Second Viewing = Dropping Offer

Mossfarr

Don't beat yourself up, you haven't done anything wrong and more importantly, you haven't lost any money!
Very few people can say they never made any mistakes when buying for the first time, its just good that you asked for advice before you had committed yourself.
Do not be bullied by the estate agent - they are (in my opinion) the most self serving unprofessional bunch of people you will ever have to deal with. Always remember they are not working for you - they work for the sellers and themselves!
Go and view the house again with a clear focus, take written a list of questions, check in corners & behind furniture for hidden signs of damp, cracks in walls etc etc.
You may still love it, or you may find that actually its not so great. Whatever you decide just take your time and make that lower offer!!

iammumtoone

It does sound very much like you were pushed by the EA and they played on the fact there was someone else viewing at the same time. How long has the house been on the market? this should give you an idea if it is the kind of house that needs to be 'snapped' up.

Your colleagues sound knowledgeable about the housing market but remember that a potential landlord looking to buy a property will likely pay less than someone looking to purchase as a home.

The lack of central heating is a valid concern but again many do live without it. (but will pay less than the exact same house style/area with it)

Are there no other houses on the market now in that area to compare asking prices. Whilst this is not an indication of what people will pay it will give you a general feel if the asking price is about right.

House hunting/selling is a nightmare and I do feel for you. You need to do what is right for you and unfortunately have to be selfish, it can happen the other way round as well, you may find your dream house and have the vendors pull out at the last minute :eek: for no apparent reason.

Like others have said there is no harm is doing the second viewing tomorrow. If you reduce offer/pull out first thing or later after the viewing its not going to make much difference.

Thrugelmir

iammumtoone wrote: »

Like others have said there is no harm is doing the second viewing tomorrow. If you reduce offer/pull out first thing or later after the viewing its not going to make much difference.

Will make a difference. As the vendor thinks that they've £x coming from the sale and will be budgeting on this when they move.

iammumtoone

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Will make a difference. As the vendor thinks that they've £x coming from the sale and will be budgeting on this when they move.

I mean the timing of telling them. As long as they are informed tomorrow I can't see what a difference a few hours will make.

kinger101

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I posted a few weeks ago and was very excited about a property I had seen. As it was the first house I had seen in a while and it looked in quite good nick, I went and made an offer. The viewing was very rushed and it was double booked so we didn't get a proper chance to speak to the vendor/seller.

Since then, the state agent has been constantly bombarding me with calls and emails saying come and bring us proof of ID etc. I have provided proof and shown them how much money I have. I will now only need a small mortgage as family and friends are lending me money.

The vendor/seller is not in a rush to move as the flat she has seen near her son won't be empty for another 3 months.

Anyway, I digress. I've got the second viewing tomorrow. I've looked intently at the floor plan and have asked a few people at work who have bought houses etc and they have told me that it is not actually 3 bedrooms, but 2 bedrooms. 1 of the bedrooms has access to the only bathroom in the house and if someone were to sleep in that room, they would be woken up each time someone wanted to pass through to get to the bathroom and back. If a passage was put in, the bedroom would become smaller than a box room so to be honest, it would only be 2 bedrooms and a very small storage room.

When I went to view the first time, I obviously had my beer goggles on and was so rushed I failed to pick up on such things.

Oh for Christ's sake, don't do viewings while intoxicated. Possibly the only thing you should think about purchasing in such a state is a kebab, not bricks and mortar.

I've got 2 work colleagues going to view with me tomorrow and they have told me the price I initially offered was very naive and that I would have to think about it carefully as it is not actually 3 bedrooms and there is no central heating. You didn't notice a lack of central heating!

My question is this, if nothing has been signed solicitor wise, am I able to drop the offer?

You can pull out any time before you exchange for any reason or no reason.

Also, does anyone know why estate agents are so pushy? I've not even had the survey done yet (everyone is off for Xmas) and they keep saying I need to instruct a solicitor ASAP. I do have a solicitor in mind and I have contacted them, got the prices etc, but they told me I need to go and view the property again and be sure I actually want it.

They're pushy because it's their job. You put in an acceptable offer and now you're giving signs you're not serious.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

To be honest, if you dropped your offer, I'd tell you where to go. You just seem incredibly naive about the process, and I wouldn't trust you to complete the sale.

I think the best thing you can do is withdraw your offer, and do some research of what the house buying process involves. And do a checklist for viewings so you don't miss things like lack of central heating or unusual layout

KiKi

You need to do what's right for you as this is an expensive purchase and commitment - people pull out of sales, it happens. However, a couple of etiquette things for you to know as a FTB:

Don't make an offer unless you are sure you want the property - and I'd always advise two viewings. It's easy to miss things first time around, or see it through rose tinted glasses.

Unless you're desperate for the house and believe you have competition / want this house more than anything, offer lower, and be prepared to negotiate up.

Once you've put an offer in, the expectation is that you will very quickly start the process of instructing a solicitor and getting any survey organised. The solicitor stuff (local searches, paperwork, writing the contract) takes time, so it needs to get going. If someone put in an offer on my house and hadn't instructed the survey within a couple of weeks I'd think they weren't serious, especially if they didn't have a solicitor lined up and instructed.

EAs are there for the benefit of the seller and to get the most money they can. Never rely on them for information, always do your own research either yourself or through the solicitor. Tell THEM what you're doing - ie, "I want a second viewing where I can be at the house without other viewers, and I want proper time to look around; I'm not considering the property unless you can do this."

Take pictures in the house so you can reflect on it before making an offer. Look at the practicalities when you're there. How is it heated? Water meter? Neighbours? Garden? Parking? Layout? Carpets? Windows? What is the seller leaving in the house, and what are they taking with them? Some sellers will take carpets and curtains and light fittings etc, so ask these questions. Leasehold, freehold? Security? Neighbourhood? Noise?

Good luck with your search - remember, selling is as big a deal as buying, so the rule of thumb is that whilst sometimes you do need to pull out of a sale or purchase, don't muck people about.

KiKi

konark

I obviously had my beer goggles on

So you did the first viewing of the house whilst drunk?

I've got 2 work colleagues going to view with me tomorrow

Now your going in mob-handed!

That 'pushy' EA must think she's got a live one with you!

Running_Horse

mimi1234 wrote: »

Also, does anyone know why estate agents are so pushy? I've not even had the survey done yet (everyone is off for Xmas) and they keep saying I need to instruct a solicitor ASAP.

Because thy are salesmen working on commission? One day when you sell a property you will come to value such qualities.

mimi1234 wrote: »

I do have a solicitor in mind and I have contacted them, got the prices etc, but they told me I need to go and view the property again and be sure I actually want it.

Sounds like your solicitors have cottoned on to an air of flakiness. No solicitor has ever told me to view a property again; presumably they assume I know what I want.

People who work in the business have seen it all before and have a good idea who is seriously organised, and who is going to waste their time.

mimi1234

konark wrote: »

So you did the first viewing of the house whilst drunk?



Now your going in mob-handed!

That 'pushy' EA must think she's got a live one with you!

Hi.

I meant rose tinted glasses. I wasn't drunk. No chance. The house actually looked like it did in the few photos that were online so I had a jaded view when I went to see it.

Anyway I am going to phone them in a bit and tell them where I stand. Wish me luck.

BananaRepublic

Good for you.

By the way a house is worth what someone is willing to pay. Rightmove will tell you what houses nearby sold for but there is a huge variation. A house down the road sold for £250,000 a few months back and yet similar properties nearby go for £400,000. Why? Search me guv.