Are our vendors playing games with us???

loracan1

pinkshoes wrote: »

ps - I wouldn't touch a property with parking issues - just not worth the hassle!

This really - it's one of those things that doesn't improve over time and will irritate beyond all belief.

BobQ

WexfordWarrier wrote: »

I really didn't think this would cause such a fuss! From reading some of the posts, it seems like there is one rule for the vendors and another for the buyers. Basically, the vendors can use whatever dirty tricks they like to scam more money out of buyers and the buyers just have to play it fair.

I work hard for my money and if I can save 5k, by not doing anything illegal or immoral, I'm certainly going to try it!

Just for clarity, we have never had a bid accepted on this house, only two completely rejected out of hand by the vendors. I think we were well within our rights to renegotiate a price when the vendors came back to us. As I said, we had moved on and were looking at other properties.

If we had a bid accepted, I would certainly not try to gazunder, unless something was wrong with the survey.

I think you are changing your story. In your OP you said;

Our first offer was quickly rejected, so we made a second offer of 275k. The estate agent got back to us and said because the property had just gone on the market, the vendors were confident that they would get the full asking price. As we had some issues with the garden and parking we said that £275k would be our final offer.

We heard nothing for four days and then got a call from the estate agent. It turns out that the vendors have already had their offer accepted on another house (with no chain) and now needed to move quickly. We were told that this is because their vendors had threatened to rent out the house instead of selling. I'm not sure if this is a ploy or not.

An offer does not need to be accepted or rejected immediately. Your second offer was not rejected (according to your OP) it was under consideration. After four days they came back (by implication) to say that if your offer was still on the table they wanted to accept it.

Everything that happened since was because you chose to withdraw that offer and make a lower one. Its a dirty business and you are free to do this, but please do not dress this up as them engaging in ploys.

The vendor has their own problems and took the view that by accepoting the offer you had left on the table they could afford to buy and both of you would benefit from the shortest of possible chains.

Chains much loinger than this go on for months and largely rely on trusting people. I doubt the agent concerned will feel that confident they can trust you now.

julieb1987

We've bought a house with some parking issues (not major) but it was the one thing we had to be flexible on in order to get a 3 bedroom house with a large garden within our price range. It's a quiet area, and there are 10 parking bays...which just isn't enough. So far we haven't had to park far from the house, and the cars are always within view.

BobQ

pinkshoes wrote: »

How long have you been house hunting for?

They rejected both your offers, so you quite rightfully thought about it again, and put in a third offer of what you felt it was worth.

If the vendor wasn't so quick to reject your second offer, then perhaps they would have found themselves £5k up?!

Stick to your guns!

ps - I wouldn't touch a property with parking issues - just not worth the hassle!

The OP did not say originally that the second offer was rejected only when they were criticised for withdrawing it.

BobQ

franklee wrote: »

The key thing here is the vendor didn't accept the 275K offer. Their EA made it clear they wanted asking price "we made a second offer of 275k. The estate agent got back to us and said because the property had just gone on the market, the vendors were confident that they would get the full asking price. As we had some issues with the garden and parking we said that £275k would be our final offer."

That certainly reads to me like the offer of 275k was rejected with the explanation the vendor is holding out for full asking price. The OP moves on to viewing other properties. It's only days later that the vendor comes back with a lower expectation of price but I do not see how they can expect to hold the OP to his last offer as they rejected it and have then shown their weakened hand. It is the vendor who should have thought things through more carefully before telling a proceedable buyer that they are wanting full asking price!

It seems to me the vendor is in the predicament as they may lose the property they really want. FTBs are thinner on the ground than houses for sale so naturally it's the vendors who are realistic on price who will achieve a sale. I think the OP did the right thing by backing off, I'd now leave the vendor to think it over some more and return to viewing other houses.

Opinion is always better that fact. The second offer was made. It was not accepted nor was it rejected nor was it withdrawn. Four days later the vendor tried to accept that offer, the buyer decided to withdraw it. Both sides are within their rights to do this, but your speculation is not consistent with the stated facts.

WexfordWarrier

BobQ wrote: »

Your second offer was not rejected (according to your OP) it was under consideration. After four days they came back (by implication) to say that if your offer was still on the table they wanted to accept.

No the second offer was rejected within 2 hours, which is when we said, thanks, but we won't be taking this any further.

Wilma33

Tell them your offer reduces by £1K a day.

moneyistooshorttomention

Wilma33 wrote: »

Tell them your offer reduces by £1K a day.

Well thats one way to get a reply - of the "***f off" variety and at least you'd know where you stand (ie "not a hope in hell" they will do business with you):rotfl:

lessonlearned

WexfordWarrier wrote: »

No the second offer was rejected within 2 hours, which is when we said, thanks, but we won't be taking this any further.

You did not make his clear in your first post.

You gave the impression that the offer of £275K had been neither accepted nor rejected, that it was in effect, still on the table.

You then stated that because you then "sensed blood" you then tried to revert to your original offer of £270K.

I think you will find that's why "there has been a fuss" with the replies.

It is why some of us have expressed doubts as to whether or not the vendor would feel confident in doing business with you.

Anyone who uses the term "sensing blood" should not be surprised if others view them as a shark. :rotfl::rotfl:

In future when making an offer make sure that the terms and conditions are clearly spelt out, both in the informal telephone negotiations and then in the immediate follow up email (Did you follow your offers up in writing???). I guess not or there would not have been this confusion..

Insist that a verbal acceptance is also followed up by an email confirmation at the time.

It could be a day or two until your Solicitors get their act together with making formal offers in writing by which time some people can conveniently "forget" any terms or conditions that were verbally agreed to.

Play it safe - at every stage, back everything up in writing.

BobQ

WexfordWarrier wrote: »

No the second offer was rejected within 2 hours, which is when we said, thanks, but we won't be taking this any further.

Fair enough but you did not state this in the OP. You said you made a final offer and heard nothing for four days!

In that case it was your choice to do as you did and it makes sense to you. That said if you do find another property and its with the same agent, do not be surprised if he passes on your offer with a caveat implying that you have gazundering tendencies.