Buying a House without an Estate Agent

Fletchasketch

Hello,

I'm looking to buy a house in an area where there isn't much for sale and recently delivered leaflets to see if anyone would be open to selling their home privately. To be honest, I wasn't holding out much hope, but someone has got in touch to say that she is selling her home. We've arranged a viewing in a few weeks time and I'm now wondering how I should manage this, and especially the negotiation part should it come to this.

I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who's bought a house privately to hear what your experiences were and if you have any tips for me .

Thanks all.

pinkteapot

No different to any other negotiation really - speak to her as you would the agent - polite, state what you're prepared to pay for the house. Be a bit more careful to avoid criticising anything about the house in case she takes it personally. So something like "We really love the house, we think we'd be really happy here. We'd be willing to pay £xxxxx for it." (Say you'd be happy there because you sometimes get sellers who want their house to go to someone who'll appreciate it (in their minds)).

We offered on a house through Purple Bricks but they don't do anything - we were just talking to the owner. And my mum sold a house to someone who'd leafleted once, so it can work out!

eddddy

I know a few people who bought/sold privately.

Where the buyer and seller were both reasonable people, who fully understood the buying and selling process, it all worked fine.

But in another case, where at least one party was less reasonable, and didn't really understand how buying and selling property worked - the buyer and seller ended up screaming at each other over the phone, and the sale fell apart (for what seemed like no good reason).


Without the EA, things you might want to do include:

• Establishing the 'proceedability' of the seller - do they need to buy somewhere to move to etc

• Negotiate with the seller. (Risks include the seller being insulted by your offer, the seller thinking you're trying to rip them off etc)

• Progress the seller - encourage them to get an AIP etc (if they need to buy somewhere), make sure that they are actively searching for a property to buy, encouraging them to choose a solicitor, encouraging them to instruct with the solicitor, chasing them to reply to their solicitors questions etc.

• Monitor the chain - if they are buying a property with a chain above it.

• Potentially re-negotiating with the seller - for example, if the survey finds problems

If the seller is businesslike and knowledgeable, they might get on with things themselves. But if not, you might have to gently push them - ideally whilst keeping on good terms with them.

Fletchasketch

These are really good tips- thank you very much. I especially agree with the bit about Purple Bricks; utterly useless. I tried to enquire about a service charge once, but wasn't allowed to without booking an appointment. Once I'd booked the appointment, they said they didn't know about the service charge and that I'd have to ask the seller! Avoid.

Anyway- keeping my fingers crossed for the viewing- thanks again for the tips!

babyblade41

I have bought a house exactly this way with no sale on my part needed ... Everything went fine but it was all done through my solicitor.. I roughly knew what it was worth and it went along fine

Fletchasketch

This is good to know. I'm now wishing I'd done the leaflet drop months ago before going through months of searching!