[Closed] Gazumping...what would the assembled STW masses do???

Think of it this way. If you had one viewing, and accepted an asking price offer, no hassle, straightforward, you'd be inwardly delighted.

The person that first viewed it should have offered the asking price, but thought they'd try it on with a low offer. Chances are they will try it on again and knock you down via the survey, so you may end up with more hassle and not an extra 10K in your pocket.

The only thing I might do is make double sure that your actual buyer is ready to proceed and use the fact you are being deluged with bigger offers to get the sale completed without delay.

I bloody hate house buying/selling…

Me too. And hopefully, if you stick with your straightforward buyer, it will teach the other lot a little bit about misjudging the market with lowball offers.

I'd be concerned they are offering high now to win it, then push you down the road to the point of exchanging & find a reason why they can't give you that extra £10k over the asking price they offered.

Maybe i'm just a cynic though.

That's a tough call. Obviously morally you have accepted an offer and should stick with it but £10k is a lot of money and at this stage its real, cash-in-your-pocket money. If you can get over the moral bit then the worry is whether this seller will mess you around. they've already shown they are happy to play a bit loose with the rules. if it does fall through it sounds like the house will be an easy sell if it needs to go back on. How much of a pain would that be? Being able to tell the seller that you'll put it back on the market if they mess you around will sharpen their focus. Oh and you have accepted an offer so you are a monster and a baby robin killer for even considering it 🙂

If you've got what you want then just move on. If you leave it more than 6 months then you'll be in a falling market and having to accept a significantly lower price.

martinhutch has it nailed there.

Push your first buyers along to complete quickly and take comfort from knowing you did the right thing.  Hopefully the good karma will then follow you to completing on your purchase of your new house.

If you leave it more than 6 months then you’ll be in a falling market and having to accept a significantly lower price.

That's a lot of money. I'd take some advice from your solicitor or agent. People wouldn't think twice about screwing you over so look after yourself and remove personal feelings from the situation, it's a business transaction.

I take it you love in England? The process is different there I am told. I'm glad I live in Scotland and we don't have to go through quite the same process, my sister lives in England and got gazumped, house chain collapsed, buyer pulled out last minute etc... The whole process seems to be a bit more fragile in England.

Think of the whole thing as business. £10k pays a lot of your bills for the move.

Good luck.

Also depends whether you have found a house to move into, and how prepared you are to risk that side of the transaction when this new lot play games, muck you around and then force you to stick it back on the market in a few month's time.

remove personal feelings from the situation, it’s a business transaction.

Agree with this, but there would be significant value for me, and I suspect the OP, in minimising the hassle involved with the sale. The other lot seem to be treating the offer process like an Ebay auction, and bypassing the agent in the first place should ring alarm bells. I wonder if they have an offer accepted on another property with your agent?

I was in a similar situation a few months back. I'd looked the guy in the eye and shaken his hand so it was his and the higher offer was turned down.

You were happy with the price it went on at, you were happy when you were offered that price. I'd stick with them personally.

I'd go with the offer you accepted from second viewers, because I expect the "chancer" to drop their £10k+ over your wanted price after the survey, for things that won't cost £10k to sort out.

I’m glad I live in Scotland and we don’t have to go through quite the same process,

Really? Offers Over is properly stupid, and you could still get done like this anyway

I would also stick with the offer I had accepted(and maybe quietly ring the agent to see how their survey/mortgage is coming along).

I'd rather sell  to viewer 3,4,5,or 6 than the first chancer.

Gazumping causes a lot of suffering and financial pain, as said with potential for chain to collapse and people are shelving out a lot of money in the process. I hate it and wouldn't want to inflict that on someone I'd accepted an offer on.

I guess it would depend if you really need the money though. If you feel you really want the extra cash, I'd be honest to the accepted offer saying you're considering accepting a higher offer and need the money. Maybe they'll up their offer, though not fair really.

Personally I can't see why this hasn't been made illegal in England. Also there needs to be a lot better protection from people making offers, being accepted, and then pulling out because they can't get the mortgage.

