Offers/viewing etiquette

patricia..xx

I haven't used this forum since last time we bought a house so please be gentle with me.

A bit of a story to start which hopefully will help you understand why I am asking what seems like a simple question. Our house was put on the market just over a week ago. The first viewer immediately offered the full asking price, had a large deposit, mortgage agreed, nowhere to sell etc. So we accepted and cancelled further viewings. They asked to come and measure up, then pulled out as they couldn't do the extension they wanted. We wasted lots of people's time cancelling and then rearranging viewings, plus lost out on the chance to get them round while we were away.

We have now had I think 8 viewings. 1 not interested, 3 wanting a second viewing, 1 saying they will offer on Monday and 1 offer again close to asking price.

My question is, if we can negotiate to a price we want tomorrow, should we still accept more viewings - especially the 2nd viewings which may produce a better (i.e. non chain purchaser)? To be clear, we wouldn't accept the offer then wait for a better one, I just want a back up if they were to pull out. If all offers and positions were the same we would still go with the first one

If it were not for the first lot messing us about I wouldn't think twice about removing from the market.

What would you do?

AndyPK

if they are booked in already over a short period then get them to have a look.

Errata

Tell the EA to leave it on the market and explain to anyone interested that it's sold SSTC, but they're welcome to view.

patricia..xx

Thanks guys, only thing is that would annoy and worry me if I was the buyer, like we were just waiting for a better buyer to come along. I suppose it is down to the agent explaining it properly

ognum

patricia..xx wrote: »

Thanks guys, only thing is that would annoy and worry me if I was the buyer, like we were just waiting for a better buyer to come along. I suppose it is down to the agent explaining it properly

I guess that is what you are doing isn't it, you are hedging your bets, only you know if your agent is likely to explain it properly but think how you would feel!

Errata

patricia..xx wrote: »

Thanks guys, only thing is that would annoy and worry me if I was the buyer, like we were just waiting for a better buyer to come along. I suppose it is down to the agent explaining it properly

But you're not the buyer, you're the seller and you want to sell it to somebody!

robatwork

The buyer may negotiate that once you agree a price then you also agree to take it off the market. In that case it's what you should do.

If they don't make that a requirement then carry on - but you risk being in a difficult position if subsequent viewers offer more.

ValHaller

If you have an offer, you don't need to accept or reject it immediately. So that leaves you free to continue with viewings that are already arranged. I have had it done to me, I think it is rather rude to cancel a viewing once arranged.

caeler

Just a view from another perspective, I would only offer if you took it off the market and stopped viewing. If somebody viewed and loved it there is nothing to stop a bidding warn erupting and I would want no part in that. I like ValHaller's advice, good compromise, hold off accepting the offer whilst you finish the weeks viewings.

harrup

ValHaller wrote: »

If you have an offer, you don't need to accept or reject it immediately. So that leaves you free to continue with viewings that are already arranged. I have had it done to me, I think it is rather rude to cancel a viewing once arranged.

I second ValHaller's suggestion.

It isn't unusual for an EA to temporarily stall an interested buyer by stating that "the vendors are considering your offer and will get back to you by ..... ( insert date, time)"

Some EA's are more forthright and say that the vendors are going to honour all viewing appointments which were already arranged prior to the current offer made. Nothing wrong with that either.

rrtt

Errata wrote: »

Tell the EA to leave it on the market and explain to anyone interested that it's sold SSTC, but they're welcome to view.

If I were a buyer whose offer had been accepted, I'd be mighty annoyed if the EA in question told anyone else who might be interested in future that "they're welcome to view"! Would make me question just how much I could trust the vendor and EA, and I'd be tempted to then continue looking for other properties myself. Trust is an important part of keeping the process flowing smoothly.