enquiring about SSTC properties?

the_boot

Is it worth doing? Bearing in mind that some buyers may not be able to complete.

It seems that once an offer has been made on a property the agents mark it as SSTC, but the buyers chain can break down etc..

Thoughts?

stator

It's worth phoning up to ask. The EA may tell you that the house is already exchanged, or that the vendor is getting frustrated by the lack of progress. You won't know if you don't ask but you could end up in a bidding war. I wouldn't bother personally, wouldn't want to disappoint someone else.

sebadee

Its always possible and you can register an interest, but its not a nice thing to happen to you as another buyer on the other end. You think you have your home and are paying out the various fee's to then get gazumped by someone else.

I would not do it myself, but then that's a personal thing. Mind you the EA will try to put you off if its a secure chain.

How long has it been SSTC?

goodwithsaving

By all means ask but if they agree to show you around and encourage you to offer, consider the ethics and how you would feel if you were the buyer with who an SSTC status had been agreed.

LEJC

You can enquire,no harm in asking...although sometimes EA's can be a little slow in removing properties that have sstc,and indeed had a buyer move in.
Your post has prompted me to check RM for a property we recently bought and its still being advertised as sstc...
The agent when I phoned and asked about it being removed said it is always good to have a sold property in the area still showing as it generates business essentially other home owners in the area who might also wish to sell...
Whilst I managed to get my property removed it does mean that perhaps your EA might be hoping to show you something similar to the property that you are enquiring about....

ellie27

Yes, you should phone up and leave your contact details if its a house that you would be interested in, and just leave it at that.

We viewed a house and loved it, but we had not sold yet. Then I walked by the agents window few days later and it was marked SOLD! Hubby called the agent and yes they had accepted an offer. We asked if they would let us know if anything changed.

4 days later we got a call from the agent, it was back on the market. We dropped the price of our house, accepted an offer on it within 48 hours and had an offer accepted on the one we wanted.

The agent are a big agent round here - they do not mark it Sold STCM until missives are actually signed. The house we are buying is still there on rightmove on sale and has been for over 2 weeks now.

We just like to think the agent would tell anyone on the phone that it is sold!

Good luck!

birminghamuniv

It's possible but I don't like that idea. It seems you will break someone's dream.

move2k15

It is definitely worth making your interests clear, the house I am waiting to exchange on was 'sold' in the space of time the EA could fit me in to view it. I made it clear that I was gutted and would be interested and a week later the buyer pulled out and I was given a call immediately and got to view within a few hours of it being back on the market.

I would not, however, start trying to negotiate or offer on a house that is still actively being 'bought' by someone else. That's a bit mean and I would be gutted if it happened to me.

moneyistooshorttomention

If its sold STC then that's that and its gone.

However, I would say its possible to leave contact details with the EA and ask to be notified if the sale falls through for any reason. Don't build your hopes up - as chances are it will go through. Don't expect the EA to start getting you into the buying process (as that would mean you might be gazumping an existing buyer who has got an agreement they will have it).

When I sold my last house my EA instantly marked it up as sold STC and told me they wouldn't be showing anyone else around and would just take contact details of anyone else interested in case my buyer fell through for any reason. That seemed fair enough to all parties to me. My buyer proceeded with the purchase - so no-one else did get the chance (don't know if anyone else left their contact details after I had accepted their offer or no).

phatbear

one oddity of the SSTC statement it the house i am currently buying is being shown as SSTC however the price the EA is showing in the RM listing is £5000 more than we have agreed to pay for it.

personally i reckon they leave them on RM for as long as possible to show prospective sellers and buyers how successful they are at buying and selling property

rosie383

I agree with most of the others. There is no harm in leaving your details in case a sale falls through, but not to actively try to gazump someone. Most EAs I think would be happy to have another buyer to fall back on if a sale doesn't happen. If in doubt about the EA's operating ways, I would avoid doing anything.