Reply to: Wilmslowesque true story

[DimPrawn]

Did you turn up in your authentic Romany caravan and was the missus wearing a giant peach ballgown?

[SueEllen]

More serious than stalking?

Easier to prove and get it prosecuted if you have taped evidence.

[MarillionFan]

Did you turn up in your authentic Romany caravan and was the missus wearing a giant peach ballgown?

[AtW]

I would guess this is even more serious in the eyes of the law.

More serious than stalking?

[Bagpuss]

I saw a house I liked the look of, it had been reduced considerably (thankyou Property Bee, what a useful bit of software).

Went and viewed it. Liked it.

Other half went with me and viewed it again. We both liked it.

Phoned the agent, and offered the full asking price.

Vendor said "No way, we only reduced to the price to get viewings, we want the original asking price (about 30% higher)".


Is this a new tactic, drop the price to £1, get a million viewings, but reject any offers below £1M?

Sounds like bait and switch* (which is illegal). You could probably sue the estate agent if you had any proof, perhaps tape a conversation with him?

Classical bait and switch is advertising a product or service you never intend to supply and then offering the customer something else more expensive. However in your case they are offering the same thing (pretty bloody stupid). I would guess this is even more serious in the eyes of the law.

[suityou01]

Usually gazumping is another buyer coming along with a higher offer. This property had received no offers, except mine (at the asking price) and the estate agent told me they had a new policy of slashing prices to generate viewings but telling vendors to stick to their original asking prices.

Never heard of this new policy that an estate agent has dreamed up.

If anyone is interested I'm selling a brand new Pagani Zonda, asking price £1.

Sure, you're only allowed to hike the price 30% though.

[DimPrawn]

Agree to it. And then just before exchange of contracts say you'll only pay the originally advertised price.

Gazunder them back.



Brilliant, hadn't thought of that.

[NotAllThere]

Agree to it. And then just before exchange of contracts say you'll only pay the originally advertised price.

[AtW]

If anyone is interested I'm selling a brand new Pagani Zonda, asking price £1.

ok, I'll test drive it then...

[Sands of Time]

No obligation to sell at that price - just an 'invitation to treat'?


Bing!

[DimPrawn]

It's certainly not ethical, but I think putting the price of your house up is not illegal, it's called gazumping.

Usually gazumping is another buyer coming along with a higher offer. This property had received no offers, except mine (at the asking price) and the estate agent told me they had a new policy of slashing prices to generate viewings but telling vendors to stick to their original asking prices.

Never heard of this new policy that an estate agent has dreamed up.

If anyone is interested I'm selling a brand new Pagani Zonda, asking price £1.

[TykeMerc]

They actually admitted that? Is that even legal? Isn't it false advertising or something?

Maybe, but probably not since it's common knowledge that houses almost never sell at the asking price and there's no obligation until contracts are exchanged then the sale can still fall through at least in England. Scottish law over house sales and rules appears to be quite different.

[suityou01]

They actually admitted that? Is that even legal? Isn't it false advertising or something?

It's certainly not ethical, but I think putting the price of your house up is not illegal, it's called gazumping.

[Jog On]

Vendor said "No way, we only reduced to the price to get viewings, we want the original asking price (about 30% higher)".

They actually admitted that? Is that even legal? Isn't it false advertising or something?

[AtW]

It would have been "Wilmslowesque" if the neighbours were mafia types and the agent pissed on your shoes.

HTH