Did the accepted offer request you take it off the market? First thing I'd do especially at asking price.

And yeah, can you be sure the better offer can actually go through with the deal?

Yeah if the higher offer were guaranteed I'd certainly be tempted but in the situation you describe I'd go with the offer you've already accepted

Test the gazumper’s commitment by asking them to pay a £10k up front deposit that’s held by a solicitor and non refundable in the event they try to renegotiate the price or withdraw from the sale.

I got gazumped by some throbber during my last move.

If it happens to me again I will put putting in an even higher offer, then pulling out of the sale of the last possible second to waste the greedy ****s time and money on solicitors fees.  People who do this are absolute helmets IMHO.

(actually I wouldn't 'cause I'm not a complete ****, but you get my point)

Don't bring morals into it, It is, unfortunately, the rules of the game in this country. Part of the negotiation and risk and 'nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, signed, sealed and delivered'.

However I do wonder how this is legally acceptable. By accepting an offer you have formed a legally binding contract with someone, even if it was verbally, so to just turn your back on that if someone comes in with a higher offer is breach of contract. But that little bit of law seems to be readily ignored in this application.

If it were me I'd go back to the person I'd agreed the price with and give them the opportunity to raise their offer, but ultimately if they couldn't get close (i'd probably give them a few grand benefit of the doubt) then I'd go with the higher offer. Don't kid yourself that if the tables were reversed they wouldn't do it to you.

By accepting an offer you have formed a legally binding contract with someone, even if it was verbally,

Not worth the paper it isn't written on.

s.2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989

By accepting an offer you have formed a legally binding contract with someone, even if it was verbally,

😂😂😂

It all depends if you are a man of your word or more akin to something that I need to scrape off the sole of my shoe, with a stick, wearing gloves.

Choose your buyer and give them a timescale (six weeks?) to complete. Explain the plan to all interested parties

Don’t kid yourself that if the tables were reversed they wouldn’t do it to you.

Guy we bought our house off turned down subsequent higher offers, he told us he’d agreed a sale with us and as far as he was concerned he’d given his word on it. I believe I’d do exactly the same. The “don’t be a dick” rule of life

remove personal feelings from the situation, it’s a business transaction.

I don't agree with this, buisness like life should be conducted im an honourable fashion. I'd go with the accepted offer. But make sure the buyer knows of the interest in the property.

Don't be a dick.

Gazumping and gazundering are both dickish behaviour.

Guy we bought our house off turned down subsequent higher offers, he told us he’d agreed a sale with us and as far as he was concerned he’d given his word on it. I believe I’d do exactly the same. The “don’t be a dick” rule of life

Pretty much this. If you’ve agreed the sale then go through with it.

By accepting an offer you have formed a legally binding contract with someone, even if it was verbally,

Even in Scotland this really isn't the case anymore...

Choose your buyer and give them a timescale (six weeks?) to complete. Explain the plan to all interested parties

This sounds like a fair plan. I'd then give the original buyer first refusal and agree a reasonable timescale.

ask the gazumper for 20k over and see what they do.

Just remember, if you go for the higher offer, that the next time someone takes something or some money from you by being dishonest;  the appropriate reaction can only be to pat them on the shoulder, smile admiringly at them and say "well played, well played". 😉

Hold a contest.

The first one to knock your front door with a bag of cash in excess of your asking price gets the keys.

They don't sound like very nice people - do you really trust them to complete the sale ?  Is the massive legal hassle and stain on your kharma worth £10K ? Another vote here for "Dont be a Dick".

This happened to me when I sold my house in Rossendale. A young woman viewed and I told her through the agent that we expected lots of interest and would accept only the asking price. She offered £4000 below. We received an offer for the full price and I accepted it. The young woman came back offering £2000 over. I told the agent I had already made an agreement with the second buyer and wouldn't be drawn into gazumping. 22 years later I'm happy I did that.

