UK Landlord Forum / Life

At the weekend I did 3 viewings (45 minutes apart) at a property which was an ex-show-home - so fully kitted-out and pristine. Also, the current Tenant has OCD so it looks just like it did before their tenancy. Very grateful for that.

First viewers had offered the asking price before leaving. The second viewers weren't interested at all because it was too small for their needs. The third viewers texted me later that afternoon offering 95% of the asking price. I replied saying that everything would be considered (which is true).

I never mind a good haggle. I like to haggle and I like to be on the receiving end of a haggle. But sometimes it's played incorrectly. This house is simply immaculate with all mod-cons and a driveway and a garden and solar panels... it's in a nice location - heck, I'd live there, for sure - and it's on at a reasonable price.

This morning I get texts in from the third viewers, now offering the asking price (why didn't they do that at the weekend?) and even 6 months of rent up front. I have had to reply saying that I received an asking price offer on the same day and I am progressing that application, hoping nothing goes wrong.

Advice to Tenants... it's a Landlord's market still. If a Landlord has a good product on at a good price it will go like a hot cake... if you want something, don't give in to your natural temptation to haggle - or you'll be looking for a longer time than you'd like.

I reckon haggling must be instinctive with some people, or they assume that everyone does it and you've priced in some wriggle room accordingly.

What they don't seem to do is look at themselves objectively and consider what they've actually got to "sell" you that's worth £50 per month. (no sniggering at the back!) I dare say they're nice people, but are they really nicer than the other people who are interested in the property? £50 per month nicer? Such an incredibly amazingly utterly low risk that you can save £50 a month on rent guarantee insurance? In reality, unless the property's been stinking up the market for a month with no other interest (clearly not the case here), they've got nothing. It must just be impulse, like an involuntary haggle twitch.

Still, maybe they'll learn their lesson for next time.

They could go up even further but I would not consider it. My asking price is set on research and gut feel. But once it's set I would not get into a bidding war. The first viewers played it right. The third texted me asking if I wanted the asking price, I said I was confident in achieving the asking price but they should offer what they thought it was worth - they offered £50 less and changed their mind less than 48 hours later. That simply doesn't bode well.

About the viewings... they all turned-up and no-one was late.

You don't ask, you don't get.

Can't blame them for trying, and then realising they may be cutting their nose off to spite their face with the lower offer, hence the quick re-offer!

It's my mantra too. I guess my point is that the climate isn't right in property, they're going too fast. If you're in an Audi or Volkswagon dealer, very different climate...