Under offer for nearly 4 months - is this normal?

lanclass_2 · 17 December 2010 at 4:46PM

Hi
We got very close to buying a bungalow we were interested in last year - we offered the price recommended by the estate agent, but after five weeks of hearing nothing (not even a 'no') we pulled out (it was a probate sale). The bungalow subsequently reduced in price (to well below what we'd offered) and went 'under offer' in August. It is still under offer - is this normal? Wouldn't it have gone through by now? I'm kind of hoping something's gone wrong and we could have another shot at it. What do you think?

nell53 · 17 December 2010 at 4:49PM

No harm in asking the estate agent what's happening- to be kept informed if it does fall through if nothing else. But realistically it's not that long- they may still be getting probate sorted.

DVardysShadow · 17 December 2010 at 5:01PM

I would suspect that the Agent has found someone to buy it at mates rates for a kickback. I would suggest that you talk to the vendor direct if you can. Also put an offer for the new asking price in writing to the agent and mention the old offer.

The other possibility is that the property is really earmarked for an inheritor who needs to pay off other inheritors and any offer from you is actually unwelcome because it puts the executors on the spot.

tyllwyd · 17 December 2010 at 5:05PM

I don't think it is that unusual for sales to drag on at the moment - Estate Agents use 'under offer' and 'sold subject to contract' on Rightmove to mean the same thing, so things are probably just going along behind the scenes.