Looks like no survey has yet taken place, so the person who bid you accepted isn't financially out of pocket?  Impact looks like it is just time, i.e. they will need to continue their house search.

Its not a nice thing to do, but £10.5k is likely to really help out in a house move. I'd be asking them to put the money into your solicitors hands. I'd also be asking for confirmation that they have been accepted for a mortgage and would also be putting in place strict timescales for completion.

It is a dickish thing to do. I wouldn't feel nice about it. I'd like to think I'd be morally strong, but in all honesty I know how much the money would help me so would be persuaded.

Being a greedy selfish git I'd also be thinking how much would be used for the move and what new bike I could have!

I was in a similar situation a few months back. I’d looked the guy in the eye and shaken his hand so it was his and the higher offer was turned down.

This for me x1000

I’d go with the offer you accepted from second viewers, because I expect the “chancer” to drop their £10k+ over your wanted price after the survey, for things that won’t cost £10k to sort out.

This is very likely to happen!

Don’t bring morals into it

Why not? If I agreed a price with someone then I will stick to that agreement. I asked for x, I got x and I am happy. Its money grabbing people like you who are making the whole house buying shenanigans a whole lot messier and stressful.

Don’t kid yourself that if the tables were reversed they wouldn’t do it to you.

That shouldn't have anything to do with it. You sound like a 5 year old squabbling in the playground "yeah but miss, he did it first so why can't I? Its not FAIR!!"

It all depends if you are a man of your word or more akin to something that I need to scrape off the sole of my shoe, with a stick, wearing gloves.

I think that statement should end the thread.... 😉

I would be very sceptical of a bidder who behaved like that. Even if I was to consider it i would ask for proof of funding first.

The suggestion that you request a 6 wee period to exchange from your chosen bidder is sensible. in fact, i would tell t hem you have received a higher offer but you have elected to give them a fair opportunity to exchange (and complete).

Of course, your chosen bidder could wake up one morning and decide your house is not for them, right up until they sign the paperwork.....always try to have a plan b, and that might be the second bidder.

The over bidder may well play you to get the offer accepted then chip at the 11th hour, to less than you had before. their behaviour suggests they ver wel might.

A good agent should be able to manage this process for you.

and no, until a pen hits the paper, there is no contract.

My foolproof advice for house buying/selling.....

Take an instant dislike to everyone you meet in the process - it saves time.

You won't get a better real-life example of the Tory dream - one where brinkmanship, bluster and waving banknotes around before reneging on promises more often than not wins over making someone a straight and honest offer.

Your game-player is unlikely to stop playing games once you let your steady buyer go - this then puts them in a position of power.......

I am in the moral camp as well.  YOu have an agreement.  stick to it.  I also doubt the chances of you actually getting the extra money

We were "invited" to gazump by an estate agent showing us round a house.

I said "I wouldn't be very comfortable doing that" and we promptly left.

We really struggled to buy a house, missing out on 3 (after refusing the above) before we bought ours, but I'm still happy with our decision.

Gazumping is a properly horrible thing to do to someone, so don't do it or allow it to be done.  And, as above, they're likely to give you grief later on in the process.

I've heard rumours that gazundering is back.

If it were me i would stick with the deal.  Sure £10k is a load of money, but your first offer was a chancer and is likely to try and chip you if so much as a pebble is out of place on the driveway as part of the survey.

I would make your exsisting buyers aware of the offer over and above theirs to encourage a speedy hassle free exchange however.  Maybe its just me, bt having been gazumpt under similar circumstances before, personally if i was happy the first deal was progressable and of sound footing i wouldn't want to partake ...

Don’t kid yourself that if the tables were reversed they wouldn’t do it to you.

Nice to hear from several posters that wobbliscott is wrong in this regard. 🙂

Gazumping is far from honourable.

The question the OP and others, need to ask themselves would they like to be gazumped themselves? Once you've reached an agreement with someone, then stick to it.

I'm very much of the mindset that we stick with the original offer and "Don't be a Dick".  The wife is taking more persuading as it is a lot of money.

