What is Gazundering and how can you avoid it
Gazundering is the act of reducing a purchase price at the last minute, usually just before exchange of contracts. It is named after the ‘gazumping’ (increasing the price), which commonly occurs in the housing market.
Gazundering can happen in any negotiation where there is a time delay between agreeing the terms and completing the purchase, but it is most common in residential property transactions.
The main reason for gazundering is that one party (usually the buyer) gets cold feet and hopes to renegotiate a lower price. It can also be used as a tactic to force the other party to agree to other changes to the contract.
If you are selling your home, there are a few things you can do to avoid being gazundered:
1) Get your buyers financially qualified before entering into negotiations. This means getting mortgage offers in principle so you know they will be able to afford the agreed upon price.
2) Try to avoid long delays between agreeing on the purchase price and exchanging contracts. The longer the delay, the greater the chance of gazundering happening.
3) If possible, get a bigger deposit from the buyer.
The consequences of Gazundering
Gazundering is the practice of lowering one’s offer on a property at the last minute, usually just before contracts are exchanged. It can be an extremely frustrating experience for both buyers and sellers, and often leads to a complete collapse of the deal. There are a number of reasons why someone might gazunder, but the most common is simply that they think they can get away with it. In a heated housing market, buyers may be tempted to low-ball their offer in the hope that the seller will be forced to accept it. However, this is a risky strategy, as it often backfires and ends up costing the buyer both time and money. Gazundering is also likely to cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for all parties involved. In some cases, it can even lead to legal action. For these reasons, it is always best to avoid gazundering if at all possible.
How to spot a Gazunder in action
If you’re in the process of buying a home, it’s important to be on the lookout for gazunderers. These are people who deliberately lowball their offer at the last minute in the hopes of getting a better deal. There are a few telltale signs that someone may be planning to gazunder you. First, they may initially seem very interested in the property and even make a high offer. However, they will then start to back out of the deal, citing various reasons. They may also try to stall the negotiation process in order to wear you down. If you suspect that you’re being gazundered, it’s best to walk away from the deal. Otherwise, you may end up paying far more for the property than it’s worth.
What to do if you’re the victim of a Gazunder
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from this type of situation. First, make sure that you have a realistic idea of your home’s value. This will help you to avoid being taken advantage of by a seller who is trying to unload an overpriced property. Second, be prepared to walk away from the deal if the seller gazundsers. It’s not worth sacrificing your financial wellbeing in order to purchase a home that may not be worth the asking price. Finally, remember that you don’t have to go through with the sale just because you’ve already signed a contract. If the seller tries to gazunder you, you can always back out of the deal.
How to protect yourself from being Gazundered
There are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from being gazundered. First, do not accept offers from strangers. If someone approaches you offering their services, ask for references and check them out thoroughly before agreeing to any work. Second, get multiple quotes for any repairs or rebuilding that needs to be done. This will help ensure you are getting a fair price. Finally, do not pay for work in advance. If a contractor demands payment upfront, find someone else to do the job. By taking these precautions, you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of by a gazunder.
The psychology behind Gazundering
There are a few different psychological factors that can motivate a buyer to gazunder. In some cases, it may simply be a case of the buyer getting cold feet and trying to get out of the deal. In other cases, the buyer may be trying to take advantage of the seller’s desperation to close the deal. And in some cases, the buyer may genuinely believe that the property is worth less than the original agreed-upon price. Whatever the reason, gazundering is a common negotiation tactic that can often catch sellers off-guard.
How to avoid being a Gazunder
A Gazunder is somebody who makes a last-minute change to the agreed price of a property just before completion. It’s considered an underhand tactic and can cause all sorts of problems for both the buyer and the seller. Here are some tips on how to avoid being a Gazunder:
Firstly, be clear on your budget from the outset. Once you have an agreement in principle from your mortgage lender, you should have a good idea of how much you can afford to spend. This will help to prevent you from getting caught up in a bidding war and agreeing to pay more than you can afford.
Secondly, be realistic about the current market conditions. If you’re buying in a buyer’s market, then it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to negotiate a significant reduction in the asking price. However, if you’re buying in a seller’s market, then there may be scope for negotiation.
Finally, remember that gazundering is generally considered to be an unethical tactic. If you do attempt to gazunder, be prepared for the possibility that the other party may walk away from the deal.
How to deal with a Gazunder if you’re selling your home
If you’re selling your home, the last thing you want is for a prospective buyer to gazunder you at the eleventh hour. But what exactly is a gazunder? Put simply, it’s when a buyer who has already agreed on a purchase price attempts to renegotiate the price downwards just before exchange of contracts. Needless to say, this can be extremely frustrating for sellers, who may have already committed to their own onward purchase. So what can you do if you find yourself in this situation?
The first step is to try and negotiate a compromise. If that isn’t possible, then you could consider pulling out of the sale altogether. However, this isn’t always straightforward, as you may be contractually obliged to complete the sale. In this case, your only recourse may be to take legal action against the buyer.
Ultimately, dealing with a gazunder can be a stressful and time-consuming process. However, by being prepared and understanding your rights, you can help to protect yourself from this potentially costly mistake.
