Viewings... cont

hazyjo

My last one went a bit off-topic and is somewhat long, so starting a new one re a house I'm trying to offer on (kind of the original point in other thread).

See here for original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4376825

Basically, I want a third viewing to take a builder. That was 2 weeks and 1 day ago. The house doesn't appear to have sold.

The last I heard from the EA (on email) was:

"We do have a few enquiries coming through now for the property so at this stage I don’t think a third viewing would be necessary .I will diarise to call you in the next couple of weeks to let you know how things are with the property and if we do not have any further offers maybe look at the property again to potentially re offer."

So, we've wasted 2 weeks when I am in a position to buy. I'm going mental here - if I lose it, I lose it, fair enough. But I'm livid at the EA. I don't want to be forced to play these ridiculous games, but if I am the first one to go back, it weakens my position. If she comes back to me, I can get a builder lined up and go view the house and make my offer.

I have already offered on it once which was refused (as expected). I have indicated my level, she has told me what the vendor is looking for and what she thinks he'll accept. I want to go in under that, which is why she's playing these games. We're only probably a couple of grand apart, but I don't want to be forced to make another offer without getting an idea on costs for work needed in the house.

Any advice? My opinion is that I just have to sit it out and hope it doesn't go. My head is fighting with my fingertips right now cos they want to fire off an email...

The house is empty, so I can't send a letter/knock on door.

It's been on the market since 5 Sept.

Very frustrated. There's nothing else I like on the market, but am prepared to wait as can stay at my BF's - although adding another address to my credit file, or going off the radar, probably isn't really what I ought to be doing.

Thanks.

Jx

DRP

hazyjo wrote: »

My last one went a bit off-topic and is somewhat long, so starting a new one re a house I'm trying to offer on (kind of the original point in other thread).

See here for original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4376825

Basically, I want a third viewing to take a builder. That was 2 weeks and 1 day ago. The house doesn't appear to have sold.

The last I heard from the EA (on email) was:

"We do have a few enquiries coming through now for the property so at this stage I don’t think a third viewing would be necessary .I will diarise to call you in the next couple of weeks to let you know how things are with the property and if we do not have any further offers maybe look at the property again to potentially re offer."

So, we've wasted 2 weeks when I am in a position to buy. I'm going mental here - if I lose it, I lose it, fair enough. But I'm livid at the EA. I don't want to be forced to play these ridiculous games, but if I am the first one to go back, it weakens my position. If she comes back to me, I can get a builder lined up and go view the house and make my offer.

I have already offered on it once which was refused (as expected). I have indicated my level, she has told me what the vendor is looking for and what she thinks he'll accept. I want to go in under that, which is why she's playing these games. We're only probably a couple of grand apart, but I don't want to be forced to make another offer without getting an idea on costs for work needed in the house.

Any advice? My opinion is that I just have to sit it out and hope it doesn't go. My head is fighting with my fingertips right now cos they want to fire off an email...

The house is empty, so I can't send a letter/knock on door.

It's been on the market since 5 Sept.

Very frustrated. There's nothing else I like on the market, but am prepared to wait as can stay at my BF's - although adding another address to my credit file, or going off the radar, probably isn't really what I ought to be doing.

Thanks.

Jx

i don't think it weakens your offer to contact the EA - after all the "couple of weeks" has passed and they still haven;t sold their house.

You are right - do not play their games. Simply ignore the games and act as if you don't give a hoot.

As if this was any normal EA/viewer relationship, just ring them and arrange a viewing with a builder -"as clearly there has been no movement regarding the house in the last couple of weeks"

hazyjo

I'm worried that if they know how keen I am, they're bound to start insisting he won't drop to the figure they thought he might - that puts it £10k nearly over what I want to offer rather than maybe a couple of grand.

She did say she would 'diarise me' for this week - maybe I'll give it 'til Friday. Hmmm.

I suppose I can't actually get over there anyway cos of the snow (can't get my car out of my road at present - should be okay in next couple of days unless it snows again).

Thanks for the opinion - taken on board, and still undecided whether to get in touch today to arrange an appt, or wait a couple of days.

Jx

ValHaller

hazyjo wrote: »

The house is empty, so I can't send a letter/knock on door.