I completely agree that the over offerers will end being a massive PITA.

The survey happened this morning, seemed to go well.

I'm happy to let the people we've accepted an offer from know we've had a higher offer if only to make sure they don't take their foot off the gas, if they choose to up their offer then that's their decision but we won't be asking for it.

To be honest I just want it to go through smoothly with the minimum of stress and in a timely manner.

You got the price you asked for, the other party has spent plenty of time and money they really don't want to loose.

With my skeptical hat on if they're willing to offer £10k above now and screw someone over what's to stop them offering £20k less on exchange day? thus either forcing you to accept or risk the whole chain collapsing.

We had it the other way around with the people we were buying off demanding more money - had to stump up an extra £5k or risk losing the house and the money sunk in solicitors fees. The English house buying process is a horrible one, there's a fortune at stake and nothing's certain until moving day.

I’m very much of the mindset that we stick with the original offer and “Don’t be a Dick”.  The wife is taking more persuading as it is a lot of money.

It is a lot of money but you have good reason to believe that you won't actually get it. I'm of the view that if you've shaken hands, then you stick to the deal.

Don’t bring morals into it, It is, unfortunately, the rules of the game in this country. Part of the negotiation and risk and ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, signed, sealed and delivered’.

Unfortunately, true.

You've said the 9ffer is acceptable, taken its off the market, but it's nothing done and dusted until the ink dries.

Sime strong opinions! But I think in the world of property you need to look after yourself.

1.You could think of that financially and take the gazumping bid.

2.You could look at it morally and honour the deal.

3.You could look at the stress/hassle and honour the deal.

You need to decide what is most important to you and ignore us "experts"!

10k might be a drop in the ocean or a life changer.

I still think the Scottish system is better and yes offers over isn't perfect but generally when a deal is reached that's it.

Good luck OP. hope it works out for you and you ate happy at the end of the day. That's the most important thing!

We were “invited” to gazump by an estate agent showing us round a house.

This really pisses me off, and many estate agents do it and advertise on the boards "Sale Agreed" or "Sold" together with "Further Offers Accepted", or similar.

Though estate agents make the money on commission mostly from selling mortgages and insurance. Is it more benefit to get a higher price or to just get more people in the door potentially signing up to a mortgage even if they don't end up with the house they wanted, so long as they end up with something.

Don't accept the gazumper. Morally wrong and will almost certainly lead you to a world of pain when the individual in question drops the price at the last minute..

Though estate agents make the money on commission mostly from selling mortgages and insurance.

do they?

"Nice to hear from several posters that wobbliscott is wrong in this regard. "

Not wrong. Just a different opinion than most on this forum on this particular subject and that is fair enough. It's easy for others to give an opinion about how to do things when they've got no involvement but they haven't got £10k on the table. I've been gazumped, I've never gazumped others, but would I? depends like a lot of things in life. But it's not actually £10k is it....it's about £30 - £40k by the time you've added on your additional interest on the loan and stamp duty and other costs. Go on if it were a few grand it wouldn't bother me, but at £10k+?...I can't afford to give away that much, but if others can then that is fair enough.

Don't get me wrong, gazumping is deplorable, but a fact of life, but I went into the house buying process with my eyes wide open understanding the risks and knew the deal wasn't done until the contracts were exchanged. The problem is people attached emotion to buying a house that they wouldn't if they were buying a car or some other product. They're quite happy to play used car salesmen off against eachother and go back on car deals at the very last minute, but when it comes to a house they somehow look at it differently...I don't. It's an object.

Going in low and raising the price is no indication whatsoever of whether one interested party is more credible than any other. It is just as likely the person you've accepted the lower offer from could pull out of the deal last minute. Going in low and working your offer up is a perfectly normal, sensible and legitimate tactic. Far more transparent and honourable than someone going in higher, getting the price accepted then start trying to erode the deal once they've got you over a barrel once you've turned off all the other interested parties and it's more of a PITA to pull out of the deal and put your house back on the market. You can't trust anyone in this, anyone can be just waiting to exploit you - you have no way of telling who will and who wont.

