EA Messing us about? How to tell?

Monkey1977

shelly wrote: »

I don't think there is anything wrong with the agent not inviting you to offer more. We offered on 2 houses before the one we are in the process of buying and none of the agents asked us if we wanted to up the offers, they just said they had been rejected. If they had asked us if we wanted to offer more I'd have thought it a bit cheeky of them for assuming we wanted to offer more.

Ok... I'd always assumed that the first offer was a starting offer, I'd never think that a first offer was the only offer... Also, I guess I'd always be concerned if my first offer was accepted in case I could have got it for less!

MJMum

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Monkey1977

MJMum wrote: »

The house must have something going for it, or you would not be interested. If the EA didn't invite another offer, perhaps they know what the vendor's bottom line is and consider you too far off to bother wasting their time. Perhaps they know that the vendors of the other properties are more open to offers. Perhaps the commission is better etc etc. Who knows. Either up your offer or move on.

BTW, not all vendors want "to develop a relationship" with you and that's why they hired an agent.

Once we have done some work to it.... new kitchen, 2 new bathrooms, decorated it and put new carpets in it will be almost perfect - thats what it has going for it! But it is far from perfect as it is and there are houses at the same proce that need none of that work doing to them!

With regard to 'building a relationship' surely you have taken advantage of being nice to vendors in the past and chatted to them to try to get some more information on them and why they are selling? Sometimes simply being nice and reassuring them of your interest and intentions is of benefit.... I wasn't suggesting I wanted to be their best friend!

I've got to admit the attitude of some vendors is starting to grate. I've seen people on other boards moan that they've had viewings and the buyers have been nice but no offer has gone in as if you are obliged to offer full asking price simply for looking round. I'm starting to think that some vendors are seriously deluded about how great their houses are and seem to think they are doing you a favour by offering to sell it to you! We've viewed over 20 places so far so its hardly a seller's market yet the number of people who expect to get way over the odds for a very average house is ridiculous!

Doozergirl

I don't really get it. Just because the EA didn't invite you to make another offer doesn't mean you can't!

Yes, it is a game and you have to play it in order to get the best price, otherwise you simply offer asking price! It's unfair to expect to play the game of offering under and not expect a vendor/EA to play too!

I'm struggling at the moment too because prices in my area have noticably started rising for the first time in 3 years and I can't justify the prices that I'm being asked to pay either! Admittedly I can't have my cake and eat it because I'll be selling a house too shortly

If you play the less than asking price game, you have to be prepared to offer your best and walk away If the vendors want too much, then it's not the right house!

Monkey1977

Doozergirl wrote: »

I don't really get it. Just because the EA didn't invite you to make another offer doesn't mean you can't!

Yes, it is a game and you have to play it in order to get the best price, otherwise you simply offer asking price! It's unfair to expect to play the game of offering under and not expect a vendor/EA to play too!

I'm struggling at the moment too because prices in my area have noticably started rising for the first time in 3 years and I can't justify the prices that I'm being asked to pay either! Admittedly I can't have my cake and eat it because I'll be selling a house too shortly

If you play the less than asking price game, you have to be prepared to offer your best and walk away If the vendors want too much, then it's not the right house!

I hear what you're saying - my OH is being very stubborn with regards to offering any more at the moment and is, I think, playing chicken with the EA. All the guides I've read on this kind of thing tell you to expect the agnet to ask for more, which is why I was surprised.

Anyway... I've just spoken to the EA. She thinks that vendor will come down to around £200k (£25k below asking). I've said that at the moment I can't get my OH to up his offer but that I'll speak to him. I've told her that we're looking at another place I prefer but that he hasn't seen at the weekend so to keep me posted and I'll call her next week if we can up the offer. I'm going to recommend to the OH that he goes back with our final offer and then walks away if that one is rejected

Sisyphus

You didn't follow my advice then... no worries. Of course they're playing you.
Any new offer from you will be a sign of weakness, sounds like they'll lie all the way.

You said you thought the property was overprriced. I'd withdraw the offer entirely. If they're serious and have no other offers they'll call you back. The problem is now the agent is telling every other viewer that it's under offer.

Monkey1977

Hi Sisyphus,

No - we didn't take your advice. When the agent called for feedback I said that there was no way I'd pay anywhere near £225 for it. She asked what I would pay and I didn't give her a figure but listed everything that needed doing. My OH actually called to put the offer in a day later.

I've told her that we are looking at a place that I want to offer on at the weekend and that we will let her know if we are still interested next week.

I hear you about using our offer to entice others, I guess we're stuck with that now....