Verbal Offers

jraeburn

Hello folks,

Whilst on viewing a house can you sort out an offer eith the person selling the house there and then or is this a no no?

My partner & I are looking to put an offer after viewing the house and was womdering if we can just do it there in then with the seller then put a formal offer into the EA?

Thanks in advance!

ThePants999

You can do what you like. Some vendors will be happy with it, some will refer you to their EA.

CP26

As a seller I would feel a bit weird about it and put on the spot. Id probably tell you to contact the EA anyway as a way of buying myself the time to think about it.

The house belongs to my OH but I'm usually the one home to do the viewings - there is no way I'd be talking offers without him being in on the conversation.

I suppose it really depends on the seller/s and how the viewing goes as to whether it seems like a good idea to go for it or not. I know my OH and I have quite different views on most properties so we would never make an offer there and then as we would want to talk things over first.

davidmcn

Try it if you like, but if they've got any sense they'll point you at the EA, as that's what they're being paid for.

phoebe1989seb

When selling our last house three years ago we were very surprised to receive a verbal offer during a viewing we did because our EAs had no-one available. It was at asking price - a fair bit higher than the two previous offers we'd received via the EA.

Whilst we didn't doubt the sincerity of the woman making the offer (despite a previous warning from the EA that she was a bit flakey, as she'd already had an offer accepted on another house they were marketing), we were concerned that her DH hadn't yet seen the house and might not agree with her.

Having referred her to our EA she submitted the same asking price offer and arranged for her DH to view a few days later. The sale completed - at the AP - in about two months.

Current sale our buyers submitted their offer to us via email before going through the EA. We'd exchanged contact details at their second viewing as they'd convinced us of their determination to be the successful buyers

Davesnave

There is a growing perception among buyers that their offer might be negatively influenced by some agents if they have refused to meet with the in-house mortgage advisor.

There are also those people who do not wish to bargain via an intermediary who might not be entirely honest about the situation regarding other interest in the property.

The latter has been the case for a long time, and with good reason, but for the seller, meeting someone who wishes to haggle on the spot, or simply cut to the chase, can feel intimidating.

There's no right answer, but it does no harm to exchange telephone details on a second viewing if relations with the vendor seem cordial. Then, any offer can be made one step removed, while the vendor will have breathing space to absorb it and discuss with a partner.

Putting some people on the spot is more likely to result in a straight "No," or "I'll have to think about it," which moves things no further forward, and may well hinder further negotiation if the vendor thinks they will then lose face.