Making an offer direct to the owner

dominoman

I am being shown a house on Wednesday by the owner. I already know I will love it, as it is in the exact area and style we want and is a good price. Luckily we are apparently the first to see it, but I know there will be loads of interest for viewings this weekend.

The owner is showing me around. If I like it do you think it is a good idea to say to the owner and offer there and then? If you were the owner would that make you more likely to accept or would it feel too pushy?

I want to do whatever I can to maximise my chance of having the offer accepted before the flood of viewings starts.

securityman

I would say crack on and make a offer if you want to. Whats the worst they could say.
Yes, no or speak to the agent.

phill99

You need to put the offer through the estate agent. You may be interested and the keenest person in Christendom, but are you in a position to proceed? Have you a property to sell and have you sold it? Have you a mortgage offer in place? Do you have a deposit?

From the vendors position, there maybe other viewers who may offer more than you or will be in a position that they can proceed sooner.

hazyjo

I hate it when people offer direct to me. It can be a very awkward situation - and that's what I'm paying the EA for! If you're offering asking price, maybe. But even then I'd take it with a pinch of salt. I've had loads of viewers over the years who've more or less told me they want it - then you hear naff all from them ever again.

Just pick up the phone and tell the EA. Do it on the doorstep on the way out if you like!

Word of warning though - if there are others lined up to view, why would they take your offer? As a seller, I'd think that means there may be lots of interest and would wait until all viewers had been and offers were in.

Can't you go today/tonight? Has it just come on to the market?

As above, are you proceedable?

Jx

dominoman

hazyjo wrote: »

I hate it when people offer direct to me. It can be a very awkward situation - and that's what I'm paying the EA for! If you're offering asking price, maybe. But even then I'd take it with a pinch of salt. I've had loads of viewers over the years who've more or less told me they want it - then you hear naff all from them ever again.

Just pick up the phone and tell the EA. Do it on the doorstep on the way out if you like!

Word of warning though - if there are others lined up to view, why would they take your offer? As a seller, I'd think that means there may be lots of interest and would wait until all viewers had been and offers were in.

Can't you go today/tonight? Has it just come on to the market?

As above, are you proceedable?

Jx

Thanks. That's useful to hear. So you think offering direct could just annoy them?

I am seeing it today and in my case I am proceedable. Mortgage and finances are all in place. I am chain free, with a large deposit and if I was to offer would offer full asking price. I am really keen to move quickly and without hassle.

They have already found so as a chain free buyer I am good for them I hope. However, given how the market is I know that if they hold the open day there is a chance of offers over asking and then sealed bids - which I would rather avoid if I can...

anotheruser

If you can slip it into the conversation somewhere, you can mention that you're chain free, mortgage in place and would happily pay the asking price.

However, I wouldn't say anything more then as if the Vendor wants to stop using the EA then you have given them clear signals and information to allow them to do this.

However, call the EA as soon as you can after the viewing and put in the offer. The Vendor will know it was you and may be happy to proceed as you are in a good position for things to happen quickly.

DRP

hazyjo wrote: »

Word of warning though - if there are others lined up to view, why would they take your offer? As a seller, I'd think that means there may be lots of interest and would wait until all viewers had been and offers were in.

this would be my main issue as a vendor.

When selling our house, any viewings already booked were carried out regardless of any offer received.

kmmr

Just be honest with the vendor. Say you are very keen, have been looking in the area for a while, yadda yadda, and that you will be right on the phone with an offer to the EA. Or would they prefer to discuss it immediately.

That gives them a graceful way out, or they can agree to talk there and then.

To be honest I wouldn't like to have an offer while the buyer was there. I'm uncomfortable talking about money, and would also rather the time to consider my response. I'd feel very pressured! Once when I was showing my rental flat the viewer wanted to offer there and then, and even that freaked me out a bit. In hindsight it was nice to get a positive vibe from someone, but still a bit of distance helps with such a major decision. I rented the flat to him in the end as he was such a nice guy, and I got a good feeling from our interactions. (and he offered asking price!)

hazyjo

dominoman wrote: »

Thanks. That's useful to hear. So you think offering direct could just annoy them?

I am seeing it today and in my case I am proceedable. Mortgage and finances are all in place. I am chain free, with a large deposit and if I was to offer would offer full asking price. I am really keen to move quickly and without hassle.

They have already found so as a chain free buyer I am good for them I hope. However, given how the market is I know that if they hold the open day there is a chance of offers over asking and then sealed bids - which I would rather avoid if I can...

Well, everyone's different, so there'll be some (guessing a minority) who won't mind.

If you think it may go to sealed bids, then it probably will.

Is it an open day you're going to? Is there one planned? Not sure from your wording.

If it is an open day, I doubt very much they'll agree the first offer, even if it is at asking price. They'll wait for all to come back with a yay or nay.

Also, it may work against you. It's human nature to want what someone else wants. If other viewers hear/know there's tonnes of interest or an offer on the table, it can psychologically make it more desirable. Tread carefully!

Judge it on the day, I say.

Jx

demontfort

If you like it just make an offer based on what you can afford there and then to his/her face. I'd be delighted if I was selling and somebody did that to me, even if the offer was too low. Forget all this etiquette nonsense, it's not rocket science. It's a business transaction pure and simple, after all you are just buying a pile of bricks, it's no different to buying or selling a second hand car or some junk at a market.

• If they dont like your offer they can say no and you can offer more.
• If they like it they can accept there and then or think about it.
• If the seller gets offended then I suggest they are too emotional and are not the type of person you want to do business with.

I took the above approach when I bought, looked around for 3 minutes offered the seller 7k under asking price (too much I know but this is London and I wanted to seal the deal), haggled for 2 minutes and settled on 5k under plus all the furniture. He asked for 24 hours to sleep on it then accepted. As soon as the EA and solicitors got involved it started getting more complicated and yes the EA and solicitors were reassuringly incompetent. But I still managed to push the deal through in less than 2 months.