Contacting vendor directly

Nbutterworth1

Just looking for a bit of advice on the following subject.
-made an offer on a house but vendor accepted higher offer from another buyer
-house next door with same layout/features is now up for sale but viewings don't commence for a week
-contacted EA with an offer 2.5 K above asking despite not having viewed the property. We stated that we knew that this was unusual but explained our reasons.
- EA says that legally they can't pass on our offer until we've viewed the property. We basically call BS and say that unless we receive an explicit reason why they can't pass our offer on then we expect it to be put to the vendor.
-EA says that they will pass on the offer but that this would only be an "offer in principle" until we have viewed the house.

Now I would completely understand if the EA had replied saying the vendor wants to conduct viewings before responding to our offer either to elicit the highest offer they can or because they might have concerns about us not being able to proceed. However, I find it strange that the EA was reluctant in passing on our offer in the first place and their insistence on us viewing the property first. I also expected that they might try to get us to increase our initial offer (which we would definitely consider doing) but we haven't heard from them since.

My concern is that the EA might not have passed on our offer to the vendor. We are first time buyers with an AIP so in a pretty good position to buy. I thought there might have been a bit more willingness on their part to negotiate on an offer above asking price before other viewings take place, less work for them right?

So going forwards I see our options as either
A) waiting for viewings to take place and then submitting a higher offer if there is interest from other parties. The house next door that we viewed had several offers after two days of viewings and we were told by their EA that the accepted offer was "substantially higher" than the asking price. Therefore, Im pretty sure there will be a high level of interest in this one.
contacting the vendor directly just with a friendly heads up explaining that we have made an offer through the EA and our current position..... Here are our details if you want to discuss our offer further etc.

I would very much appreciate anyone's thoughts on the above.

Cheers
N

[Deleted User]

No one's going to take your offer seriously until you've viewed it, so get in to see it as soon as as you can.

If you still feel the same, confirm your offer.

AnotherJoe

I think while on face value it seems like a good idea to see the vendors and see if they would be interested to sell right away, if I was the vendor I'd be thinking "hmm, next door sold very quickly above asking, now we've got a potential buyer to underpin any further bids so might as well get some viewings in and see if we can get some competition going"

Not_Radio2

I can't help thinking the Estate Agents are going to make sure they are due their fee by being the ones to introduce you to the property.
They won't want any wriggle-room on the fact your offer was presented prior to the date you are on record as viewing the place.

lisyloo

There is a much higher chance of you pulling out if you haven’t viewed the property.
They are used to dealing with time wasters (not suggesting you are but that they need to due diligence).
The offer is principle sounds like a sensible compromise to me.

Davesnave

They're thinking: "We know this will go to best offers, so these over-keen FTBs can join the queue with everyone else till we see the colour of their money."

Exodi

Really, what is the point of making an offer on a house you haven't viewed? It does't make you look serious or sensible (two qualities that are preferred from someone purchasing someones largest asset...). Was it with the hope that viewings would not be conducted?

There could be a multitude of reasons your offer would be changed when you view the property, why would the EA get the vendors hopes up about an offer when it's not unlikely you may tank your offer after viewing?

It may appear to you to be a grand gesture, but in practice it's farcical at best and I think highlights your naivety as a first time buyer.

kazwookie

I'd go and see the vendor, explain, then ask to look round.

Albala

I don't see the problem with waiting for a viewing, TBH. I wouldn't contact a vendor directly unless the circumstances were such that no other contact was working. That's clearly not the case here. Some vendors very much dislike direct contact with buyers, for good reason, and you could kipper your offer before you even start.

SmashedAvacado

The agents are legally required to pass on all offers. Have you made your offer in writing (to be able to evidence the agent's breach of the law)?

If they are refusing to do so, its fine for you to drop a note in the door explaining the position fully. The owners might prefer to deal with you directly if this is the approach of their agents. because this would probably be enough for the seller to terminate the agent's appointment

However, the agents can make the point that they do not recommend the sellers accepting your offer on the basis that you have not seen the property. The sellers don't have to listen.

oystercatcher

If I was selling my property and said viewings start from date X then that is when I would be ready. It would really annoy me to have people pestering before I was ready and if there was more than one offer I would accept the non pestering people !. There is probably a reason they have said viewings start on a certain day.

To offer without viewing leaves the risk that you then look around and decide you don't like XYZ and drop your offer so to offer above asking is meaningless really if you haven't seen the property. How do you know that it isn't partly wrecked inside or full of damp etc?