Next door selling

pollyanna24

My next door neighbours appear to have put their house up for sale today and there is already "Under Offer" on the sign. It's not on any websites anywhere, so not sure what the point of putting the sign up, especially if it's "Under Offer" before they even put it up for sale.

I know I haven't got any rights to be annoyed as such, but if I had known it was going up for sale, my brother would be interested in buying it.

Is there any point of going to the estate agent now if it is under offer? What was the point of the agent putting the board up telling us it's under offer?

MrJB

Agents like to have boards up saying under offer because it's a branding tool - lets people in the area know that the agent is selling houses like that and getting them sold quickly if they were thinking about selling. May certainly be worth approaching them/neighbour to find out the story not least because often deals don't go through and then you can be first to know.

pollyanna24

MrJB wrote: »

Agents like to have boards up saying under offer because it's a branding tool - lets people in the area know that the agent is selling houses like that and getting them sold quickly if they were thinking about selling. May certainly be worth approaching them/neighbour to find out the story not least because often deals don't go through and then you can be first to know.

Thanks for that. Wonder if it will appear on their website in a couple of days saying under offer because it's not up there at the moment.

We knew something was going on as my neighbours are very eldery and they'd moved out and work was going on (they've owned the house since new in the 50s), but other neighbours told us they were going to rent it out. Harumph!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I was the first to view my house, before details went online, and made an offer straightaway. I'd viewed and made offers on several similar properties so the agent knew I wasn't a timewaster. A lot of estate agents work mainly on the phone, which is quicker for them.

pinkshoes

Go speak to your neighbour. Perhaps your brother is willing to pay more than they got...

It is an open market after all!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

there would be no harm in speaking to estate agent or owners and expressing interest.

The 'under offer', may fall though then hopefully you will be next in line.

pollyanna24

Nope, it turns out I shouldn't listen to my mother.

She was the one who told me about the sign and I jumped the gun. The house is under offer for rent, have just found it on the estate agent's website.

Ooops!

Norman_Castle

Its probably still worth speaking to the neighbors to tell them about your brothers interest. There's nothing stopping them selling now or in the future. Showing some interest may redirect them.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd second that.

Now you know you havent been pipped at the post by another buyer - then no harm in saying your brother is interested in buying. They might change their mind and decide to sell after all.

Dan-Dan

Why would they decide to sell just because your brother wants it , they have obviously made a financial calculation that renting it out is the way to go for the forseeable

Unless you live in a slooooow area , then your brother wanting to buy would surely make no difference

pinkteapot

Has it always been rented out, or has the owner previously lived there but not moved out and rented it out?

If the latter, and you know them well, worth mentioning that your brother would be interested in buying, in case they ever decide to get rid of it. They'd save EA fees by selling direct to him. You never know. A friend recently bought the property they'd been living in as a tenant. They asked the LL if he would sell and about a year later he wanted to so let them have it.