Estate Agent offer mess-up

PL800

I'm currently offering on a property, I've been holding on my second offer. I spoke to the agent the other day, who told me the amount the seller is looking for, I said I couldn't go higher (I'm offering 3k lower - may not be much, but it's a lot to me!) and he said he'd go back to the seller and they may just go for it.

Low and behold, later that day I get a call from the agent's colleague to say they have accepted the offer - of the higher price! I corrected him and the agent called back saying there must've been a communication breakdown and the spiel "well, for that price you know it's yours", "they actually wanted more, they won't go lower".

Now, this may have been a genuine mistake, or the agent or the agent is just pushing through that amount. I don't trust estate agents!

Am I fair to negotiate a bit more - meet in the middle - or will it just pee the sellers off?

csgohan4

Offer what you think the house is worth and follow up with an email, not your problem if the EA wants to try and take you for a ride

Fire_Fox

PL800 wrote: »

... I said I couldn't go higher (I'm offering 3k lower - may not be much, but it's a lot to me!) .....

Low and behold, later that day I get a call from the agent's colleague to say they have accepted the offer - of the higher price! I corrected him and the agent called back saying there must've been a communication breakdown ....

Am I fair to negotiate a bit more - meet in the middle - or will it just pee the sellers off?

Has your second and final offer been put to the vendors or not?

AdrianC

If the vendor won't accept lower than that, does it matter? You won't pay that.

Just say "Fine, this is the most I want to pay. It's going to remain on the table, if the vendor changes their mind." and keep looking.

Kad_Williams

If I were in your shoes I would probably approach the estate agent with the same level of absent minded naivety that they seemed to approached your offer, by saying something to the effect of 'So did you put my original offer forward?', meaning the the offer you meant to give. It sounds like they are capitalizing on the confusion so you can do the same. They may well assume from the where you've left it with them that you're happy to proceed with that price - I say put the ball back in their court and act as if you didn't make a mistake... and that any mistake should now be cleared up. They might not like telling the sellers the news but it's more likely to have them appealing the seller's better nature than you having to.



Good luck!

Mickygg

It could be EA tactic, could be a mistake who knows. What’s done is done. If you aren’t happy with price then go back in writing with the offer you want to give.
However assuming they reject it (sounds like they will) will you end up offering the amount that has been agreed anyway?
If you like the property and don’t want to lose it I wouldn’t quibble over a few thousand.