Offers on an already sold house

Fire_Fox

Why did you only go for a second viewing after you put in an offer? Did you specify that the house was taken off the market and no further viewings with other buyers?

Are you in a strong purchasing position, chain free, finances in place, conveyancer on standby? If so from now on place all offers in writing stating all this, if not get yourself in a stronger position before submitting any further offers.

googler

The previous housing minister, Grant Shapps, stated in Parliamentary answer that he didn't consider this an issue.

Search my previous posts for a quote, or google Shapps gazumping to find it....

terrierlady

Lessons to be learnt, only make offers with condition that property is taken off the market, only when contracts exchanged can you relax a little,your ideal home will reappear in a different place im sure, plus why pay more than the house is worth?

pinkshoes

If I were a gambling person, I'd say there probably wasn't another buyer, and it's the EA playing games to try and get more money out of you.

If there is another offer, perhaps these people viewed BEFORE you made your offer?

Can you go and see the vendor and ask them if there's another offer?

How long have you been house hunting for? If it's only been a month or two, then surely there'll be more "perfect" houses? If you've been looking for a year, then you'll need to play this carefully.

How long has this house been on the market for?

cramg

As mentioned above, its a buyers market.......... don't get caught up in a bidding war or worse case, bidding against yourself!
Visit the agent in person, express your dissatisfaction and tell them that you are no longer interested in the property. Walk away now.

sniggings

does an EA make that much more from an increase of a couple of grand, to risk loosing a buyer by playing tricks?

Davesnave

I thought I'd never gazump, but when our dream property came up, some bad things were happening and I didn't spot the place until it had been marketed for about four days. To make things worse, the agent, who wasn't on Rightmove at the time, left the house on the web site without any indication that it had already gone under offer.

I should explain that we'd been searching for years, not months, and we'd sold, so we had all the cash we needed in place. We also knew the property.

In the end, we decided only to register our interest rather than pursue the matter and maybe enter a bidding war. Anyway, the sale went through.

With the huge benefit of hindsight, I think if I was in that position again, I might just have a go. Sometimes, the English sense of fair play is very hard to live with. Walking away from a dream house without a fight is a bit like not making a pass at the girl you love because she's already dating someone else. Far better to love and lose! :cool:

Further, looked at another way, the vendors probably lost out on another £10k - £25k.

I don't love the house I bought instead, but as a business transaction, which some people insist house buying is, this was much the better deal and more affordable. The other place is almost certainly worth bit less now, whereas this has gained substantially, but that doesn't make me feel any better!

andy.m_2

I would walk on the basis that you've not shelled out any money yet and the people that you're dealing with seem to be lacking morals.

Where will it end?

advice_please_2

I read with interest and to be honest the only house I've seen and houses on market now is one which is sold STC.

Some interesting read on articles suggested from google search

Another way to look at it is if the vendor has been stalled by the buyers and someone who came along with cash then why not, also if someone offered more then why not? All down to situations

I like the love analogy above lol

At the end of the day wouldn't you if a seller if had a choice go with the best situation, be it more money or easy quick transaction?

Nan_Dingle

as it is our perfect house

You need to decide what that house is worth to you, and what non-recoverable costs you'll incur (rent etc.) if you walk away.

Unless you are in London, a seller risking you walking away by playing games is being very silly. If the house is your ideal, maybe it's also the dream house of another buyer!

Tempting though it is to curse the seller, you could calmly set out why you can proceed etc. then take a risk they'll need you more than you need them in a few weeks.