Managing EA and Offer

Lurkingtoposting17

Hi All

I placed an offer on a house last week, which after some negotiation was accepted.

I received confirmation in writing of the first offer, not of my final offer.

The offer was made subject to survey and the property being removed from marketing. I sent my proof deposit, AIP, solicitor details, ID at the EAs request and they were happy with all of that.

A week later, the property is still up for sale. I was told the vendors were awaiting for a decision on an offer from the vendor of the house they want to buy and will mark it as sold as soon as they have that confirmed, and if not they still want me as a vendor, and would mark it as sold either way yesterday. They have not.

I know there is pretty much nothing I can do, and the EA acts for the Vendor. But if anyone has any suitable advice on how to speak to the EA without being overly annoying, but protecting my interests and getting greater clarity, that would be great.

My issue is I have 2 financial decisions to make in the next month and the answers vary depending on whether or not I am getting this house or continuing my search. Whilst I know that nothing is guaranteed before exchange, some level of commitment from the vendor would inform those decisions!

eddddy

It's all down to negotiation. As examples, you could try saying...

"I'm unhappy that the property is still advertised as available. Unless you mark it as 'under offer', I will continue to look at other properties, and might find another I prefer."

Or "Unless you mark it as 'under offer', I will withdraw my offer" - but that might be 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

But the bottom line is... you cannot force the seller to agree to your request.

cattie

Try to get a friend to phone the ea expressing interest in the house & see whether they'd be able to book a viewing. There's a chance the ea will tell them that the place is already under offer & no more viewings are being booked at the moment.

Throwaway1

cattie wrote: »

Try to get a friend to phone the ea expressing interest in the house & see whether they'd be able to book a viewing. There's a chance the ea will tell them that the place is already under offer & no more viewings are being booked at the moment.

I'd say it's almost certainly still available for viewings otherwise they would just mark it as under offer. All that may end up doing is causing the EA and vendor to think that there are other interested parties and so be less concerned about losing OP.

Lurkingtoposting17

Thanks guys,

I was going to chase again, but the property has just been marked as SSTC, as has the one I think they were offering on. So hopefully I will get the Memo of Sale shortly.

What I have realised today is that in your 20s your stalk Facebook, in your 30s you stalk rightmove.... both done with a sense of paranoia!