Confirming offer in writing

Becky

If an offer is made on a property does the estate agent have to write to you confirming the amount and the buyers' name(s)?

My parents had an 'offer' placed on their house last week. The estate agent called and stated they would try to get a higher amount, to which my parents said okay.

After not hearing for a couple of days they called the agent and was told by the agent that they (my parents) had declined any further offers from the agent in the previous telephone conversation!

I am beginning to suspect the whole offer was a load of rubbish. They have not received written confirmation from the agent stating any offers were made.

cattie

Sounds very strange, but can't see what the ea would gain by pretending there had been an offer. When ea phoned with offer, did he state which of the viewers it was that was actually making the offer, as this would be normal procedure?

All accepted offers are confirmed in writing by ea's, but not offers that are not accepted by a vendor, in my experience.

Becky

My parents have only had one viewing to the house from the agent so it could only have been them.

They have effectively called my mum a liar, stating that she said "no" to any further dealings / negotiations! Why, I ask, would she say this to the agent? The offer was pretty good and it was the agent that suggested she could get a slightly better deal.

The have zero integrity and I believe they ballsed up with the negotiations, if it was a real offer.

Queen_B_3

We've had our offer confirmed in writing for the house we are buying. Not sure if the vendor will have recieved anything?

A_Nice_Englishman

See Part 6 of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents' Code of Practice.

6. Submission of Offers
6a By law, you must tell sellers as soon as is reasonably possible about all offers that you receive at any time until contracts have been exchanged (in Scotland, missives have been concluded) unless the offer is an amount or type which the seller has specifically instructed you, in writing, not to pass on. You must confirm each offer in writing to the seller, and to the
buyer who made it, within two working days.