Property Buying - Protocol

[Gloria Rostron]

Hello all. I would like the advice from people who have bought properties in the last 5 years or so. I am a first time buyer. I have been looking at various properties online and for the ones which tick all of the right boxes, I've been emailing the agent and simply saying I have seen the details and I would like to make an offer of XXX amount, usually above the asking price.

I am finding that the estate agents aren't responding to my emails, even with new listings. I am wondering if, as a first time buyer and I may not understand the etiquette that my offers aren't being taken seriously. I'm really not bothered about spending time viewing, as I plan on decorating and refurbishing to my taste and I can live with any problems no matter how major, as long as it ticks three boxes:- is a house, not a flat | has a garden | is in the location I want.

What was the first step you took in buying your house? Thanks for your replies.

 

[Medusah80]

I am currently in the process of buying my first property,I found that E.A. did not respond to emails so ended up calling and requesting viewings.

 

[Heather343]

I've recently bought a house and you need to call and make a viewing. They also want you to have a mortgage application in principle so they know you can actually get a mortgage for the property. They won't be responding as they won't be seeing you as serious.

I can't imagine how you could buy a house without even visiting it first!

 

[Kim Mild]

We've sold and bought recently, and I've booked viewings through email / phone calls. If someone has viewed then someone has seen them and the sellers/ agents know there is an actual potential buyer, rather than a fantasist behind a computer screen . Sometimes they ask for proof you are in a position to proceed like mortgage in principle .
I know covid has made things a bit different in terms of viewings.

I would suggest getting in touch with agents so they know you are a potential customer and going on their alert lists . Make sure you are emailing the correct address as it may be goito a generic mailbox that doesn't get monitored often .

Have you considered purchasing at auction?

Good luck.

 

[Cloak]

I would strongly advise viewing first! The whole vibe can be completely different from pictures, you’d need to check out so many things to make sure they’re up to scratch. What about scoping out neighbours as well?

it’s a huge purchase, you’ve got to see it before making an offer!

 

[standupsitdown]

You need to view. For your own sake. There’s a lot you won’t notice from photos or Google streetview.

If you don’t view and just randomly ring up and offer everyone will assume you’re a time waster. If you view you get a chance to build rapport and they get a chance to suss you out.

 

[Gloria Rostron]

I am currently in the process of buying my first property,I found that E.A. did not respond to emails so ended up calling and requesting viewings.

It's rather rude, isn't it? We are the customer at the end of the day and common courtesy should apply. Thanks for sharing. I'll try calling tomorrow.

 

[Kim Mild]

It's rather rude, isn't it? We are the customer at the end of the day and common courtesy should apply. Thanks for sharing. I'll try calling tomorrow.

When I was in the process of buying, earlier this year, the estate agents were working from home, so when I emailed the office ( it was a generic address for my local branch) someone would read it ,and not pass on the message to the agent dealing with my property. When she went on , it didn't look like there were any new messages for her so she didn't respond.

 

[Gloria Rostron]

Thanks all. I do have an Agreement In Principle, I mentioned this to one seller but onl really to bulk out the Email. I'll be sure to mention this in future. I don't think I could bear an auction, getting so close and losing it. I find it anxiety inducing seeing all of these properties I like and knowing that they could slip through my fingers, this is why I want to put offers in straight away. Interesting point about there being nobody in the office, they should say so on their website if this is the case. The buyer is the customer and shouldn't have to go chasing as if applying for a job.

 

[Kim Mild]

Thanks all. I do have an Agreement In Principle, I mentioned this to one seller but onl really to bulk out the Email. I'll be sure to mention this in future. I don't think I could bear an auction, getting so close and losing it. I find it anxiety inducing seeing all of these properties I like and knowing that they could slip through my fingers, this is why I want to put offers in straight away. Interesting point about there being nobody in the office, they should say so on their website if this is the case. The buyer is the customer and shouldn't have to go chasing as if applying for a job.

The auctions in our local area were online bids , so basically you typed an offer in and if someone did a higher offer , you increased yours before the deadline ( I never bought at auction, although I did consider an auction property)

Edit - I would only go above the asking price on a regular sale if it said " offers over". Otherwise asking price or a bit below, but make it clear to the agent you would be able to increase should someone else make a higher offer

 

[rlouisep9]

I had an offer accepted on a property last week. We booked the viewing over the phone and also rung to make our offer, only followed that up with an email so they had our offer in writing.

I assume you aren't getting a response because emailing an offer for a property you haven't viewed doesn't seem like a serious offer, especially when the market is still very competitive at the moment.

