Making an Offer on a House: What to Ask Before You Commit
You've found a property you love. You've been to the viewings, you've measured up the furniture in your head, and you've already mentally picked a paint colour for the hallway. Making an offer feels like the exciting part and it is, but it's also one of the most consequential moments in the entire buying process, and most buyers go into it without asking nearly enough questions.
Here are some pointers on what you need to find out before making that offer.
Ask the estate agent
The estate agent works for the seller, not for you, but that doesn't mean they won't answer your questions, reputationally they want you to be happy too. Before making an offer, there's a lot you can learn just by asking; has the property had previous offers that fell through, and if so, why? Has the asking price been reduced since it came to market? These things can tell you a great deal about whether the seller's expectations are realistic and what kind of negotiating position you're in.
You'll also want to understand the seller's situation. Are they in a chain, and if so, how long is it? Do they already have somewhere to move to? A longer or more complicated chain increases the risk of delays and fall-throughs further down the line, something worth knowing before you emotionally commit.
Competition is another key area. Knowing whether there are other offers on the table, and how serious they are, helps you decide how quickly you need to move and what figure to offer. Once your offer is hopefully accepted, it's worth asking explicitly whether the property will be taken off the market, this protects you from the risk of gazumping.
Finally, make sure you know what paperwork or identification you'll need to provide upfront, having this ready can help your offer feel more credible and speed up the early stages.
Once your offer is accepted: choosing a solicitor
Offer accepted, congratulations! Now the real process begins, and one of your first jobs is to appoint a solicitor, also known as a conveyancer. This is a decision that deserves more thought than most buyers give it, because the quality of your legal representation can genuinely affect how smoothly and quickly your purchase goes.
Always ask for a quote that includes all fees and VAT, not a headline rate that excludes disbursements. Ask what's included in writing before you commit. Local knowledge matters too: a solicitor familiar with your area will understand local search risks and planning quirks that a remote, cheaper service might miss.
It's also worth asking about their communication style upfront, will they update you proactively, or do they expect you to chase? Do they use an online portal so you can track progress yourself? And can they also act for your mortgage lender, because if not, you may end up paying for two sets of legal work.
These might feel like small details at the offer stage, but the right solicitor can be the difference between a smooth transaction and months of frustrating silence.
Learned this the hard way? You're not alone, it's one of the most common regrets buyers share.
The full checklist
There are more questions to ask at this stage than most buyers realise, covering everything from the seller's chain position to exactly what your solicitor needs from you on day one. The Home Truths Guide includes the complete Offer & Acceptance checklist, along with 100+ questions to ask across each stage of the buying process, all the way until you get the keys. It's the resource I wish had existed when I was buying my property.
Charlotte Founder, Home Truths Guide
Image by Danny Greenberg on Unsplash