Naive first time buyer

Mrs_ted

After yrs of saving we are now in a good position to buy. I have contacted several estate agents and only got 2 replies. This surprised me as we have a mortgage in principle, no house to sell and keen to buy. Recently I contacted the estate agents I rent from and requested to see a property. The reply I got " Two people have seen the property, we are not having anymore viewings and letting these two fight it out. Yet 3 days later its still on the estate agents website as under offer. Is this normal practice?

Secondly, should you be totally honest with the estate agents on your price range. I was advised that give an amount lower as if the estate agents understands you can afford more, they will encourage the seller not to accept the offer?

Stupid questions but I was under the impression this was a buyers market. Would appreciate some tactics for future viewings please.

G_M

What do you mean by " only got 2 replies"? You mean only 2 have got appropriate properties to offer you? Or only 2 are willing to register your details?

When you 'contacted' them, how? Asking/saying what?

If the vendor already has 2 offers he may have instructed his agent not to arrange further viewings. But until a sale is actually agreed in principle the property may remain on websites.

Property sales take time. Everything happens slowly - it's not like buying a mobile phone.

J_i_m

When I'm ready to buy I won't be registering my details with estate agents hoping they'll come to me with suitable properties I'll be browsing the ads in the papers and rightmove to find properties I want to see.

Mrs_ted

GM.
Only 2 estate agents telephoned me back to discuss further.
I am aware the difference between mobile phones and buying a house. This is all very new to me hence why we have these forum's to seek advice and ask questions. Thank you for your response.

Mrs_ted

J_i_m wrote: »

When I'm ready to buy I won't be registering my details with estate agents hoping they'll come to me with suitable properties I'll be browsing the ads in the papers and rightmove to find properties I want to see.

Jim
I have been doing that except I have found on numerous occasions that by the time they go onto rightmove these properties are sold. Estate agents have lists of customers they contact when a suitable property becomes available.

Soot2006

I found that after emailing: Hey I like this house from Rightmove, I couldn't get rid of the EAs - many calls, many suggestions for alternative houses, etc ... I think concrete interest might be seen as more proceedable than vague enquiries?

G_M

Mrs_ted wrote: »

GM.
Only 2 estate agents telephoned me back to discuss further.
I am aware the difference between mobile phones and buying a house. This is all very new to me hence why we have these forum's to seek advice and ask questions. Thank you for your response.

When you 'contacted' them, how? Asking/saying what?

There are two approaches:

1) go in, sit down, and register. With each agency on the High Street where you want to buy.

2) Check Prime Location, Rightmove, Zoopla, and each website of each individual EA to find properties you are interested in.

Then either go in or ring and ask for a viewing.

Mrs_ted

Soot2006 wrote: »

I found that after emailing: Hey I like this house from Rightmove, I couldn't get rid of the EAs - many calls, many suggestions for alternative houses, etc ... I think concrete interest might be seen as more proceedable than vague enquiries?

Lucky you. I have said chain free, can move fast, mortgage, solicitor tick, and little interest. Or they send me a house 20 grand over what I can afford!!!

Soot2006

Mrs_ted wrote: »

Lucky you. I have said chain free, can move fast, mortgage, solicitor tick, and little interest. Or they send me a house 20 grand over what I can afford!!!

Hmmmm .... how many houses have you viewed?
(and they will send you many houses above what you told them you can afford lol - ignore or view while reminding them that your offer would be well within the originally discussed budget).

jbainbridge

Mrs_ted wrote: »

they send me a house 20 grand over what I can afford!!!

I think they are trying to suggest you view it and make an offer! Very few people ever pay the asking price. Websites like Rightmove will allow you to see what the _sold_ price was on historic sales - this is a useful tool when deciding what to offer.

PasturesNew

Mrs_ted wrote: »

Or they send me a house 20 grand over what I can afford!!!

Which indicates you can offer £20k less than they are asking. An asking price is rarely a sold price.