Acting for the seller of a house, our foremost role is obviously to do the best to suit their needs and requirements. With a duty of care to buyers as well, there is nothing more frustrating than having honest customers missing out time and again on their dream homes.
I can sympathise with this personally. I’ve tried to buy a home for my family and lost out to investors or “too good to be true” higher offers as well. It’s a learning experience though that’s for sure. The mistakes I made first time round I didn’t again. Here’s what makes the difference that can hopefully increase your chances to successfully bid for the property you love.
Find out what the seller of the properties situation is. Do they need a quick sale? If they do, don’t think offering low will help, it won’t. Simply offer as good a figure as you can afford but have solicitors lined up in advance and a mortgage survey (if necessary) ready to instruct the very same day. Show proof of your intentions too! Don’t think that just saying it will be enough because it won’t. The agent you are buying from need to be able to show their client that you are the right buyer for them!
If the seller doesn’t need a quick sale because they haven’t found a property themselves then firstly consider whether you can live with the uncertainty. If you can, then explain that you can wait for them, offer again a sensible price, prove your credentials and ask all parties to at least open a file with solicitors so there is a degree of proven intention. If you are comfortable with this scenario then be aware that you’ll need to be a first time buyer, investor, in rented accommodation or will have sold to someone who is also non dependant and willing to wait.
You’d be amazed how many times the highest offers is not the offer accepted. Circumstances of both parties mean so much and when circumstances gel then anything is possible!