"Going in low and working your offer up is a perfectly normal, sensible and legitimate tactic"

The sooner that notion is quashed the better.

Ask yourself how you would feel if you were gazumped. If you are fine with it, then accept the higher offer, if not, stick.

Also, £10k is a lot of money on it's own for many people. It is quite a lot of money if your house is selling for circa £150k, but it is nothing really if you are selling your house for £500k.

At the moment I’m in the ‘you have nothing without a contract’ camp, having had a buyer pull out, the day of exchanging contracts, after 6 months of trying to get the deal through. (Timing was really lucky for the buyer actually, says he unexpectedly lost his job the day before, a Sunday. While that is sad, would have been a whole lot worse if it had been another 48 hours on eh?)

what makes you so sure the asking price offerers won’t screw you later down the line?

Also, £10k is a lot of money on it’s own for many people. It is quite a lot of money if your house is selling for circa £150k, but it is nothing really if you are selling your house for £500k.

it's still the same £10K!  It might be less significant in proportion to overall finances, but it will still buy the exact same number of bikes, credit card bills etc,

It's that sort of holiday dosh/bank of never-never/ time value of money that's helped inflate house prices in this country!

“Going in low and working your offer up is a perfectly normal, sensible and legitimate tactic”

The sooner that notion is quashed the better.

How else are you going to find the market price of something unique (ish*) with limited competition and an optimistic starting price?

* yeah, I know

what makes you so sure the asking price offerers won’t screw you later down the line?

You can't be. But you can make an educated guess based on their behaviour to date, and the behaviour of the would-be gazumpers.

Sealed bid auctions work quite well up here.

Saves the knobishness of if the first bid doesn't offend it's too high.

If your first offer offends you may find that your noo longer considered a legit bidder

I would never accept a higher offer if I’d already committed to a buyer. Sure there’s nothing legally stopping you doing it but I’m too am firmly in the ‘don’t be a dick’ camp.

The sooner that notion is quashed the better.

It's not a bad tactic, but people who routinely employ it should be mindful that they risk losing the property if they dick around too much with low offers. As long as you're happy to walk away and miss out (which this lot don't appear to be) then go for it.

That's the beauty of 'gaming the system' - occasionally you'll lose out.

do they?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/dodgy-estate-agent-tactics-leave-buyers-sellers-pocket/

There’s a joke among estate agents that they no longer sell houses – instead, they increasingly profit from mortgage broking and conveyancing services, causing buyers and sellers to lose out.

“It’s all about selling mortgages these days,” said Jenny*, who has worked in the industry for 10 years at a large chain based in the South East.

It’s not a bad tactic

Assuming you are dealing with someone of a similar mindset.

I have already said to my wife that our last house move would be the last - so I'm happy I wont be going through it again anytime soon.

Problem is, I now hear a lot about expensive things 'that need doing on the house' that are necessitated because I won't move to a house that already has those things........

Our last move was literally over the road - 20 yards max. the people who bought from us are nice folk and we get on pretty well - not like a house on fire, but just usual quick chats here and there. Thing is, even they lied to us - not got any more money, trying to beat us down etc, etc.

What they meant by "not got any more money" was not got any more money after refurnishing the whole of the downstairs with new sofas etc and having a new car.

Thankfully not going to be doing it again any time soon......

House buying involves a lot of risk and you need to be able to trust the people in your immediate chain. I'd be suspicious of the person who's offering more after making lower offers so would stick to the original person.

Obviously there's also the moral consideration. If your other buyer hasn't paid for a solicitor or other fees yet then it's not a massive deal, but if they have it's a scummy move.

I’d be suspicious of the person who’s offering more after making lower offers

Eh? That’s standard practice when buying property, why overpay? I went up in 5k increments and then played hardball and said ‘that’s it there is no more money available’ when the agent gave a figure that would secure it (another 5k)

unless the market is going nutty and you can’t even see a property as it’s gone in hours or you are there with 40 others on viewing day you are mad to offer your limit straight away.

