Is it weak to chase Estate Agent for offer response

williamcroome

Hi, we put an offer on a house last week. I didn't hear back for two days so I phoned and was told that the seller was looking closer to his initial value. Fine. I raised my offer by a substantial amount and that was last Wednesday. I haven't heard back from Estate Agent. I didn't say if this was my highest offer. I could potential go higher. 

Am I to assume that they just aren't interested? I feel if I phone the EA I'm coming across as a bit desperate and putting myself in a weaker position. But maybe it is normal to have to keep phoning. I'm quite frustrated by the attitude of the Estate Agent. I thought they were bound by some rules of engagement but it is all coming across as 1980s cars salesman .

TheArsenal

We also found this recently!!!

We put an offer in on a house ~ February. We waited about 4 days. Phoned up again to ask and they said ‘oh sorry, we didn’t actually put the offer to the vendors. We know it would be a no though. They have decided to go with a different buyer’

We would have offered more. We were flabbergasted they didn’t even bother to put the offer in. 80’s car sales indeed. 

Doozergirl

It's not a game.  

Phone them.  

Titus_Wadd

Don't offer more, just wait to hear without chasing, you may already have offered more than you needed to.  Keep viewing other houses, maybe with the same agent.

NameUnavailable

It probably means the vendors don't have anywhere to buy yet themselves, so why accept any offer when you don't even know for sure that you're going to move yourselves?

Doozergirl

Titus_Wadd said:

Don't offer more, just wait to hear without chasing, you may already have offered more than you needed to.  Keep viewing other houses, maybe with the same agent.

Offering more than you needed to is not often met with a silence, but a resounding acceptance.  

You're not going to do yourself any harm by asking.  People like people.   If you're silent whilst someone else is being lovely to the vendor and estate agent and looking keen, guess who becomes the preferred choice of buyer? 

Phone them.  Vendors want to sell to keen people that they think will complete, not people
who wait a week after making an offer.  

Are you proceedable? 

williamcroome

Thanks for inputs. 

Regarding last comment my understanding is the property is currently something he let's, although currently vacant. But maybe they are seeing if they can take advantage of a strong market during the down time.

For now I'm just going to put it on the back burner and search for something else, I just can't believe the EA wouldn't get back to say Yes, No or otherwise unless they are trying to play mind games. You'd think in a profession paid by % there is no benifit to just having a, property sitting on your books.

NameUnavailable

williamcroome said:

Thanks for inputs. 

Regarding last comment my understanding is the property is currently something he let's, although currently vacant. But maybe they are seeing if they can take advantage of a strong market during the down time.

For now I'm just going to put it on the back burner and search for something else, I just can't believe the EA wouldn't get back to say Yes, No or otherwise unless they are trying to play mind games. You'd think in a profession paid by % there is no benifit to just having a, property sitting on your books.

Could well be that they will sell if they get asking price but will otherwise let it again.

I would phone the agent and ask, and also ask them about other properties that meet your criteria. Make it clear that you ARE looking elsewhere.

greatcrested

Weak? No.

Pointless? Probably. The agent wants to sell (commission!) and the seller also (presumably!) does too.

If the seller is happy with your offer, you'll here once he's decided.

If not, you either get a no, or a conter offer, and you can then decide what to de.

Meanwhile, no response basically means no decision either way as yet.

Sibbers123

They are probably waiting to see if they get another offer to try and create a bidding war. 

Phone them up and give a firm deadline for a response. If they accept, make sure property is taken off the market.

 The vendor will have an idea of what they are willing to accept, there is no reason for a delay.

Thrugelmir

Perhaps there were other viewings booked and the vendor is waiting for the outcome. 

If you had hit the spot the vendor would have bitten your hand off.