Is this estate agent behaving normally?

krishna

Just started looking for another house at the start of the week. We plan to keep our existing property and let it and buy the next one mainly with cash but with a small mortgage. Seen a property that is in a bit of a state but with appropriately reduced asking price (275k - london prices unfortunately!). Seemed good value and offered the asking price. Explained to the agent that we would have most of the funds available in cash but would be taking out a mortgage to cover about 30k. We only just made the decision to move so hadn't really looked into mortgages etc.

The agent has been very pushy about wanting details of our financial situation. Anyway, finally he has told me that the vendor will accept our offer once he has a letter from a mortgage broker or our solicitor confirming that we have funds available and when. He is also demanding to know when I can get this to him by.

Is this normal behaviour. The last time I dealt with an agent was about 10 years ago, but that agent was much more relaxed and less pushy.

Wasn't particularly taken by the agent anyway after I asked him if he had any other similar properties (this was on Monday) and he said look at our website! Not quite sure what he thinks he's getting his money for.

bs0u0128

yep went through same thing, blank out any account details, or cut them out, and show them a statement with a balance, its just to make sure u have that there and then

cattie

Your story is very similar to the buyer's of my current house. My estate agent wanted details of their mortgage company & offer before they put the confirmation of buyer's asking price offer to me in writing.

When I received the confirmation it stated non dependant sale, seeing as they don't need to sell before purchasing this house.

frivolous_fay

It's great to be a seller with a cash buyer (almost) keen on your house, but a cash buyer isn't a very reassuring buyer if they can't prove they have the cash!

There was probably a quicker and more sensible way of typing that but it's been a long afternoon...

krishna

Went in and spoke to the mortgage broker at the estate agent, showed them spreadsheets indicating what money we had and they accepted that in the end. Had offered to do that to start with, but the agent we were dealing with didn't seem to want to bother to see us in the office. Just wanted phone calls and letters. I still think he's odd, but there you go. Any way, we have had verbal confirmation that our offer has been accepted.

Then, of course, we get told that the house is part of the estate of someone who died and they don't even have probate yet. You'd have thought that would have to be settled before they put it on the market