Agent wants to " substantiate" our offer before he puts it to vendor?

HenBroon

Quick update. EA wil not accept our AIP from London & Country and needs an AIP from a specific lender. This will probably take a few days to get (and we'll end up not going with that lender, I am sure), and in the meantime the vendors have no idea that we made an offer the morning after our second viewing, so we look flaky and like we're stringing things out.

I just can't see how this works with the EA/vendor relationship (this is a house that has been on the market for a few months with no offers, vendors are allegedly keen to move):

Vendor to EA - "so, that couple who came round last night for a second viewing, think they'll make an offer?"

The only possible truthful answer to this is

"actually they made one this morning but we're not telling you how much till they produce proof of funds"

Of course the vendor is immediately going to ask how much we offered, and has a right to be told. Do agents just avoid their calls until offers are substantiated? I doubt that very much.

Am I missing something here? Are they really saying "we advise the vendors not to respond to your offer until it has been substantiated"?

Dan-Dan

Have you shown them proof of deposit?

harrys_dad

Just go round the house again and tell the vendor directly.

warehouse

harrys_dad wrote: »

Just go round the house again and tell the vendor directly.

This. Exactly this. Today would be good.

HenBroon

Dan-Dan no way in hell am I showing my bank statement to a person who works on behalf of the vendor.

We won't be putting our offer through the door as we don't want them to think we are desperate to buy as that in itself will prob push the price up. Also, if they are happy with what the agent is doing then we won't endear ourselves to them.

Dan-Dan

HenBroon wrote: »

Dan-Dan no way in hell am I showing my bank statement to a person who works on behalf of the vendor.

I didnt say that , as mentioned previously by i think an actual broker on this thread , a glimpse of your deposit on a statement , suitably blanked elsewhere , should be enough

DRP

Just do what Dan-Dan says or get your solicitor to email it through.

HenBroon wrote: »

Dan-Dan no way in hell am I showing my bank statement to a person who works on behalf of the vendor.

We won't be putting our offer through the door as we don't want them to think we are desperate to buy as that in itself will prob push the price up. Also, if they are happy with what the agent is doing then we won't endear ourselves to them.

Something needs to give, and buying the house is all about endearing yourselves to them. They're not going to trust someone who !!!!es them off at this early stage...

fairy_lights

HenBroon wrote: »

Also, if they are happy with what the agent is doing then we won't endear ourselves to them.

I doubt they would be happy with the agent if they knew they were refusing to give them information about offers made on the house.
The agent 'needing' you to get an AIP from a specific lender is absolute waffle and a totally unnecessary hoop to jump through. It all sounds like a way of pressuring you to use their broker by whatever means.

burnsguitarman

I bet this is one of the big corporates. Just be blunt with them. If you have the opportunity contact the vendor directly.Everything they do is long drawn out and complicated!
We, very reluctantly are in the process of dealing with Bridgfords (Countrywide) who are notoriously slow and incompetent. Even worse our sellers are also using Countrywide solicitors 3 wks in and our solicitor hasn't heard from them. Avoid if at all possible.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

HenBroon wrote: »

Dan-Dan no way in hell am I showing my bank statement to a person who works on behalf of the vendor.

We won't be putting our offer through the door as we don't want them to think we are desperate to buy as that in itself will prob push the price up. Also, if they are happy with what the agent is doing then we won't endear ourselves to them.

Then you are ignoring the obvious and best advice. They probably don't know what the agent is doing and will be happy to know that the agent is doing this. They won't think you are desperate to buy if you present it as "Your estate agent is impossible to deal through so I have bypassed him". Don't even make an offer, if you like - just go to the house and tell them what is happening and they are going to miss out on your offer unless they sort their EA out or deal with you directly.

Go round to the house or jump through all the estate agent's hoops. Your choice. I know which one I would make and it would be done by now. Have you even tried telling the EA that you are going to go to the house? I would put money that that in itself will see him change his tune immediately - he knows what he is doing is illegal.

I have done exactly this, by the way, and ended up with the offer passed through (I bought the house) and a pleading letter of apology from the EA basically asking me not to report him.