quick question regarding potential buyer questions

twirlypinky

Do you think this is a bit cheeky?

A potential buyer came round last night and waxed lyrical about how lovely our house was. They said we'd be hearing from them today.

Hubster just rang the estate agent only to be told that the potential buyer wants to know what our lowest price is. Firstly, i don't think that's how this game works is it? I know it's a buyers market and all that, but i thought they were supposed to make an offer first?

Secondly, our neighbours house is also up for sale. According to our agent, these potential buyers are going to play us off against each other, seeing who they can get to drop the most. I happen to be fairly sure it's our neighbours, so they'll sell. Fair enough if they're the cheapest - but this is a horrible game. We're friends with our neighbours and really don't want this to become anymore uncomfortable than it already is.

Thirdly, do we tell them? Should we get the agent to say what our lowest price is, or just say "No, it doesn't work like that, you make us an offer"

I thought I knew how this game worked, but this is getting irritating.

sugarwalsh

I would tell them to put an offer in - what an awful way to play the game. Megan

twirlypinky

good, that's what we've done. I hate this

sugarwalsh

I suspect part of it is the ea trying to force you into a descision. What buyer would ring an estate agent and divulge their tactics? What ea would then tell you? They want you to panic and say a very low price.

Megan

twirlypinky

Well we haven't. I refuse to play games. If they want to buy our house they make an offer - end of. Can't deal with all this, i just want to move!

MissMotivation

I'm getting this more and more recently and always try to explain that it's not for the EA or Vendor to disclose what the lowest they will accept, it's for the potential purchaser to make an offer to start the negotiation process.

I understand where Purchasers are coming from because they want the best deal but, obviously, the EA's job is to get the best price and quite often the Vendor doesn't want to disclose the lowest price they will accept.

sugarwalsh

Well done - games should not be played when you are making such big descisions.

Best of luck and hope you manage to sell.

Megan

ognum

I guess it depends on how much you want to sell. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. They have a choice of two houses probably quite similar why would you want to pay more than you need too.

You could say we dont want to play it this way but if your neighbours do then you have lost a buyer! Maybe they are not the buyer you want and if you think there are plenty more around then say to them make an offer but my guess is their offer will be very low.

If you tell them what you want at least they can say no thanks and move on and so can you it does stop all the game playing.

Your choice its not easy!

twirlypinky

Cheers, fingers crossed they'll make a decision soon and stop messing us all around.

twirlypinky

ognum wrote: »

I guess it depends on how much you want to sell. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. They have a choice of two houses probably quite similar why would you want to pay more than you need too.

You could say we dont want to play it this way but if your neighbours do then you have lost a buyer! Maybe they are not the buyer you want and if you think there are plenty more around then say to them make an offer but my guess is their offer will be very low.

If you tell them what you want at least they can say no thanks and move on and so can you it does stop all the game playing.

Your choice its not easy!

True, but not how we're going to play it. We know our neighbours will accept less than us, so there's no point in us even saying what we'll take. If they buy next door then fine - that way we'll manage to keep our friends as friends and we'll lose the competition for future potential buyers. This situation is horrible, we get on really well with them, but it ends up being all we talk about when we go out because we all want to move so much.

ognum

twirlypinky wrote: »

True, but not how we're going to play it. We know our neighbours will accept less than us, so there's no point in us even saying what we'll take. If they buy next door then fine - that way we'll manage to keep our friends as friends and we'll lose the competition for future potential buyers. This situation is horrible, we get on really well with them, but it ends up being all we talk about when we go out because we all want to move so much.

Well if you know they will take less then you are right to stick with 'you make an offer'
I hope it works out please update and let us know