Tried to make an offer today but....

betmunch · 16 September 2011 at 9:54AM

Southend1 wrote: »

Spoke to the EA last night. The vendor still hadn't accepted or declined my offer. They have more viewings booked in and had another offer yesterday. Basically they are trying to get people interested and then play them off against each other as far as I can tell. I told the EA to call me if and when they decide they are going to sell and I'll let them know if I'm still interested. I'm pretty annoyed as I've spent the best part of a week on this and could have been viewing other places. I knew this house could be trouble right from the start as it's priced as "offers over £x".

I think you are doing the right thing for you. Although you must accept that allowing the other viewings to go ahead is what the vendor thinks is the right thing for them.

Dont get drawn into a bidding war, stick to your guns. If they come back and accept your offer after the views have gone ahead I would be asking for assurances that the house will not be marketted further. If they dont come back to you then someone made a better offer, thats just the way it is.

You will find a better house and hopefully this experience will help with that one.

If you get the same "qualification" conversation from another EA I would council that you go along with it, but dont give any figures. If they want to know your wages its confidential. If they want to know you can get a mortgage you have your AIP in place and will bring it in after the price is agreed.

Be polite and firm, but most of all be sure that you have everything you need, which you do.

Southend1 · 16 September 2011 at 1:18PM

hazyjo wrote: »

.

No idea why you spent the best part of a week on this and didn't view other places. Why?

Well 2 nights viewing, time spent on phone to EA, writing letter etc. Adds up to best part of a week but unavoidable if I wanted to buy the place.

Southend1 · 16 September 2011 at 1:19PM

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I agree. Probably if the agent knew you were not viewing other properties it would send the wrong message ... It's sort of the equivalent of 'lots of viewers and interest in this property'.

I have told them I've been to other viewings this week

Southend1 · 16 September 2011 at 1:20PM

hazyjo wrote: »

Don't be tempted to up your offer when it's not even been declined as such. They're pushing you into upping it again.

Sounds like sensible advice, thanks

Southend1 · 16 September 2011 at 1:22PM

ash28 wrote: »

our property was not really a first time buyer property

I don't think there is such a thing as a typical first time buyer property! My sister has just bought a 5 bed detached house as a FTB, whereas I am looking at 2 bed terraces.

ash28 · 16 September 2011 at 1:42PM

Southend1 wrote: »

I don't think there is such a thing as a typical first time buyer property! My sister has just bought a 5 bed detached house as a FTB, whereas I am looking at 2 bed terraces.

You are right of course - there is no such thing as typical first time buyer but in our area they don't normally buy 5 bed detached houses - they would cost upwards of £650k - the vast majority of FTBs here don't buy them - I would have been absolutely over the moon if a FTB had bought ours - but they usually buy smaller houses.

I apologise for generalising - I've done just what our buyers assumed about us - we are early retired and I guess they thought we were down sizing - but we're buying a large 5 bed 3 bathroomed detached - they were pretty surprised - they found out when they asked about our excess furniiture - there won't be any.

**woody123** · 18 September 2011 at 12:14PM

Hi,

I tried to place an offer yesterday and had exactly the same trouble as the OP.

She said "i need to speak to their advisor and he could offer rates that noone else could get" also free legal fees etc..

I kept saying that i have spoken to a mortgage advisor and already have an AIP, but she still insisted that i go in and see them. She also mentioned I.D which i said i would happily go in show them.

She eventually asked me what my offer was, and i told her the offer and that i was a first time buyer with a good deposit and could move quickly. I had been speaking with the branch manager to make the viewing so i demanded he phone me on monday.

Southend1 · 18 September 2011 at 3:45PM

**woody123** wrote: »

Hi,

I tried to place an offer yesterday and had exactly the same trouble as the OP.

She said "i need to speak to their advisor and he could offer rates that noone else could get" also free legal fees etc..

I kept saying that i have spoken to a mortgage advisor and already have an AIP, but she still insisted that i go in and see them. She also mentioned I.D which i said i would happily go in show them.

She eventually asked me what my offer was, and i told her the offer and that i was a first time buyer with a good deposit and could move quickly. I had been speaking with the branch manager to make the viewing so i demanded he phone me on monday.

Woody I think what I learned from my experience and the advice given here is...

1. Be polite but firm. Keep explaining that you have sorted your mortgage and don't want any further mortgage advice.

2. Tell the EA you will be happy to provide evidence that you are a proceedable buyer once your offer has been accepted.

3. If the EA is still being difficult tell him you will make your offer direct to the vendor if necessary and explain that the EA was making it difficult for you to make an offer. Don't be afraid to follow this through if necessary

4. Confirm your offer in writing to both the vendor and the EA, just in case the EA hasn't passed it on or hasn't put forward the case that you are a good proceedable buyer.

Good luck!

Tracey1_2 · 13 December 2011 at 9:49PM

[FONT=&quot]I had a similar experience today. I viewed a house today for £130k and put in an offer of £122k (I have viewed 2 other houses in the same street but the first went before I was in a position to buy and the second needs so much work done it is daunting) The agent came back and said the vendor was looking for £125k - I replied that I wasn't going up to the threshold and as the porch needed attention, my top offer was £124. They again came back to me and said that the vendor would accept the offer on the condition that I went through the agent for my mortgage (I have an MIP through London & Country). Surely this is nothing short of blackmail! I feel that it has either come from the agent or they have convinced the vendor to make this condition by saying the sale would drag on otherwise. Can I ask for the vendor’s contact details to speak to them directly? I feel they are trying to back me into a corner by saying how many viewings they have booked. I've told them that I will hear what they have to say but will go with the mortgage deal that suits me - they still want me to go in tomorrow so they could 'cancel any further viewings if we got things sorted'. Surely this is not legal and fair behaviour. I don't want to lose the house (as I know it is a nice property in an area I love) but I refuse to be blackmailed. They then started to go on about using their solicitor - even when I said I had my own from my last house purchase). In my experience, it seems like agents are really pushing their mortgage products at the moment. I have a feeling that's how I lost out on my last place (a repo - the other buyer went through the agent for their mortgage. Another example is when I contacted an agent to view a property, I was called back by someone wanting to set up a mortgage appointment - I told him I just wanted to view the (darn) property at this stage! I have tried to get in touch with L&C to ask their opinion, but have not had a reply. I would speak to the vendor but they have already moved out of the property. Can anyone advise please?[/FONT]