I went up in 5k increments and then played hardball and said ‘that’s it there is no more money available’ when the agent gave a figure that would secure it (another 5k)

Sorry, but anyone who proudly states they ‘played hardball’ to screw value out of people is a pillock. Does that story result in loads of mates buying you beers and slapping you on the back and telling you what a great guy you are? If the answer to that question is ‘yes’ then it sounds like a pub I’d walk straight back out of.

It is just another way of saying “I behave badly because everyone else does, but I do it better than them”.

It's regrettable but all views are "correct".

It's the most valuable thing you own.  The price is "estimated" by an agent, who may or may not be very good at his job, and market value is really what someone is prepared to pay you for it.  You don't owe anyone £10k just to feel good about yourself.

However, its not really "10k". In reality, it's a tiny bit off the large future mortgage you have, and when inflation is concerned, might make a few months difference to the date of your final payments in 20 years time, or literally, a few quid a month difference on the mortgage payments today each month.  It's not like you'll probably see £10k in your bank account cleared, and ready to spend on a Santa Cruz and a VW Camper.

And unless the new buyer isn't reliant on a mortgage, or has that £10k over and above the deposit sat there, any surveyor might, in this rapidly stagnating brexit market, with a view to his own indemnity insurance, downvalue the property anyway, and so the purchaser with the extra £10k doesn't really have the £10k as it's taken from the mortgage funds available.

You might also ask, if that person, knowing they're paying over the odds, sees a vacant possession house, like yours but £10k less, will they drop you like a stone? Or as other people have said, look to lock you in and recover some on the post survey haggle?

Sorry, but anyone who proudly states they ‘played hardball’ to screw value out of people is a pillock. Does that story result in loads of mates buying you beers and slapping you on the back and telling you what a great guy you are? If the answer to that question is ‘yes’ then it sounds like a pub I’d walk straight back out of.

It is just another way of saying “I behave badly because everyone else does, but I do it better than them”.

LOL. No, It’s hardly a funny story for dinner party conversation. It doesn’t make me a bad person either by sticking to my guns about how much I want to pay and offering lower, you can go up but you can’t go down. Well you can but that’s not the decent thing is it?

You have to ask who else was playing hardball? The agent was trying to get as much out of me as he could, that’s his job to secure the best price and speedy transaction for his client.

i went to my max (just short of what he said “would secure the deal” and let them know that was it and there wouldn’t be another higher offer (I couldn’t without selling selling something or borrowing on a credit card).

its just buying houses not some Trump deal for billions!

making a big ethical issue and name calling because of offering slightly under, then raising your offer and finally saying that’s it is certainly the work of a right weapon.

Yep, an extra £10k would come in very handy. However, if it were me in the OP's position, I would use the higher offer as leverage to ensure the original offer is completed 'swiftly'.

I would then let the higher bidder know that if they can be next in line, if the first sale falls through and at their new high offer, with the extra £10k deposited with my solicitor as their commitment.

Itll certainly focus people on getting the unnecessarily tedious process we have in England, done.

HTH 😃

Well...we had another handwritten letter put through our door last night pleading to buy our house.

They seem to be struggling with the fact that we accepted an asking price offer whilst they were messing about offering under asking.

To be honest we're running a mile as this feels all a bit odd to be honest and we have told our EA to politely decline as we have accepted an offer already.

Ha - I bet one of them was trying to play hardball and is now getting it big-time from their partner who really liked the place

I'd still tell them you're going to honour the acceptance of the other offer but that they'll be first to hear if that falls though, and ask what their timescale and chain is like

Scaredypants has it.

Sounds like classic "don't worry, I'll handle this" by one half of the couple backfiring and now they're grovelling around trying to sort it!

