Property Buying - Protocol

[disneys]

If you are emailing to make over asking price offers on properties you haven’t seen , they will ignore you because I imagine they will think it’s spam !! (Because no offence but that is so strange and please don’t buy a house this way!)

call the agent , we called a few in the area we were looking in and told them what we were looking for , what our max budget was and they had some properties that weren’t on right move so sent us emails with lots of details so that’s a top tip .. then call to book in to see the properties you like the look of

Call to make an offer too .. you might have a bit of back and forth with the vendor but I’d always make an asking price or lower … negotiate

when we made the offer we had to give the agent our AIP and proof of deposit (they accepted a screenshot of our online banking) and then once the offer was accepted we sorted out a solicitor etc

please Please view a property before you buy it !!!

 

[Gloria Rostron]

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.

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

 

[jhonsonrob]

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!

Yes, You are right. Without visiting how someone can buy a home?

 

[Tree_]

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.

You need to at least call and have a chat with them. They probably think you're a time waster. As a vendor its a sellers market i wouldn't consider an offer from someone randomly emailing who hasn't seen the house to be honest.

 

[LennyBriscoe]

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

I wouldn’t say you had to a lick at all tbh especially not to begin with. I’m sensing the sticking point is having to go to a stranger’s home and look around? A short amount of discomfort is much better than buying a property you haven’t seen imo.

Our flat is for sale and I hate viewings! It’s necessary though. And more often than not the person has asked if they can bring a parent/friend along and I have no problem with that as long as everyone wears masks. They’ve arranged it by contacting the Agent and asking them to contact us to make an appointment but I’m sure a lot of people arrange it all themselves.

 

[Lola123]

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

Don’t do that? Just be yourself and ask the questions, it’s not fair to be fake

 

[JoeBloggs]

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

But what have they done to warrant that? They haven’t replied to an email which really is out of the norm, none offers on a house via email that they haven’t seen before. They most likely think of you as a time waster.

House buying isn’t as simple as putting in an offer and getting it.

Also house sale, well near me anyway, are off the scale. I’ve done 5 this week at work when I do maybe one a month normally (I’m not an estate agent).

 

[Be More Pacific]

What a strange thread

 

[disneys]

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

Our estate agents were absolutely fabulous , they kept us in the loop more than our solicitor did about the progression of the purchase .. when we sell up , we will request the same agent again because he was great

they’re not all holes , please don’t be nasty and leave a bad review unless you genuinely have bad service

this thread is making me unexplainably cross , it sounds like you have a weird phobia of estate agents but they are a necessary part of the house buying process … if you can’t ring an estate agent and go and view a house then you’re probably not ready or mature enough to buy one ..

im out of here , good luck house hunting

 

[Lola123]

Our estate agents were absolutely fabulous , they kept us in the loop more than our solicitor did about the progression of the purchase .. when we sell up , we will request the same agent again because he was great

they’re not all holes , please don’t be nasty and leave a bad review unless you genuinely have bad service

this thread is making me unexplainably cross , if you can’t ring an estate agent and go and view a house then you’re probably not ready or mature enough to buy one ..

im out of here , good luck house hunting

Me too disney! It’s a very odd thread with almost no point

 

[disneys]

Me too disney! It’s a very odd thread with almost no point

thread summary : don’t be a creep , the end

 

[WilmaHun]

I work in conveyancing.

Firstly - I would strongly advise viewing! For one, estate agents are VERY good at taking photos which make rooms look bigger than they actually are. Secondly, there will be so much you can find on a viewing that you won't see on the online ad - cracks/evidence of damp/etc. Remember - an estate agent is working for the seller to sell the property, so they won't list anything which is likely to put off a potential buyer. It's one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make, so viewing really is essential.

Secondly - an agent will take you more seriously if you view first! Then they know you're not likely to pull out later down the line if something is uncovered which you might have seen had you had done an initial viewing.

You can put an offer in the second you've viewed the house if you want to - but remember, sellers may want to get ALL the viewings out the way before accepting an offer so they might take your offer and wait to see if any others come in.

I'd recommend phoning the agent rather than emailing - it's much faster! The housing market is moving rapidly at the moment, so every single day counts when trying to secure a property! They really are being sold incredibly fast.

You're right. I think I'll have to bite my tongue and a lick. Then when I get the house, leave the estate agency a bad review.

There really would be no need for this at all, judging from what you've said on this thread you're incredibly naïve to the house buying process. Wanting to place an offer, by email, when having not even seen the property is absurd - the estate agent has probably ignored you because what you've done is out of the ordinary and they're concerned you're a time waster. They're working for the seller, NOT the buyer, so they need to make sure any offers they put to them are sensible, and legit.

"a licking" isn't necessary, but you do have to showcase yourself as a good potential buyer. It's really not as simple as putting and offer in and getting the property. There will be minimum of 10 others at any given time looking at that property, and you need to showcase why you're the most suitable option.

 

[Gloria Rostron]

There will be minimum of 10 others at any given time looking at that property, and you need to showcase why you're the most suitable option

The way I am thinking of going forward is saying I am able to move in quickly but I can also wait a few weeks, as I have flexible circumstances with where I am at the moment. I can offer the full asking price and above. I already have an Agreement In Principle with my bank. I guess I was hesitant to mention the AIP as it felt like I was having to defend myself on affordability, which is certainly no issue!