Don't let that stop you dropping off a letter. Make the point that the viewing is essential to up your offer and that you have already made an offer.

hazyjo

I don't think they've even told the vendor, it's the EA's decision not to let me view.

My reply to their email went like this:

"As said, I won't be able to make another offer until I have an idea of building costs. That needs a third viewing. It's over a quarter of a million pounds I'm spending, so I won't be making a rash offer before knowing how much the works might cost and, if indeed, they're even doable. Shame the vendor doesn't deem a third viewing necessary, but each to their own.

I look forward to hearing from you in a couple of weeks. I will let you know if something more suitable comes in the market in the meantime and if my offer's withdrawn."

That was sent the same day as their last email - and that's the final contact we've had. So I've made it very clear I won't be offering before a third viewing.

Not looking forward to having to deal with them if I do get the house. Shame, as I'd been singing their praises saying they were really nice, helpful, approachable, independent (not some big chain) and had more of a personal touch, and would have rather dealt with them over all others. Hmmm. Mind changed now!

If they took what I've indicated I will offer without a third viewing, I would proceed today. But if they want me to up it, I want a builder round there.

I don't feel like relations are great with this agent already - and by obtaining the owner's name (£4 land registry?) and sending a letter (presuming he collects post regularly or forwards his mail) direct, it would probably take longer than a few days and the EA might have got back to me by then. Not going to look great if I say I sent a letter direct, or if it puts his back up with them too. I would tell him in conversation, but feel a letter might start us all off on the wrong foot. This particular situation feels a bi tdelicate.

Think I'm going to try and wait until Thursday. That at least gives me time to ring a builder and see if he can come with me on Friday, Saturday, or early next week. Will probably need to take an afternoon off work. Mind you, that could all take it to next Tues which is another week away. Decisions, decisions. Sorry, thinking out loud.

Jx

hazyjo

Update.

Firstly, please excuse my ranting and language as I am livid.

Emailed the EAs. Just said:

'Hi

Following on from our email conversations on 7 January, please would you let me know the current situation with regard to I]property address[/I.

Thanks,'

He (the owner) phoned me back. What a patronising condescenting p***k. I was talked down to like a teenager by an arrogant teacher. Basically, he's said to wait until the first week in February!!!!!!

I said, what, because you think the market might slow down and he'll think about offers? And he made this nasty patronising snort and said erm, no, let's just wait until the snow's off the ground.

What stupid effing games. I am just so mentally mad, shaky and teary.

He was saying things like 'well, the way the market is going, soon it won't be possible to buy in North Chingford at that sort of level'. Still making out like the property is going to fly off the bloody shelves (despite it being up since 5 Sept).

I can afford £25k more, £30k than I know I can get it for, so it's not like it's the top of my budget. But I will only pay what I think that particular property is worth - not the top of my bloody budget. He doesn't know what that is, and I have no intention of letting him know.

He's just trying to bully me and trying to make me believe I will lose the house and never afford to buy anything else in Chingford.

Fact is, I don't want to lose the house, but I am also very pragmatic in that something else will come along. This house is FAR from perfect, and I'll need to spend money on it. But... I like where it is, and absolutely nothing else in my price range in that location comes anywhere close.

I would love to tell him to stick it. And am already writing an email - in which I'm including that I found his attitude incredibly condescending - but I don't know if that's just my 'therapy' and if indeed I'll ever send it.

I just want a third effing viewing with a builder. And am happy to not take a builder if he'll put my offer forward cos it'll be £30k under asking price. It makes no difference what changes I want to make the property - that's up to me. But I want to take them into account of my offer. He was making out like nothing was essential and basically it would be down to a surveyor. Well, that's all well and good if someone else comes along and offers more - but they bloody well haven't, have they!

Do I force my offer to be passed to the vendor? I said 'did you speak with him about £270k' and he said 'we have discussed £270k'. I don't believe for one second that was in relation to my offer, I believe it was in relation to what he would accept generally.

He said to me before that the vendor's looking for £280k, but he thinks he might accept £275k. I don't want to go over £270k unless I take a builder.

