estate agent won't pass on our offer

ellebk

Hi all

I understood that estate agents were legally obliged to pass on to the seller any offer they receive for a property. Me and my boyfriend want to put an offer on a house but they have said that we can't until my property has an accepted offer on it. Can they do that? It's made us consider saying that I've accepted an offer when I haven't just so we don't lose the house.......

anselld

They are allowed to filter offers only if they have specific instructions and criteria from the vendors. i.e. if the vendors have specified "proceedable buyers only" then this is OK.

PasturesNew

ellebk wrote: »

... they have said that we can't until my property has an accepted offer on it...

They will have mentioned in passing that somebody who still has a house for sale is interested.... but you can't make an offer as you are not in a position to buy a house yet.

ognum

ellebk wrote: »

Hi all

I understood that estate agents were legally obliged to pass on to the seller any offer they receive for a property. Me and my boyfriend want to put an offer on a house but they have said that we can't until my property has an accepted offer on it. Can they do that? It's made us consider saying that I've accepted an offer when I haven't just so we don't lose the house.......

You are not in a position to make an offer until you have the funds available so unless you have an offer on your current house, a second deposit and mortgage or cash for the property you really are not in a position to make an offer.

If I was the seller I would think your offer was just an expression of interest because there is no way anyone will accept an offer from some one who can proceed.

The EA has to pass on offers, but the vendor can take the EAs advice an ask not to be bothered with unproceedable offer or offers below a set level.

ognum

The EA will check who your offer is with, so will phone your EA to check you really do have an offer so no telling porkies!

DRP

whats the point in the vendor accepting your offer? you don't have any money?

I can understand why a vendor wouldn't want to receive 'offers' from potential timewasters..

ellebk

How do you know I don't have the money? Actually I have a mortgage offer, and cash for the deposit. I am choosing to sell my existing property but I don't need to. The EA has never asked me where my deposit is coming from, has just insisted that they can't put forward an offer until I have an accepted offer. Thanks to some of you for the useful info, but not so much to those of you that have made the same assumptions as the EA.........

ellebk

i.e. if the vendors have specified "proceedable buyers only" then this is OK

How can I find out what the vendors have specified??? Thanks!

anselld

ellebk wrote: »

How do you know I don't have the money? Actually I have a mortgage offer, and cash for the deposit. I am choosing to sell my existing property but I don't need to. The EA has never asked me where my deposit is coming from, has just insisted that they can't put forward an offer until I have an accepted offer. Thanks to some of you for the useful info, but not so much to those of you that have made the same assumptions as the EA.........

Well they are not psychic. You need to explain your financial situation if you want to be taken seriously.

anselld

ellebk wrote: »

i.e. if the vendors have specified "proceedable buyers only" then this is OK

How can I find out what the vendors have specified??? Thanks!

Make your offer in writing, explaining the reasons why you are proceed able.

nidO

Then maybe you should actually mention this massive detail to the EA.

As it stands, as has been demonstrated nicely in this thread, if you're going to keep secrets about you being in a position to proceed as-is, people and the EA are going to assume you aren't, because 95% of home purchases rely on the buyer's existing property being sold at the same time, and if you aren't in a position to do that, you aren't in a position to make an offer on, or buy, another property.