I really hate the way it works with estate agents, if there are no buyers then there is no commission, they ought to realise that. My personal opinion is as long as I have them money then what is the problem and some houses sit on the !wrist desperate to be sold. I see that I will have to hold my tongue on this until the sale goes through!

I'd only leave a bad review if I got bad service. I did view a house last month (the estate agent said the seller would only move to the next stage if I'd viewed it) and the estate agent didn't seem to know much about the property at all. It was a terraced and he couldn't tell me exactly where the garden started!

I'm not used to being a submissive customer and as I said I am new to the process. Hence me asking on here about it

 

[WilmaHun]

The way I am thinking of going forward is saying I am able to move in quickly but I can also wait a few weeks,

You are aware that the conveyancing process can take months too? Depending on enquiries/whether the property is registered at HM Land Registry/searches can take a few weeks to come back (you'll need local & drainage searches as a minimum if getting a mortgage).

We tell our clients to expect a minimum of 6-8 weeks for the conveyancing process to complete in order for them to get their keys. I have known some purchases to go on for nearly a year though!

Also, you need to be aware that although an AIP is a good indicator of what you can borrow - it is not a guarantee that the bank will loan you that full amount. Once it goes to full application and more in depth credit checks etc are done, banks can decide to offer you a lot less than the AIP stated.

 

[Be More Pacific]

What an attitude to have!

Good luck in advance to any potential seller/estate agent/solicitor/lender involved in this

Speaking as someone who worked in the mortgage industry for 24 years, I would be on the edge of my seat waiting for a customer like you to come along

 

[Gloria Rostron]

You are aware that the conveyancing process can take months too? Depending on enquiries/whether the property is registered at HM Land Registry/searches can take a few weeks to come back (you'll need local & drainage searches as a minimum if getting a mortgage).

We tell our clients to expect a minimum of 6-8 weeks for the conveyancing process to complete in order for them to get their keys. I have known some purchases to go on for nearly a year though!

Also, you need to be aware that although an AIP is a good indicator of what you can borrow - it is not a guarantee that the bank will loan you that full amount. Once it goes to full application and more in depth credit checks etc are done, banks can decide to offer you a lot less than the AIP stated.

Oh wow, I didn't even know what a conveyancing process was until I read this thread. 6-8 weeks would be fine with me. I had no idea they did drainage searches. Hoping that I won't be waiting a year.

A lot of the properties I've looked at are way below the amount the bank has offered me, so I have a bit of leeway with the AIP. I've never been over drawn or had any CCJs so fingers crossed it should work in my favour. You've opened my eyes to a lot more than I thought it would entail (even though I knew it wouldn't be easy). Thank you.

 

[Giggling Squid]

This thread is weird.

Why would you look to spend £00000s on something you’ve never seen before? Madness

you don’t need to “lick a and leave a bad review” you just need to approach them looking like you have the first clue about buying property.
Conveyancing takes WEEKS. Even as a cash buyer not needing a mortgage with no chain there will be a lot of paper work. And if there’s a chain, well you’re at the mercy of who knows how many other deals going through. I’ve got a friend who’s been waiting to exchange on a house for 8 months now as the sellers haven’t found anywhere.

and you’ll need surveys, especially if there’s a mortgage required which again can take week

 

[Be More Pacific]

Didn't realise you needed a solicitor? What?!? Did you just think someone from the bank would meet you in a dark car park with a suitcase full of money?

This has got to be a wind up surely?

 

[rlouisep9]

The way I am thinking of going forward is saying I am able to move in quickly but I can also wait a few weeks, as I have flexible circumstances with where I am at the moment. I can offer the full asking price and above. I already have an Agreement In Principle with my bank. I guess I was hesitant to mention the AIP as it felt like I was having to defend myself on affordability, which is certainly no issue!

I really hate the way it works with estate agents, if there are no buyers then there is no commission, they ought to realise that. My personal opinion is as long as I have them money then what is the problem and some houses sit on the !wrist desperate to be sold. I see that I will have to hold my tongue on this until the sale goes through!

I'd only leave a bad review if I got bad service. I did view a house last month (the estate agent said the seller would only move to the next stage if I'd viewed it) and the estate agent didn't seem to know much about the property at all. It was a terraced and he couldn't tell me exactly where the garden started!

I'm not used to being a submissive customer and as I said I am new to the process. Hence me asking on here about it

I'd mention the AIP because then the estate agents and seller know you have made the first step. I wouldn't say it was 'defending yourself on affordability', they need to know you can actually afford your offer! In order to get the house marked as Sold STC we had to quickly provide evidence of our deposit, AIP and bank statements.

The EA that showed us round the house we are buying didn't know all the answers either, but went away and spoke to the seller to confirm the bits he didn't answer on the same day.

I'm a week into the process since our offer was accepted, no chain either side but wanting to move in weeks isn't realistic unfortunately. I expect if things go smoothly we may have a competition date around the start of October, but most of it is out of our hands

 

[Giggling Squid]

Oh, and you’ll have a load of fees - solicitor fees, you’ll need to find a solicitor to do your conveyancing…