I am crossing all my bloody fingers and toes that the perfect property comes up in the meantime and I will have GREAT pleasure in telling them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

Do I:

1. Email saying please put forward my offer of £270k (legally obliged to do so) (He actually said something like 'instead of just flinging bitty offers at the house, let's just wait until the first week of Feb. Actually the only bloody offer I put forward was £250k, then he rejected, then I asked for an indication of what he was looking for, then I said I'd be willing to pay £270k-ish, but wouldn't be going over that until I'd been round it with a builder)

2. Do nothing until the first week of Feb

3. Walk away and tell them to withdraw my offer (ouch!)

4. Email saying I thought his attitude was incredibly condescending

5. Put the £270k offer on the table formally, but say I won't be viewing again and won't be increasing my offer.

Just wound up here. Hate patronising ....s like that. I just want to buy the effing house - and would probably quite happily have paid £275k for it after viewing with a builder! What is wrong with these people!

I think because he knows I have a buyer, he probably presumes I need a complete chain. Fact is, I don't. I'm at my BF's flat, and can be for months after my sale completes.

Jx

lessonlearned

Is it the EA herself who would have to do the viewing.

I really cannot see any excuse for her not allowing you access for a viewing unless it is because she cannot be bothered to accompany you.

Do they have weekend casual staff who could let you in. You are not asking for a"demonstration" just access so your builder can take a look and give you a rough quote.

Failing that is there any way you could bypass the EA and contact the Vendor direct.

I have to say that the EA sounds very obstructive unless of course she has been instructed by the Vendor to not even consider offers below a certain amount. Surely if this was the case she would have told you.

The whole point is that the EA is the go-between. She is supposed to keep all communication channels open. Even if your offer is lower than the Vendor really wants has she registered your interest with the Vendor.

Even assuming that the EA has been instructed not to forward lower offers - given the length of time that the property has been on the market I would have thought there ought to be some wriggle room on the price.

I am not surprised you are feeling cross and frustrated. It's not as if there is a line of purchaser's queueing around the block.

Sorry - just realised your EA is a he and not a she...Silly me.

hazyjo

Yep. Husband and wife team, I think - he's the one who phoned. Presumed it was her who'd emailed me before, but think now that it was him (arrogant).

Not sure about other office staff, think it's just the two of them.

Yep, know all that and totally agree. But there is no reasoning with him. He knows he got my back up. He was very blunt and bolshy, with the worst arrogant attitude I've encountered for a LONG time. He knows I want to view and offer. Not a view with a wishy-washy I'm not sure kind of attitude, he knows I want to negotiate, and that we're not that far off with figures.

It's the way he spoke to me. I was first wanting to react with 'JUST PUT THE EFFING OFFER FORWARD' type email. Now I've calmed down, I feel like emailing saying 'WITHDRAW MY OFFER, CAN'T BE ARSED WITH THE GAMES' type wording.

Just totally peed off and, tbh, the second option above is now favoured. I'd hate to have to deal with them for the next 2-3 months while I buy it. I just want to tell them to poke it. A-holes. Grrrr. Just furious.

Jx

Ivana_Tinkle

Personally, I'd get the owners' address and write to them. I'd say that you have no idea what the agent's playing at, but you are concerned that the offer you made on their house hasn't be passed on and that their agent is refusing to let you view the house again. Don't know if it will get you anywhere, but at least it means this eijit is going to get a very angry vendor on the phone...

Have to say, I don't think my blood pressure could cope with dealing with this eijit any more, so making direct contact with the vendor might be sensible. That way, if you do decide to buy this place, you can speak directly to them all the way along. You could even make your offer conditional on this agent never contacting you again...

jebervic

Personally I would do same as the sellers/estate agents, you either want the property or not, if you want it, pay the price they are looking for. I have had buyers wanting to drop the price just before exchange on a couple of occasions and I never cave in.

Better_Days

I agree with Ivana.

At this stage I would get the vendors details via LR and contact them directly.

I wouldn't get into critising the condecending behaviour of the EA. Just send a letter to the vendor stating why you need a third viewing and to date the EA has been unwilling to arrange it for you.

It looks like this EA is going to continue playing games, and it will do nothing for your sanity if you have further contact with him at this stage.

I do sympathise, I am currently tearing my hair out due to the incompetence of the EA at the bottom of our chain, so far exchange has now been delayed by over a month. My normally calm DH is resorting to saying words I haven't heard pass his lips in 20 years of marriage!

Bypass this muppet of an EA. Sounds like he is on a bit of an ego trip. Hope it goes well for you.