House buying - WWYD?

I don't know anything about buying a house but the agent's attitude and constant moving of the goal posts would make me a) angry and b) suspicious.

I hope you get something sorted fast though ?

Ohhhhhh since I posted the agent for A has called and spoke to my H - 'Congratulations MrKatT, you two drive a very hard bargain'

?

If 500 isn't a big deal, then I don't see why they're pushing so hard for it. Tbh if they're like this at the beginning of the sale process, GOK what they'd be like by the end if you get there.

But it depends on how long you've been looking, what you can afford and what else there is on the market at that price.

Thanks Zebra, we were cross but so anxious too. I've not been able to sleep all day, was night shift last night and tonight - am going to be shattered but I don't care now ?

xx

Err... except you haven't. You've given him more money each time he's asked for it.

I don't agree with his tactics, but if I owned an Estate Agency I'd be hiring him in a heartbeat! ?

I would be totally hacked off with house A by now and would be saying, no more money and need an answer now or the deal is off. If they then faffed, I would go back to your first or second offer and leave it with them just in case something happens with house B. I do tend to go the route of cutting nose off though. It seems that either the owners or the estate agents are either desperate for the money or don't think the house price has fallen. How long has it been on the market?

I'm not sure that I would call a new kitchen "cosmetic" though!

Your final offer is that & that's it - Be assertive & say so & you want an answer by 10am tomorow. Put the ball in their court & leave it. If you keep upping the offer through demands - then they are going to keep asking more.

quite

i understand why you want the easier house - but i would be seriously hacked off with the whole thing

but i have never had a house that i havent wanted to redecorate or put new kitchen/bathrooms in

if it was me i would probably go back and say - oops - sorry - while you were fiddling on arguing over the £500 we have had an offer accepted on another property for significantly less money - we are going to have to think about it

but if your daughter is poorly and you just want it done with i can see you probably wouldnt want to do that

Exactly what I'd do too.

It's a buyers market at the moment... you're in the stronger position, due to there being more people wanting to sell, and not enough people being able to buy.

Play hardball if you really want House A. But I'd be going for House B by now.

We've not given him money each time he's asked. Our first offer was low, as we had been advised and we weren't surprised at it being refused. Today we've not increased the offer at all, despite numerous phone calls asking us to do so.

Thanks for the advice, we're over the moon to have got a lovely house and look forward to being back down south where all our family and support network are.

We'd not seen anything that compares to this house, it came on the market just over the weekend and we've still got ourselves a very good amount off the asking price, so we are happy with it.

Great news! I'm sure you want to get Charlotte settled as quick as poss.

Fair enough. That's not how I read your original post though. If I'd upped my offer each time it was rejected, I wouldn't consider that "driving a hard bargain". That's what I meant. And for the Estate Agent to suggest it was, well, is a little patronising if I'm honest. At least that's how I'd have taken it anyway (but then I've got PMT today so he'd have only needed to say hello for me to snap ?).

Glad you've got the dream house, that's the main thing. Whereabouts down South? I'm on the South Coast.

Janey and Minx (I think, sorry if wrong names), I totally agree with the principles of going back and saying that - but really we just want to move and don't want to risk losing this house. There's far too much going on just now, H is moving away from Scotland to start his job in Heathrow next week and my daughter and I are here until the house purchase goes through. We've got it for a good price and I'm looking forward to moving.

Thank you for the advice though.

Minx - it's in Ashford in Surrey, so close by to where our family are in Surbiton and close to Heathrow for H.

H grew up on the south coast, his father was also in the RN, he loves going back down to visit.

KatT, wasn't suggesting you were being foolish by upping your offer. That's the process of buying/selling houses.

I was more amused at the EA being a patronising git. ?

If it's the dream house, then you've got to do everything you can to secure it. We'll be waiting for pics when you're settled!! ?

I'm nearby in Portsmouth, Hampshire so not that far away at all. Good that you've got family nearby again.

No, I knew you weren't saying we'd been foolish, but after reading I must say I did stop and think if we had been a bit cautious.

Pics will be following as soon as we move ?.

I am so pleased you found somewhere!

When you move, I'm happy to meet up for cake & coffee.

You only learn by doing these things though don't you?

When H and I bought our first place (waaaaaaay back in the day), it was on for £93k. We offered £90k as our starting offer, thinking we'd be getting one over by saving a whole £3k! ?. We were very young and excited, bless ?.

Needless to say the vendors came back to us in under 10 minutes with a "Yes, they'd accept our offer". ?.

Although I bitterly regret not playing hardball at the time (in my defence I didn't even understand the concept way back then, but have made up for it since!), I'd fallen in love with the house before I'd even entered the forecourt. You do whatever you have to! ?.