No harm in doing what scaredypants says: engage with them, but be up-front that they are definitely first alternate and no more. The trouble is, that in this ridiculous world of cat and mouse, you going back to them will confirm that you've lost your original buyer and their offer - cue some more game-playing as they try to knock you back down to asking price.

It's a frustrating and stressful process - the only real way to mitigate this is to decide to move house well in advance of any pressing need to do so. By being 'organised' like this, you minimise the pressure around the actual transaction, but who arranges their life like that??

To be honest we don't NEED to move and will be moving round the corner.

We just could do with more space as mt boys are getting bigger and one bathroom/loo is becoming an issue.

Our seller is pretty chill as he wants to buy off plan somewhere but can move in with his GF or something in the short term if need be.  So if we had to go back on the market then it wouldn't be the end of the world. Also ours sold in about 15mins anyway...

Hand written notes though the door = buyer trying to circumvent ‘the system’. Offers go through the agent, unless you don’t have one. I would be wary of this buyer chancing it in other areas of the process.

The other consideration is the position of the 2 potential buyers- ready to pay, mortgage in place, no downward chain?

Gazumping (and gazundering) is a dick move, not to be encouraged.

Whilst the cobblers children are often ill shod, my spider sense and 25 years in property, tells me that the over bidders are bad news.

1) Overbidding is easy to get a contract

2) Chipping at the 11th hour, them knowing that you've spunked your previous buyer and now in a corner is a very tempting opportunity for them to save a few quid

3) As someone has said upthread, they can offer what they like, but if their over bid does not meet their mortgage criteria, they will need to find the extra cash

4) Buying and selling mostly relies on goodwill. Even with the niche commercial stuff I buy and sell we try to find a common ground. Acting like a poundshop Donald Trump or Apprentice candidate tends to backfire

5) Go with your existing buyer, but make them aware you have received this bid. Not to push them higher, but to crystallise their mind and prevent any delays - helps them keep on top of their solicitor

6) Notes through doors are iffy. Again, as up thread, all offers should go through the agent, and make your agent manage this process, it's what you pay them for.

7) They may have done this to several sellers, ready to cherry pick the one that bites, and then it's 7 goto 2

8) It's all about how much you want to risk that extra £10k. Do you go with reasonable prospect or dubious overbidding note monkey for the price of a well specced Turner?

Maybe the gazumper REALLY wants your house ??

Nothing to say they are dodgy....They might have been looking for ages...?

Tell them its theirs for 20k more..... then agree at 15k more ??

I'm not joking ... give it a try ... what have you got to lose? ... Might change your thinking on your original question.

Good luck

Edit .... Your house sold in 15min  !!! ...  Then it was on at the wrong price if you ask me ... no wonder the Gazumpers are coming back ... even at their higher price your house might still be cheap/a steal  !! ?? !!

Good luck

I'm defo in the don't be a dick gang as I remember my parents getting gazumped back in the 80's and the stress it put mum under as we were literally about to exchange. With that memory the 10k would be tainted for me and there's more to life then cash.

I also hate hose buying/selling in England. I'm currently having to rush about preparing ours for sale as my wife and I decided last week to move to the village where her parents live and where my son will go to school from September. First look on rightmove brought up a perfect house at the right price but ours isn't on the market yet. Problem is the village has limited stock at the size/price we want and this one will sell quickly so we'll probably miss it (informed estate agent we will be happy to offer asking when we are in a position to).

If we do miss it the dilemma is do we still put ours on the market? Ours should also sell relatively quickly but it could be a year or more before another suitable house becomes available in the village so we could be stuck with no where to buy. The other option is to prepare it for sale but not put it on the market until we see another house we want but run the risk of missing another. Gaar.

To make it worse we really like our house but moving would make life a lot easier come autumn.

It's tough shit on the first viewer for lowballing you in the first place. I'd certainly let the second viewer know that you are turning down a higher offer to stick with them though.

making a big ethical issue and name calling because of offering slightly under, then raising your offer and finally saying that’s it is certainly the work of a right weapon.

I agree that that dishonesty is a big ethical issue.