Is this too pushy?

SarahLu

Hello,

I am a first time buyer currently looking for a house (and not having much luck). I came across a house I liked in August and viewed it on the first day. I liked it and wanted to see it again, but when I phoned the agent they had already had some offers and one was already over the asking price. I freaked out at this point (was right at the start of my house buying journey) and left it at that.

Two weeks later I was still thinking about the house so I phoned the agent and said I was still interested and if for any reason the sale didn't go through would they let me know, which they agreed to do.

Fast forward a couple of months later and I now realise from trawling through properties every day that I really missed out with this house and in hindsight I really wish I had made an offer. I have no intentions of gazumping anyone, but is it worth phoning the agent to enquire if everything is progressing ok and remind them I am still interested in case it doesn't? Or is that too pushy? Do I need to just let it go?

foxy-stoat

If they haven't exchanged contracts yet (assuming not Scotland) then any offer you put forward has to go to the vendor. Up to them if they accept or decline it.

hazyjo

I'd ring to ask. No harm in that, and certainly not too pushy.


I'd not be making an offer. tbh, I'm not sure I'd want to buy from someone who was happy to gazump their current buyer (and I'm not someone who'd gazump anyway), so I'd rather not find out. There will be other houses


When I've found it impossible to find somewhere, I've swapped to another area (usually reluctantly as I thought where I wanted was perfect) and the right house usually leaps straight out at me. I've always just put it down to fate. Maybe take a step back and re-evaluate.

laptop80

Don't be too disheartened if you've missed it - we looked for about 6 months and missed lots of houses that we liked to varying degrees, including one that seemed ideal where we couldn't even get our viewing done because someone swooped in and got it off the market. The house we ended up buying is round the corner and is better in almost every respect.

You're also in a strong position as a FTB - a lot of forecasts are suggesting the housing market could fall and not many are saying it will shoot up after Brexit. If you're not in a desperate rush it could work to your advantage.

SarahLu

Thanks all. As I said, no intention of putting in an offer I just want the agent to think of me should anything go wrong. But they have already said they will do this so I don't want to be on their case and annoy them either!

We are really flexible with areas, I wonder if I'm just being too fussy tbh. Think I just need the sale of this particular house to go through so I can put it to bed and move on.

hazyjo

SarahLu wrote: »

Thanks all. As I said, no intention of putting in an offer I just want the agent to think of me should anything go wrong. But they have already said they will do this so I don't want to be on their case and annoy them either!

If it's been a month or two, I'd ring. I've never had one bear me in mind if things fall through - despite asking the same thing. I've always found out sooner myself on RM or the like.

rach_k

Why not call them, tell them you loved that house and ask if they have anything similar to that house? If they do, you might find something else you like. If the sale of that house falls through, you're reminding them that you were interested so they won't forget you.

sst1234

You clearly want this house. If you are prepared to pay more than anyone else to secure it then you shouldn’t just enquire but make an offer.
True value of a house if what the highest bidder is prepared to pay. If you can pay more than the current bidders, there is nothing wrong with that, contrary to popular opinion. Just make sure you don’t want it simply because someone else wants it.

If everyone got bogged down into house price etiquette, nothing would ever sell. You want it, you can afford it, you should buy it. Sometimes us brits really take politeness to levels of absurdity. Getting gazumped on a house sale....first world problems. There’s worse things.

Nobbie1967

Do you have a decent deposit in case the bank value it lower than you're prepared to pay? If not then if I were the vendor I would not take the risk of a down valuation and subsequent reduced offer. That's assuming you need a mortgage.

SarahLu

sst1234 wrote: »

You clearly want this house. If you are prepared to pay more than anyone else to secure it then you shouldn’t just enquire but make an offer.
True value of a house if what the highest bidder is prepared to pay. If you can pay more than the current bidders, there is nothing wrong with that, contrary to popular opinion. Just make sure you don’t want it simply because someone else wants it.

If everyone got bogged down into house price etiquette, nothing would ever sell. You want it, you can afford it, you should buy it. Sometimes us brits really take politeness to levels of absurdity. Getting gazumped on a house sale....first world problems. There’s worse things.

I get what you mean and agree to some extent but I'd feel terrible waiting all this time while they'll have paid for surveys etc to be done when I could have made an offer straight away or at least very soon after.

I tried calling the agent and have left a message to say I'm still looking and still interested in this house so we'll see if they get back to me/what happens.

MysteryMe

SarahLu wrote: »

I get what you mean and agree to some extent but I'd feel terrible waiting all this time while they'll have paid for surveys etc to be done when I could have made an offer straight away or at least very soon after.

I tried calling the agent and have left a message to say I'm still looking and still interested in this house so we'll see if they get back to me/what happens.

It's nothing to do with feeling terrible. There is a reason why most people do not follow the advice you are referring too and it's not because we are all snowflakes frightened to offend.

The transaction is 2/3 months down the line.

The vendor is likely to be in a chain. By this time the buyer is likely to have had their mortgage offer in place and survey done so the vendor knows they are dealing with someone who can at least proceed. Why on earth would the vendor jeopardise their onward purchase by starting the process again from scratch for a few extra grand from someone who may or may not get the level of mortgage they need? This is not a repossession sale.

You would have to make a substantial offer over what is already on the table for any vendor to ditch their existing sale, assuming the vendor is minded to act that way in the first place and I wouldn't entertain it. I would view you as someone who could not be relied upon, I'd be thinking if you were that keen why didn't you offer when you had the chance. Perhaps you'd be one of those people who try and gazunder at the last minute. I'd stick with my bird in the hand rather than 2 in the bush

The other important thing to consider is if you are offering more than the property is worth then it's you that will have to top up the difference in any mortgage offer shortfall, the lender wont.

There will be other houses, it's a quiet time of year so you may have to wait a few months. If you are able to, actually go into EA offices. Try and build up a relationship. Make yourself memorable, but not for the wrong reasons.