House under offer so can't view - normal?

HouseBuyer1

Hi there
Just a quick message to see if this is normal practice (in Scotland btw).

Called an Ea this morning to arrange a viewing for a house we like. She very quickly told me "sorry the house is under offer" and it was pretty much end of convo.

It's a repo so I presumed they would be looking to get as much as they could and so can't really see why just because someone's offered no one else can view? Or is this totally normal?

Thanks

googler

The selling agent can't accept a second offer unless the first one is rejected, as to accept the second would go against Law Society guidelines.

There's no point letting you view, as your solicitor won't be able to make an offer on your behalf whilst the first is still on the table.

Yes, totally normal.

HouseBuyer1

OK thanks

Is this in Scotland only?

googler

HouseBuyer1 wrote: »

OK thanks

Is this in Scotland only?

I'm referring to the Scottish Law Society, yes, since you said the property was in Scotland.

I get the impression anything goes in England & Wales.

becca0417

We brought a repo in England and it wasn't taken off the market until the day we exchanged. Apparently that's the law here for repos.

caeler

becca0417 wrote: »

We brought a repo in England and it wasn't taken off the market until the day we exchanged. Apparently that's the law here for repos.

Yes you frequently see on right move wording along the lines of 'we've received £xx higher offers need to be submitted prior to exchange'. Much prefer the scottish way.

KK22_2

I always had the same response when looking for houses in Scotland. It's a pain just now, but you'll be glad of it once you offer for a house! I know it saved us at least a bit of stress during the house buying process.

CKhalvashi

KK22 wrote: »

I always had the same response when looking for houses in Scotland. It's a pain just now, but you'll be glad of it once you offer for a house! I know it saved us at least a bit of stress during the house buying process.

I'd be grateful for that down here! Seriously!

CK

HouseBuyer1

So, probably another stupid question - but does that mean in Scotland you don't really need to deal with the whole EA making up mysterious buyers who try to get u into bidding wars? Surely if its this hole when one person offers noone else can thats avoided?

I can see it definitely is a safer system for when u do buy but a pain if u want to outbid!

googler

HouseBuyer1 wrote: »

So, probably another stupid question - but does that mean in Scotland you don't really need to deal with the whole EA making up mysterious buyers who try to get u into bidding wars?

>>Since offers are made in writing, there's little mileage in claiming to have an offer without the paperwork to back it up....>>

Surely if its this hole when one person offers noone else can thats avoided?

>>Sorry, I think this lost something in the typing...>>

I can see it definitely is a safer system for when u do buy but a pain if u want to outbid!

If you want to outbid someone, you need to get in before anyone else offers and has their offer accepted. If you like it, you 'note interest' with the selling agent. If the selling agent gets to more than one note of interest, hopefully many more, they can declare a closing date for offers, and the solicitors acting for those who noted interest are expected to make their offers, on a blind auction basis, by the closing date.