Under offer with another agent?

robardsfan

Hi I would like some advice please from MSE-ers. long time lurker.

I have seen a house I really like, it is listed with 2 agents. I rang 1 agent to arrange a viewing and they informed me that it's under offer with the other agent but the owner is still doing viewings. I asked why this was and she said because the people interested were possible time wasters. Property isnt listed as under offer on either of them.

Is this normal or should I walk away? Because if it was me I would be livid if my agent + another agent were still marketing the house if I had put in an offer. Apparently it is only a few weeks away from possible exchange, but they are dragging their feet. So I am worried the owner is going to be a problem seller.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Or, there is no "other offer", and the agent just wants to frighten you into offering more than you otherwise would.

robardsfan

Yes I have thought of this and its worrying me. Because I am selling my house with this agent (not the one who has the supposed offer) and my own house is under offer/progressing with them quickly, my own exchange is only a few weeks ago. So I am wondering if they are playing me for a fool and trying to get me to buy the other house quickly at asking price because of the threat of a made up buyer!! Is there a way to tell?

robardsfan

Sorry I mean my exchange is weeks away, not ago.

LJS2014

We recently made an offer on a property we really liked, the offer was rejected so we upped it. The agent came back to us and advised that another offer had been made to the other agent the property was on the market with (circa 3k higher than our offer) and that the offer had been accepted. He asked if we wanted to make a higher offer - we declined. That was 8 weeks ago and property is still on the market with both agents so whether it was a bluff or not I don't know. What I do know is a colleague of mine looking at the same area was emailed about this particular property a few days ago and asked if he would like to view it.......

Everything happens for a reason as in hindsight we are glad our offers were rejected and we didn't go any higher.

:beer:

robardsfan

Thanks for the advice. In my mind a 'possible timewaster buyer' is basically no buyer. So i dont' understand why they are applying pressure I was going to ask a friend to ring the other estate agency to show some interest and see if they mention it then. But are they under any obligation to mention it legally straight away? My friend is worried that she will have to go along to a viewing if that's when they decide to mention it!!

LJS2014

Getting your friend to call up would be a good idea in my opinion, there would be nothing to stop them asking the question if it wasn't mentioned by the agent.

I asked some agents that question because I got fed up of seeing properties listed on Rightmove and then calling up agents to be told they were not doing viewings as the property was under offer - they don't always amend listings online to show that. I understand they probably don't amend listings to show under offer in case the situation changes which to me means it's not an unreasonable question to ask.

Good Luck!

Conrad

I have been buying a property for 3 weeks and all this time it has remained on market, which makes me anxious, but this is pretty normal and just a seller protecting their interests.

An awful lot of buyers pull out of a purchase on a whim, due to bad survey or a thousand other reasons.

Much as it makes me someone disgruntled I am proceeding none the less.


To give the other perspective I tried selling a place last year and as I had doubts about buyers I asked it remained on market. The agents did not like this (they generally do not, it means more work, more hassle, more aggravated buyers), and sort of half heartedly kept it on market.


Anyway first buyer failed to get a mortgage and then the second buyer pulled out on the hour of exchange of contracts citing personal issues (I think she got cold feet). It was a buy to let that I couldn't be bothered to do up (I'd done up 2 others recently and was tired), but all this forced me to do it up over 2 months and get it let out instead. Turned out to have been a great move as I got a grade a corporate tenant and a high rent.

Jimbo29

I have had a right problem with the house I'm looking at. It's a repossession, and It was up with an agent ( who we viewed it twice with), they didn't seem to know questions and seemed like they couldn't be bothered with me. So when the house went dual agent I viewed it with the other who were very friendly and answered all my questions.

I put an offer with agent 2, but the management company said that agent 1 is complaining and that I need to put offer through agent 1!!! I was furious, how dare they tell me who I can use. It's still ongoing it's driving me mad!!!!!!:mad::mad:

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Jimbo29 wrote: »

I have had a right problem with the house I'm looking at. It's a repossession, and It was up with an agent ( who we viewed it twice with), they didn't seem to know questions and seemed like they couldn't be bothered with me. So when the house went dual agent I viewed it with the other who were very friendly and answered all my questions.

I put an offer with agent 2, but the management company said that agent 1 is complaining and that I need to put offer through agent 1!!! I was furious, how dare they tell me who I can use. It's still ongoing it's driving me mad!!!!!!:mad::mad:

You were introduced to the property by Agent 1. They are fully entitled to pursue you.

robardsfan

Thanks for the help. I had my friend call just now, she was told by the other agent it was under offer and "progressing well" - what the??