Putting an offer on a SSTC house

Fly_Baby

We've been looking for a property since June. We focus on one specific area so our choices are quite limited. Then we went on holiday for the whole of August and when we came back we saw that in our absence a house came up that looked just perfect on Rightmove - but it was sold subject to contract by the time we came back.

Now this is my first time buying - or even viewing - houses so I don't know the rules. Can I still offer? But I haven't seen the property so I will need to view it "in the flesh" anyway - would the agent want the hassle if they have the sale agreed?

I had a couple of other viewings with this agent before and the lady was very reluctant to even let me have a second viewing of an available house on the basis that "the vendor has received a good offer which they are considering". I didn't make an offer in the end (they wanted full asking price) but now I am wary that if I contact this agent about this one she will not take me seriously if I want to view a property that's SSTC.

On the other hand, that house was sold quite cheap (according to Rightmove) so maybe the vendor would love to receive a higher one?

So should I contact the vendor instead (pop by or drop a letter)?

I really want to try to do all I can and if nothing works then at least I'll know I've tried.

Gwhiz

Go for it. I'd speak to EA and then Vendor direct if you have no luck. Nothing ventured and all that!

firstaspect

Ask the agent in the first instance and can always try the vendor if no luck there. It's quite probable that they will both refuse as if the sale is already in motion it's likely to be more hassle than it's worth. My house is going through to be sold at the moment and it would take a serious amount more money for me to consider cutting the deal.

Fly_Baby

firstaspect wrote: »

Ask the agent in the first instance and can always try the vendor if no luck there. It's quite probable that they will both refuse as if the sale is already in motion it's likely to be more hassle than it's worth. My house is going through to be sold at the moment and it would take a serious amount more money for me to consider cutting the deal.

How much more? The house is advertised at 280K.

It's been about 3 weeks since it has SSTC-ed.

sneezyboots

why not just try ringing the EA and giving your details and asking them to contact you if it falls through.
please don't outbid someone who has probably already spent a few hundred pounds and started getting excited about their new house. how would you feel in that position if roles were reversed?

Benji_Brown

There are no rules as to when you can and cannot make an offer. The Estate Agent is obliged to forward all offers to the vendor even if the property is SSTC. However, the vendors may have instructed them not to arrange any further viewings and if the property was sold in four weeks, I would hazard a guess that they got the price they were looking for.

dizziblonde

Someone's about to do this to us (shame I live near the house they were talking in the street about doing it to and had the window open at the time). I think it's a lousy move and it's going to be the final kick to completely destroy me at present. Just had to stand ironing and listen to them talking about what they reckon it's sold at and how much they could go over by to screw us over.

But if you want to do it - hope you sleep nice and soundly at night.

rosyw

dizziblonde wrote: »

But if you want to do it - hope you sleep nice and soundly at night.

Couldn't have put it better myself!

If it happened to me right now I'd be totally screwed! and how many others are there in the chain that coud be distrupted, all thinking that the end was in sight?

I'm sure there are plenty more equally nice houses available in the area.

liland2

i would be so so gutted if this was done to me, not nice, not nice at all,

sarah69696pink

Fly_Baby wrote: »

On the other hand, that house was sold quite cheap (according to Rightmove) so maybe the vendor would love to receive a higher one?
QUOTE]


Do you mean the offer accepted was low? As it has not yet actually sold? And if so how do you know? I thought you could not find this out until the sale actually goes through? Be interesting if you could though.

Fly_Baby

sarah69696pink wrote: »

Do you mean the offer accepted was low? As it has not yet actually sold? And if so how do you know? I thought you could not find this out until the sale actually goes through? Be interesting if you could though.

What I meant is that it was marketed at a price that is quite cheap compared to similar properties in the area. I don't know at what price it was actually sold.

I don't think it could be sold already (it's been three weeks), they should be at the stage when the offer has been accepted.