawpurrs

biting_the_bullet wrote:

Rubbish, stick to your guns and offer no more than they paid. The market has tanked since 04, or at least it has in Lincolnshire.

hmmmmmmmmm!

In most parts of the country prices have risen in the last two years and although price paid can be used as a small judgement, work may have been done to the property, different areas rise by different amounts, they may have under or over paid.

If you want something, sometimes you just got to go for it, the seller will only sell at the price they want to.

biting_the_bullet

Only going from my experience, chill bill. As per another post i've just made, I'm told a property bought for 245K in december 04 and having around 10K of improvements could be mine for 230K now. I've offered 225K and am now considering reducing this offer as the correction has begun!!!!!!!

biting_the_bullet

Oh, and this house was/is the most expensive house on the street. So they certainly didn't get a bargain in 04.

tomstickland

Make an offer with what you are prepared to pay. They'll probably say no.
So leave it there. Then you'll wonder whether someone else will buy it for a bit more than you. From then it's just a waiting game, based on how much you want it, how much the seller wants to sell etc.

Angela_D_3

You cannot fall in love with a property and except to get a good deal. Buying a house is a head decision not a heart one.

biting_the_bullet

Yeah, whats the odd 20 or 30K between seller and buyer, i agree wholeheartedly. You earn it through hard graft, i love to just waft it away......... Put on the interest, that 20 or 30K turns to 35 to 50K, absolute peanuts.

pawpurrs

do you buy a house rarther than a home then?
The sensible option would be to buy a cheap self contained studio flat with UPVC windows and low maintenance, but I have allways lived in high maintenance old cottages and loved living in them, look forward to coming home, and feel blissfully happy so I think buying a house should be with the heart.
Just dont let on quite how much you love it!