6th May 2025 (8 days ago)
Really disappointed by this estate agency, I am a first time buyer so don’t have much experience with this, but I know it’s not right. I was asked for my best and final offer on a property the same day I viewed it because there was so much interest. He told me the actual value of the other ‘offers’ which were up to 10K over the asking price and said they wanted to go straight in with best and final to ‘avoid a bidding war’. Feeling somewhat pressured, I made an offer. The following day, David called me and told me there was an offer higher than mine and asked for my best and final offer, AGAIN. When I questioned this and referenced his previous comment around wanting to ‘avoid a bidding war’ the previous day, he couldn’t answer me and was abrupt after that. I messaged to confirm I was sticking with my original best and final offer because honestly I didn’t believe them by this point. I then messaged him twice for updates on my offer and they never opened my message or responded. Awful really, and 100% causing bidding wars in bad faith by telling people the value of other ‘offers’. I actively wouldn’t view a house with them again, AVOID!
UPDATE 1: Upon seeing their reply to this, which is very defensive - please see screenshots clearly showing I sent my best and final offer the first day as asked, I messaged again the following day confirming again it was my best and final offer after their next call to get me to up my offer - apologised for missing their call and then messaged again for an update, with no response to either…
UPDATE 2: Upon seeing they’ve totally deleted their initial, defensive response where they called me a liar twice and said my version of events was a fantasy when it’s all totally true - please see their original response attached, which luckily I screenshot to send to my friends because of how horrified I was.
1. Best and FINAL offer means bid the highest you can and it’s your only chance, which is what they asked me for on day 1 - before calling and asking me if I could up my offer the following day due to higher bids. If this isn’t a bidding war, I don’t know what is.
2. They said I increased my offer, which is a lie because I only submitted one offer on this property as I was told it was best and final.
3. They did not call me twice, they called me once which I missed and replied early the following morning to apologise and advise if they called while I was at work I’d call back - with no response, they didn’t open this message and no further calls or communication.
4. They are using their NOW friendly, political response to this which is visible to do some positive PR on Facebook around trying to help first time buyers ‘understand’ the buying process. I understand what best and FINAL means. Hilarious really after calling me a liar and writing a scathing, unprofessional and frankly shocking response the first time.... Read more