How to deal with estate agents?

Unicorn_cottage

So are you after a turnkey property? Am confused about what you want....

Thrugelmir

Competsoph said:

BlueC said:

Bit late to this so apologies if this is already covered.
Ask yourself how you'll feel if you miss out if someone else offers the asking price at the weekend. i.e. how will you feel to miss our for the sake of £4,000? If you're not going to be bothered then hold tight. If you're going to be truly gutted then consider whether you'd rather just up your offer. At this stage you could offer the asking price on the condition that there are no further viewings but the agent would want to see evidence that you are proceedable before they would agree to this. When buying a home (rather than an investment) then sometimes the price is not as important... if you buy it and love it then you'll never regret that extra £4k. But if you miss out on it then you might regret doing so. It depends whether this is the house you REALLY want.

I want it but I’m not desperate for it. We don’t have to move. We are comfortable where we are. It hasn’t got a lot of things I wanted from a property but had a lot of others, and some I didn’t really consider. It’s a definite toughy! 

Then sounds as if it's not the property for you. 

Competsoph

@Thrugelmir I think after considering it all for the past few days, we perhaps agree. 😕

@Unicorn_cottage We want a home! I have certain tick boxes that are a definite and some that can be comprised. I expect some amount of cosmetic work and I’m more than happy with that. In fact we’ve even viewed some that need complete renovation. All that said, we don’t NEED to move. We currently rent and like it here. There’s no pressure is what I mean. I won’t settle for something purely for the sake of it.

Unfortunately, as I work on the frontline of the NHS, I have just tested positive for COVID19. I won’t be going anywhere now for a little while. They say things happen for a reason 🤷🏽‍♀️

GDB2222

Oh dear! Hopefully you will recover quickly.

Thrugelmir

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Some time to browse Rightmove! 

MysteryMe

Yes, every cloud has a silver lining. Hope you make a speedy recovery OP

Competsoph

So what I think may be the last update from me really, the EA rang this am to, in his words, provide some closure regarding this property. More viewings were done as of Saturday and obviously I was unable to go even if I’d of wanted to. He said there have been some more offers at the asking price and inclined that they were going above the asking price. He asked how we felt and I explained that we have reflected on things and feel actually it’s probably not right for us. We aren’t prepared to go to the asking price and that’s that. 

It’s funny really, I thought I’d be gutted but I’m not, I think that comes down to the fact it wasn’t really the right place for us. I’ve since been looking on Rightmove and it’s surprising how many properties are being out on the market daily. Hopefully we’ll find somewhere that is perfect for us. I’m sure I’ll be on here again in the near future asking for advice. You people really have been helpful in what is such a new experience for us. Thanks for all your help and hope everyone is staying safe! 

Unicorn_cottage

@Competsoph if you are not gutted it definitely wasn't the house for you. I hope you find one you love soon. Don't forget to keep an eye on Rightmove etc to check what the house actually sold for

numbercruncher8

That is the spirit. Disappointing as it is at the time, it is important not to get attached, there will always be others and plenty of them if you can be patient.
 
As if the estate agent was calling for closure! More like to see if you might want to have a rush of blood and bid above what you wanted to. They are out for themselves, even if they try and make out they are doing you some kind of favour.

It'll be some months before the price appears in Land Registry but if someone is going above asking price and you feel asking price is too much, you can't have any regrets.