When Greedy Realtors Overplay Their Hand: A Petty Revenge Homebuying Story
Picture this: You’ve found your dream (albeit slightly decrepit) farmhouse after years on the market. The paperwork is nearly done, the anticipation is building, and you’re already planning which wall gets the “Live, Laugh, Love” sign. Then, out of nowhere, your estate agent claims a mysterious new buyer has appeared—offering £30,000 more than your bid. But wait! If you just cough up £5,000 above that, the house is yours.
If your scam-sense is tingling, you’re not alone. This is precisely the trap Redditor u/UncleHeavy describes in a post that’s become a r/pettyrevenge classic, racking up thousands of upvotes and a chorus of “well played!” from the community. But what happened next? Let’s just say, sometimes, the best revenge is knowing when to walk away—and letting karma (and a little honesty) do the rest.
The Art of the Squeeze (and the Power of “No”)
Buying a home is stressful enough without shady shenanigans from the very people supposed to help you. In this tale, the estate agent’s last-minute “better offer” wasn’t just a transparent commission grab—it was a masterclass in how to lose a sale, your reputation, and (very nearly) your mind.
Our intrepid buyer, however, wasn’t raised yesterday. Recognizing the ploy, they promptly withdrew their offer, willing to eat the cost of surveys and paperwork rather than be played for a fool. As UncleHeavy put it, “I was willing to take the financial loss of all the surveys, etc. because I don't like being screwed over by anyone.” (Honestly, a mood.)
The Fallout—and a Delicious Twist
Fast forward three months. By sheer coincidence, OP runs into the sellers in town, who, to their surprise, wish them a speedy recovery from the “illness” that supposedly forced them to withdraw. (Yes, that’s the yarn the agent spun to cover their tracks.) Rather than letting the lie slide, OP spills the tea: the agent tried to squeeze an extra £35k and, thanks to that greed, the house remains unsold.
Cue a plot twist worthy of a BBC drama. The sellers, still eager to sell and with all the paperwork already done, strike a private deal with OP. The agent? Not only out of a commission but entirely cut out of the process. As the top comment by u/Independent-Map5985 summed it up: “This isn’t even petty, it’s consequences. You didn’t sabotage anything, you just refused to be pressured. The agent managed to talk himself right out of a paycheck. That’s on him. LOL.”
Community Revels in Karma Served Cold
What makes this story irresistible is how it resonates with anyone who’s tangoed with a less-than-scrupulous real estate agent. Commenters poured in with their own tales of agent antics, and the consensus was clear: OP’s move was less “petty revenge,” more “poetic justice.”
u/LvBorzoi took it further, suggesting true pettiness would have involved inviting the agent to the housewarming (“When I stir the pot, I use a boat oar,” u/xp14629 chimed in). Others, like u/Ok-Strawberry-7350, pointed out that the agent didn’t just hurt the buyer—they screwed over their own clients, the sellers, too. “What a stupid, dishonest move.”
Some commenters, like u/cdc994 and u/redditreader_aitafan, argued that this wasn’t just unethical—it might be outright fraud. In many countries, such behavior could mean losing your license. Sadly, as u/JimmyTheDog and u/maybesomedaywhen noted, the reality often falls short, with shady agents slipping through the cracks.
A Familiar Dirty Trick
If you think this is a rare event, think again. The thread is filled with similar stories—last-minute “mystery offers,” pressure to waive inspections, or sudden price jumps just before contracts are signed. As u/antmakka recounted, sometimes these tactics backfire spectacularly, leaving the agent scrambling when buyers call their bluff.
Some commenters, like u/HowDoMermaidsFuck, brought in international context: “In the US, once the contract is signed, another buyer coming in with a higher offer means nothing. That’s why you sign a contract.” In the UK, however, deals can unravel right up to moving day, making buyers especially vulnerable to these last-minute plays.
Revenge (and Justice) Is a Dish Best Served… Cordially
What really makes this story sing is its understated triumph. No grand gestures, no legal drama—just a simple, honest conversation and a deal done the right way. As u/SteelButterfly and others shared, sometimes the best weapon is transparency: talking directly to the other party and comparing notes.
And if you’re wondering whether the agent ever found out, the community hopes so. “He was an agent of his own destruction,” declared u/delulu4drama. Others suggested reporting such agents to licensing boards or even suing for misrepresentation, but as many pointed out, sometimes walking away is the strongest move of all.
The Takeaway
So, what’s the moral of the story? Sometimes, the sweetest revenge doesn’t require elaborate schemes—just a refusal to be bullied, a willingness to walk away, and a bit of luck. The agent got nothing, the sellers got a fair deal, and OP got the farmhouse of their dreams without handing a penny to someone who tried to outsmart everyone.
If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a too-convenient “bidding war,” remember: real estate may be a game, but you don’t have to play by someone else’s crooked rules. And if all else fails, there’s always the option of inviting your least favorite agent to the barn raising—just for old times’ sake.
Have you encountered similar shenanigans in your house hunt? Would you have handled it differently—or gone even more petty? Share your stories and let’s keep the karma train rolling!
Original Reddit Post: Tying to inflate your commmission? How about 'No'?