“Two Other Interested Parties.”

Buyers are calling out estate agents’ bluffing tactics. If your agent is playing games with offers, you might be losing trust — and your best buyer.

The Oldest Trick in the Book — And It’s Costing You, the Seller

Most sellers will never hear what you’re about to read.

You see, when an agent tells a buyer “There are two other interested parties — can you increase your offer?” …you, the seller, are often kept in the dark about what happens next.

You’re told there’s “competition.” You’re told your agent is “working hard.” But what you’re not told is this:

That sentence — those five little words — is the exact moment most buyers stop trusting the process.

I’m not saying this to scare you. I’m saying it because you deserve to know what’s happening behind the scenes when your home is on the market.

And right now? A lot of agents are playing games with your future.

Games that risk your sale.

Games that drive buyers away.

Games that put your move in jeopardy.

What Sellers Aren’t Being Told

You might think your agent is “creating urgency.” But here’s what I hear, every day, from real buyers:

“We walked away. They rang back a week later but we’d already found something else.”
“Agent said there were other offers. One month later, house still for sale.”
“Told to increase our offer, said no — still got the house.”

Your agent won’t tell you about these outcomes.

But I will — because I’ve seen it from both sides.

And I can tell you: most buyers today are smarter, more cautious, and less willing to play games than ever before. If they sense a bluff, they walk. Quietly. Quickly. Without a trace.

You lose your best buyer, and no one tells you why.

This Isn’t a One-Off — It’s an Epidemic

When I shared the original story — a father saying his daughter offered asking price and was told to “up it” — I received a flood of replies from buyers with similar stories. Dozens. Then hundreds.

Some laughed.

Some were angry.

Most just walked away and never looked back.

And this is what sellers aren’t being shown — the aftermath of these tactics.

You see the property online. You see “viewings booked.”

You hear your agent say, “We’re negotiating.”

But behind the scenes?

Trust is eroding. Offers are collapsing. Buyers are leaving.

And it’s not always because of your price.

It’s because they don’t trust what they’re being told.

The Real Problem: Bluffing Isn’t a Strategy — It’s a Liability

Let’s say your buyer genuinely has offered asking price.

If your agent’s response is: “Great — but can you increase it?”

…they’ve just turned excitement into suspicion.

Now imagine there aren’t actually “two other interested parties.”

That sentence becomes a lie.

And when that lie is discovered — even if the buyer was willing to offer more — they feel manipulated. So they back off.

And who pays for that?

You do.

You don’t just lose that offer — you lose momentum.

You lose leverage.

You lose time.

And sometimes, you lose your next home in the chain.

All because your agent tried to bluff.

You Deserve Better Than This

This is your move.

Your future.

Your money on the line.

You need an agent who:

  • Qualifies every buyer before a viewing
  • Doesn’t play games or pressure tactics
  • Can prove every offer — with full transparency
  • Knows how to build competition ethically, not artificially
  • Prioritises your long-term result over their short-term fee

If your current agent isn’t doing all that?

Then it’s time to ask the question most sellers avoid:

Is my agent costing me trust… and offers?

How I Work (And Why It’s Different)

I don’t do pressure.

I don’t do bluffing.

And I certainly don’t risk your sale to squeeze out an extra grand for myself.

Here’s how I keep things honest — and keep you protected:

  • If I ever suggest a price reduction, I’ll sell your home for free.
  • If your home doesn’t sell within 30 days at the price we agree, my fee drops by 0.5% every week until it hits zero.
  • My contract is zero days long — walk away at any time if you’re not happy.

This isn’t just marketing. It’s a line in the sand.

Because trust is everything — and if your buyers don’t trust me, they won’t pay you what your home is worth.

Not Sure If Your Agent Is Playing Games?

Book a Private 1:1 Call

If this blog hit a nerve — if you’re wondering whether your agent is bluffing behind your back — let’s talk.

I offer private 30-minute calls for sellers who want to:

✅ Get a second opinion on pricing, buyer interest or agent performance

✅ Check whether their home has been properly positioned to sell

✅ Understand exactly how to create genuine, trust-based competition

👉 Click here to book a 1:1 call with me.

(Just £47. And if you decide to work with me afterwards, it’s fully credited.)

This isn’t about panic. It’s about clarity.

Because when you know what’s really going on, you can take back control of your move.

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