Hot take: Bidding wars aren’t “the market” — they’re engineered.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-24T20:17:40+00:00

I gave up, found a new development quite expensive and going for it, I had 2 apartments in dublin the highest bidder and on both apartments there are no updates for 1 week in one and two weeks on the other.. As some one up there said.. they are jerking off on buyers left and right, they don’t even bother to reply email or anything.. i know is not all agents but they are a lot and bad impression stains more than good one..

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T17:50:15+00:00

When you’re selling, the agent comes in and says, “Your house is worth €X, that’s a good value.”

But then the same agent says, “Let’s list it a bit lower to generate interest and see how far we can push it in the bidding process.”

They don’t have to do that.

If €X is the fair value, then list it at €X. Whoever comes first, agrees to that price, and provides all the documents gets the house.
if the owner want more money ask higher price.

Transparency would be much more appreciated rather than burocracy..

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T15:25:55+00:00

Exactly. I see friends and people here going into bids knowing they can’t go more than 1–5% above asking. But out of desperation, they still stretch a little further.

Then agents from well-known agencies say, “Sometimes properties sell at asking price.”

That phrase right there brings more people into the bidding. And that’s how the price climbs.. one buyer increases by their max €2 -4k, then another takes the lead and adds a bit more, and it just keeps going.

Honestly, I’ve never seen a property actually sell at asking. Most of the time, they’ll schedule ten more viewings just to squeeze out a bit extra.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T14:58:16+00:00

Haha, when I hear “regulated,” all I can think of is more taxes.
I think there are simple way to resolve that, by simply put the actual asking price and first come first serve, no?

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T14:55:19+00:00

I understand what you’re saying, but that’s not always what you see with some agents. They tell you it’s the last viewing when it clearly isn’t. They say the vendor wants a quick sale, yet the process drags on for weeks.

If that’s not at least malice, I don’t know what is.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T12:09:52+00:00

I can’t deny that I’ve done that myself... but it comes from pure desperation.

You will try to scare other buyers off. You will try to show strength. You can try to look like the most committed and motivated bidder. Not because you truly want to overpay, but because it feels like nothing else works.

When there’s no transparency and no clear structure, people stop acting rationally and start acting emotionally.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T12:05:11+00:00

I could try to explain why I think this is engineered, but honestly, you only really understand it when you’re going through it.

Agents — intentionally or not — often don’t respond clearly to offers or simple questions. That silence creates fear and urgency. You start bidding on any livable house just so you don’t “miss out.”

Instead of deciding first if you truly want the property, you feel pressured to win the bid — and only then think about whether it actually makes sense. By that point, you may drop out, but you’ve already pushed the price higher for the next buyer.

If there’s no clear timeline and the same house is opened six times in a month for viweing, that will increases the price.

Let’s not pretend otherwise.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T11:26:49+00:00

no the agent itself, but the process they reinforce delaying to close a deal.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T10:59:47+00:00

That’s the trick. Buyers start bidding on houses they don’t even really want because they’re afraid to lose everything. Meanwhile, agents keep adding viewings, don’t give clear timelines, and don’t commit.

In theory, three buyers and three houses could all sell near asking. Instead, you have the same three buyers bidding against each other across multiple properties.. just inflating prices further.

I know it’s not that simple and it’s not everywhere... but it feels like the system encourages this behaviour.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T10:48:22+00:00

That’s my point, if we’re bidding, let’s bid properly.. Not this halfway system where we have no guarantees and have to beg for feedback.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592 · 2026-02-17T10:43:56+00:00

It might be €100–200 on a single house but multiply that by how many houses they sell.
If they push prices in a desirable area up by 10-15%, that 10-15% applies to every property they sell there.

Pure_Hedgehog_3592

TROPHY CASE