Odd situation with prospective buyers

eddddy

Personally, I would just treat it like any other sale...

• Negotiate a selling price that is acceptable to you

• Establish who the buyer is - Fred or the business man

• Establish the buyer's 'proceedability'...

• Do they need a mortgage, if so have they arranged one?
• If it's a cash purchase, do they have readily accessible funds?
• Is their purchase of your property dependent on the sale of another property (or properties)?
• What is the status of those sales? (On the market? Under offer? Chain complete? etc)
  Is the sale dependent on anything else? (E.g. gaining planning consent for Fred's house)

Smodlet

"Fred" is not quite all there, is he? Sounds like seriously sharp practice on this businessman's part to me. Either that or Fred is actually right on the ball and is taking this SurAlan for a ride... Wish I thought it was the second one.

Does Fred even realise he will be living next door to a commercial enterprise? Presumably that is not the case atm. What kind of business is it? Why does Mr. Biz not expand somewhere else? Does he even have planning permission for change of use? Why is he finding houses for Fred to view, for goodness' sake?

Something about this smells fish and chippy...

Clutterfree

I'm not sure if I've read this correctly but I *think* what the OP is saying is...

Fred is not her neighbour.
Fred lives in a property that a businessman wants to buy. (Businessman already owns neighbouring property and wishes to expand?)
Businessman said he will buy Fred a property worth double his existing property.
Fred has chosen OPs property for his new home.
Fred won't be living next door to the business, he will be living in OPs property.
I don't believe OP even knows Fred other than as a prospective buyer.
Is this correct?

It's hard to work out because from your post it could also appear that Fred is your neighbour!

Davesnave

Clutterfree wrote: »

I'm not sure if I've read this correctly but I *think* what the OP is saying is...

Fred is not her neighbour.
Fred lives in a property that a businessman wants to buy. (Businessman already owns neighbouring property and wishes to expand?)
Businessman said he will buy Fred a property worth double his existing property.
Fred has chosen OPs property for his new home.
Fred won't be living next door to the business, he will be living in OPs property.
I don't believe OP even knows Fred other than as a perspective buyer.
Is this correct?

It's hard to work out because from your post it could also appear that Fred is your neighbour!

First post was confusing, but after reading the OP's second post, I agree with you.

I'll remove the irrelevant bit of my first post in case it sets folks off on the wrong tack.

isadora127

My apologies if my first post was not clear enough.

What Clutterfree says is exactly right. Fred already lives next door to the business. Mr Biz wants to buy Fred's house so he can expand. My house is in the same town but not anywhere near Fred and his neighbouring business.

This morning Mr Biz put in an offer of almost 20% below my asking price. I'm still laughing. I get the impression he is the sort of person who is used to getting what he wants.

Smodlet

isadora127 wrote: »

My apologies if my first post was not clear enough.

What Clutterfree says is exactly right. Fred already lives next door to the business. Mr Biz wants to buy Fred's house so he can expand. My house is in the same town but not anywhere near Fred and his neighbouring business.

This morning Mr Biz put in an offer of almost 20% below my asking price. I'm still laughing. I get the impression he is the sort of person who is used to getting what he wants.

Who'd 'a thunk?

Pixie5740

isadora127 wrote: »

My apologies if my first post was not clear enough.

What Clutterfree says is exactly right. Fred already lives next door to the business. Mr Biz wants to buy Fred's house so he can expand. My house is in the same town but not anywhere near Fred and his neighbouring business.

This morning Mr Biz put in an offer of almost 20% below my asking price. I'm still laughing. I get the impression he is the sort of person who is used to getting what he wants.

If your house has been on the market for several months and this is the first offer you have received I wouldn't be too quick to laugh. 20% below might be a bit cheeky but it's a starting point for negotiation.

mollycat

Is there some "overthinking" going on here?

Just sell your house to someone, (the businessman) who wants to buy it.

Job done, get on with life, no?

Edit; referring to the "Fred" situation, not the 20% below offer.

moneyistooshorttomention

isadora127 wrote: »

This morning Mr Biz put in an offer of almost 20% below my asking price. I'm still laughing. I get the impression he is the sort of person who is used to getting what he wants.

In which case - the ball is in his court then.

I assume you've rejected this offer and bounced it back at him. Next move is his then anyway - ie an increased offer.

Wonders if you know Fred enough/trust him enough to have a "talk" with him now - about just how much he (ie Fred) wants to have your house and not A.N. Other House.

kinger101

isadora127 wrote: »

My apologies if my first post was not clear enough.

What Clutterfree says is exactly right. Fred already lives next door to the business. Mr Biz wants to buy Fred's house so he can expand. My house is in the same town but not anywhere near Fred and his neighbouring business.

This morning Mr Biz put in an offer of almost 20% below my asking price. I'm still laughing. I get the impression he is the sort of person who is used to getting what he wants.

Counter-offer with 20% above.