Also even if you aren't particularly picky about what you want, you still need to go and see it, it's going to be one of the biggest purchases of your life! There's a lot you can't get from photos, this can also work in your favour if you find out some work needs to be done etc as you can then negotiate the price in your offer, rather than guessing what you might want to pay off a picture.

 

[Lola123]

Always always ring, it’s much simpler and the agent can book you in then and there. They will ask you questions about your situation etc. All I will say is (we’re currently going through this process) and the valuations have been the sticking point. Making an offer above the asking price is not advisable unless you’re in a bidding war. Go under and then if they’re not willing to meet you in the middle you can just give the asking price
Also check out Martin Lewis as he has loads of good tips, has a whole webpage on what questions to ask when you go for viewings

 

[Clickbait]

It's rather rude, isn't it? We are the customer at the end of the day and common courtesy should apply. Thanks for sharing. I'll try calling tomorrow.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but they probably think you’re a crank. I’ve never heard of anyone not wanting to view a property before paying the most amount of money you’ve possibly ever spent on anything.

You’ll know already that you like the look of it and that you can redecorate and replace things, but the photos taken are always flattering and often rooms are a lot smaller than they appear. Plus they’re not going to photograph damp on the walls or cracks in the ceiling. These might be nothing or they could hint at something more sinister. Yes, that should be picked up in a survey but would you want to go through paying for searches and a survey to find out something that would be obvious if you’d gone to view?

 

[judgejohndeed]

You definitely need to view before you buy. There will be problems in some houses that will cost thousands of pounds to fix? Noisy neighbours, noisy roads, no parking, etc etc. I can’t believe anyone would be happy to buy a house without viewing it. Some people even do multiple viewings before making an offer. So you’re probably not getting replies because they think you’re taking the piss

 

[Magee]

Recently sold a new build bought off plan and currently buying an older house; the homeowners alliance website is fantastic for explaining a lot. We missed a lot of the usual process buying straight from a developer, no estate agent, no bids or mass viewings, so had to learn all the etiquette! Definitely ring and register you interest, get on the mailing list as you’ll see these before they go to the general market. Get your docs and agreement prepared! Good luck x

 

[Gloria Rostron]

Thanks everyone for your wisdom. I like the idea of online bidding , means I wouldn't have had a wasted journey. I'll probably call and arrange a viewing but it will be hard knowing all the time I am viewing it, someone else could be buying it. Now off too Google what a crank is.

 

[Lola123]

Thanks everyone for your wisdom. I like the idea of online bidding , means I wouldn't have had a wasted journey. I'll probably call and arrange a viewing but it will be hard knowing all the time I am viewing it, someone else could be buying it. Now off too Google what a crank is.

If you register your interest they usually let everyone go round even if offers come in, they usually tell you how many people are interested when you go/if you ask

 

[JoeBloggs]

It's rather rude, isn't it? We are the customer at the end of the day and common courtesy should apply. Thanks for sharing. I'll try calling tomorrow.

Remember that they get their fees from the seller not you, so if there is lots of interest, someone emailing an offer and not viewing is potentially a waste of their time. In their eyes you are not the customer, the seller is.

I agree, you need to see somewhere, listings are not always truthful. They also need to see you are real and in a position to buy.

 

[Sheabutter]

Thanks all. I do have an Agreement In Principle, I mentioned this to one seller but onl really to bulk out the Email. I'll be sure to mention this in future. I don't think I could bear an auction, getting so close and losing it. I find it anxiety inducing seeing all of these properties I like and knowing that they could slip through my fingers, this is why I want to put offers in straight away. Interesting point about there being nobody in the office, they should say so on their website if this is the case. The buyer is the customer and shouldn't have to go chasing as if applying for a job.

Photos can be heavily edited!! The dimensions can look completely different in person if they use a wide angle lens, which agencies do! Also, a lot of places do up a room with editing tools to show you how it COULD look, not how it does look. By visiting multiple places you can get a feel for what you like vs what you don’t like. One thing you might want to learn is which direction windows are facing. If you like having natural light this is

I also wouldn’t spend money on overbidding bc you might want upgrades when it comes to doing the actual build out. Save as much money as you can while buying the property! The labor will drive up the cost of any work you want done. Example: I had serious contractors give me an estimate of $5,000 to paint ONE room! Shopping around is an imperative

 

[Tublet83]

Just to say from the offset, I can’t stand estate agents, but you have to keep them sweet to get viewings etc. Play the game and be nice, if you act difficult there is a lot of demand out there and they will move to the next person. You aren’t the customer in all of this their client is the seller who will provide them a fee.

Ditto on phone calls, and get yourself on their list for new properties.

100% view them, photos and details can be so misleading, and I didn’t think a seller/agent will take you seriously unless you view. I know I wouldn’t.