💥 Down-Valued by £30,000? Here’s the Brutal Truth
Down-valued by £30,000? Here’s the truth: you didn’t mess up — your agent did. Here’s what to do next when your lender calls BS on the price.
A buyer messaged me this week:
“The house we’re buying has been downvalued by our mortgage provider by £30,000. We don’t have £30k to make the difference. The seller says they’re not budging, and we’re stuck with our lender because we’re porting our mortgage. We’re gutted. We thought it was a fair price… but there’s nothing comparable nearby. What do we do?”
Let’s cut the crap.
You’re not gutted because the deal’s fallen through — you’re gutted because you feel like you’re being punished for doing everything right.
And the person who should be sorting this? Nowhere to be seen.
💸 What is a Down-Valuation?
A down-valuation is when your mortgage lender says, “Sorry, we’re not lending that much. We don’t think it’s worth what you’re paying.”
That’s not opinion — it’s bank-level truth.
They look at real, completed sales. Not Rightmove dreams.
And if the agent over-inflated the price to win the listing, you’re the one who gets caught in the fallout.
😬 Why You’re Stuck
Because you’re porting your mortgage, your hands are tied.
You can’t just bounce to a new lender. You’re locked into the deal — and now the numbers don’t stack.
And the seller? They’ve already banked the fantasy price in their head.
They’re not coming down unless someone helps them face reality.
That someone is supposed to be the agent. But they’re hiding
🧠 Here’s What To Do
✅ 1. Ask for the Evidence
Say to the agent:
“Can you show me what sold nearby to justify the price you gave the seller?”
If they waffle, you’ve got your answer.
They guessed. Or they lied.
✅ 2. Force the Agent to Do Their Job
They got the seller’s hopes up — now they need to deal with the damage.
Tell them to go back to the seller and explain that this isn’t you being cheeky. It’s the bank laying down facts.
✅ 3. Put It in Writing
Lay your cards on the table:
“This is what our lender will lend. This is what we can offer. If things change, get back to us.”
Leave the door open — but keep your self-respect intact.
🤷 No Comparables? Here’s How the Price Should’ve Been Worked Out
When there are no clear comparables, good agents and valuers:
- Use £/sqft as a benchmark.
- Adjust based on location, condition, and layout.
- Factor in time on market and past failed sales.
- Cross-check with rebuild costs and rental yields (when relevant).
What they don’t do?
Pull a number out of thin air and call it “market value”
🔥 Savage Summary
This isn’t your fault.
You didn’t mislead anyone.
You didn’t promise a value you couldn’t deliver.
You just trusted a system that’s built to pass the blame.
If the agent can’t get the seller to accept reality — they were never in control of the deal in the first place.
👊 Final Word
Protect yourself.
Get everything in writing.
And don’t let your emotions talk you into a financial mistake.
There’ll be another home.
There won’t be another you.
Need help cutting through the noise?
📞 Book a 1:1 Strategy Call — 30 mins, no BS, just the real answer.
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