I have only recently started looking at properties and have not even put my house on the market but have found the most amazing property that I want to buy. It is everything I want and I really don’t think I will get an opportunity like it again.
I called the estate agent and was told the house was under offer, I was gutted. I have now discovered that under offer doesn't necessarily mean the sale will go through. I wondered if I should contact the estate agent and ask if I would still be allowed to view the property (why did they not offer this when I originally called) or is it acceptable to contact the seller directly and ask them if they would be interested in an offer? The property was reduced so I imagine it must have been on the market for quite a while before recently getting this offer. I am not in a great position because I haven't even sold my house yet so maybe I should just forget it. I just wondered if anyone could advise on this topic if they have had a similar experience? Thanks
Until contracts have been exchanged, the property is fair game. Unless the EA has been told to stop marketing it, they should pass on details of any further interest to the vendor. Your best bet would be to leave your details with the EA in case the sale falls through, then you could step in. If you are thinking about gazumping, there is nothing legally wrong with doing so and that is between you and your conscience.
If it is under offer and everythig is going smoothly, the vendor would be VERY unlikely to accept your offer if you have not yet found a buyer.
In any case, gazumping (which is what you are thinking of doing) is a HORRIBLE thing to do. That is why the agent didn't encourage you to proceed (they must be one of the rare examples of an ethical estate agent!)
My advice is that you are likely to find many more houses that you love just as much. I broke my heart over lots of houses that I viewed, offered on and was rejected. Every time I thought there would never be another house I would like equally, but there always was.
I think you should let this one go and concentrate on selling your own property first. That way you will in a stronger position to offer on the next suitable house that comes along
or is it acceptable to contact the seller directly and ask them if they would be interested in an offer?
ho hum, it most certainly would not be acceptable if I were the person who'd already offered
Spampman is half right (he is a man, we'll let him off) it is technically still fair game - but it's anything but fair to keep showing people round in my view.
Indulge me in a little dream sequence .... Imagine you've got your house on the market, had an offer you've accepted, then you've seen a house you totally love and they accept your offer. Now imagine someone who hasn't even marketed their house yet has decided to swoop in and exceed your offer. Greedy bad vendor takes it. Bang goes any fees etc. you've paid, bang goes your perfect house - but you've got to move on because you've accepted an offer on your house and don't want to be a total sh*t to your buyers. Then when you've rushed through on another purchase you find out that the buyer who gazumped you couldn't sell theirs and you lost your dream home for nothing...
The EA didn't offer to take you round because they appear to be nice people. Rosieeee is right, it's a horrible sneaky thing to do! If it's meant to be, it'll fall through and you can have your turn then - just like I did with this house. The EA said it was under offer. I rang about another one the next month and just asked out of nowhere what had happened with it. It'd had fallen through, we viewed and offered the next day.
I may offer on one before I've sold this. But I will be letting them know that I haven't sold, it may take a while and if need be they are well within their rights to take what they can from someone else who can complete the purchase. But then that's because I'm convinced I have to stand before the special "gates" when the times comes
There is no point contacting the owner or making an offer - you are not proceedable. And presumably they are currently dealing with someone who is.
But by all means ask the EA to keep your details on file in case the current transaction falls through, that is how I got one of my properties. If it is meant to be, you will get it.
Originally posted by Annie Mall: I have only recently started looking at properties and have not even put my house on the market but have found the most amazing property that I want to buy. It is everything I want and I really don’t think I will get an opportunity like it again.
I wondered if I should contact the estate agent and ask if I would still be allowed to view the property (why did they not offer this when I originally called) or is it acceptable to contact the seller directly and ask them if they would be interested in an offer?
How do you know the property is so perfect if you haven't even viewed it?
Would you seriously offer on a property that you hadn't viewed? In my opinion, any ethical EA would not even entertain your offer without a viewing. How can you be serious?
Morally, I believe that what goes around comes around. How would you feel if you were gazumped yourself? I think Holy Cheeses is spot-on.
Let this fantasy go. If you are serious about moving, at least put your own property on the market before looking at other houses.
In any case, gazumping (which is what you are thinking of doing) is a HORRIBLE thing to do. That is why the agent didn't encourage you to proceed (they must be one of the rare examples of an ethical estate agent!)
I think you will find that EA's do not blow their sales out just to earn a couple of hundred quid! You have been listening to the headline, read the content in future!
"The greatest trick the Devil played, was convincing us all that he did not exist"
There is no benefit to the vendor to accept your offer, unless you are a cash buyer. I have seen a house I really like but there is no point making an offer until we have sold ours. Likewise, I won't be accepting offers from anyone who hasn't sold their property - what's the point? However, you can do what we have done - tell the estate agent you are very interested in the house, ask them to keep you informed if it falls through, then get busy flogging your own house.
Originally posted by immy21: [ I think you will find that EA's do not blow their sales out just to earn a couple of hundred quid! You have been listening to the headline, read the content in future!
Err, no! In 14 months of being manipulated and exploited by estate agents (as a buyer and as a seller), I only came across 3 estate agents who acted ethically, morally and within the law and code of conduct. I actually recieved a phone call from the agent marketing my property day before exchange saying " we don't believe in gazumping.... but someone just made a better offer on your flat, will you ditch the current buyer and go with her?"
I assume that you are an estate agent and that you are one of the few good ones. You have my sympathy as being a rose among many thorns is never easy but the fact is, you are in the minority. Instead of having a go at me, why don't you turn your attention to affecting changes among the rest of your profession?
It's no good moaning that you get a bad press when the evidence is clearly out there........
