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Original poster

I would not let them in!

286 replies

snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 12:01

5 years ago we had viewers to our house which was for sale. A retired couple arrived with a clip board held out in front of the man. They came in and were a nightmare. Opening my windows, wardrobes, kitchen draws, running taps, jumping up and down on my floor, taking photos, flushing toilets, and much much more! After 3 hours I had had enough and said we were going out so they would have to leave.
We never heard from them again but the owner of the house we eventually bought said she had had them view hers and they had stayed 6 hours doing the same things.

I later found out they are serial house viewers and do it as a "nice day out".
Anyway we are now moving again and low and behold who turns up at the door, only Mr and Mrs pain in the arse. I did not remember their name or I would have refused a viewing. Same as last time clip board and pen ready.

The moment I opened the door I recognized them.

I was so angry with these time wasters I just said "YOU AGAIN! FUCK OFF! and closed the door.
I feel better now.

OP posts:
tonystarksrighthand · 07/05/2023 01:17

That is brilliant

bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 07/05/2023 01:22

snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 12:59

The Estate Agent has just phoned me to say they told her I would not let them in. When I relayed the story she was crying laughing and will let other estate agents know that Bonnie and Clyde are back on the scene.

Bonnie and Clyde Grin

Would indicate that they have done this before and have indeed been lying low for a while.

wellstopdoingitthen · 07/05/2023 01:46

My mum used to do this quite regularly back in the '70s. She liked nosing around bigger houses whilst pretending to be quite well off. A bit sad really.

draxdomax · 07/05/2023 01:59

LOL I must have looked like a Carpet Treader when I bought my house.

It's my first house and I was new in England and things are VERY different where I am from.
So, I was asking weird questions and testing the house in weird ways (the houses where I am from have a concrete&rebar foundation and we consider wood joists as "fake house about to fall down any moment").

I even walked out after making an offer because I thought the idea of restrictive covenant was extremely weird.
To defend myself, I wasn't told the house had a restrictive covenant... Albeit the covenant was something silly that was never going to be a problem...

Most houses are pretty sad. Very low standard, even when they do have it redecorated, unimaginative "live laugh love", quotes from Marilyn Monroe, red "statement" wall, crystal knobs...
So, why would I want to spend my time watching the same IKEA trash day after day?

That being said, I did drive a car or two that I could never afford... But, as someone who's been in sales - goodness, if I converted 100% of all the sale attempts I made ;) - tyre kickers are part of the game...

However, going inside someone's personal space and wasting the time of someone who isn't a day job seller - it's really low.

BTW: If it were my hobby, I would have no problem with mortgage AIP being required - those are easy to get...
Could even print a fake one at home to add some spice to the whole show...

Wanttobefree2 · 07/05/2023 02:03

snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 12:01

5 years ago we had viewers to our house which was for sale. A retired couple arrived with a clip board held out in front of the man. They came in and were a nightmare. Opening my windows, wardrobes, kitchen draws, running taps, jumping up and down on my floor, taking photos, flushing toilets, and much much more! After 3 hours I had had enough and said we were going out so they would have to leave.
We never heard from them again but the owner of the house we eventually bought said she had had them view hers and they had stayed 6 hours doing the same things.

I later found out they are serial house viewers and do it as a "nice day out".
Anyway we are now moving again and low and behold who turns up at the door, only Mr and Mrs pain in the arse. I did not remember their name or I would have refused a viewing. Same as last time clip board and pen ready.

The moment I opened the door I recognized them.

I was so angry with these time wasters I just said "YOU AGAIN! FUCK OFF! and closed the door.
I feel better now.

This really made me laugh 😂

To be fair they deserved it, just think about how many people’s time they have wasted!

Mamma2017 · 07/05/2023 02:29

snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 13:53

They were bonkers. Visiting each room several time, measuring everything and writing it on their clip board, ticking things off the clipboard, scores of questions, attempted to lift the patio door out of its frame before my husband stopped them. Sitting down to look at the view, jumping on my wooden floors to see if they make a noise, asking about the controls on oven microwave, dishwasher etc. 4 or 5 circuits of the garden. Watching and timing how many cars went past. After 2 and a half hours I said we were going to our sons house for dinner so they would have to go but it took another 30 minutes to get them out.

Show quote history

Sad, sad bastards.

Mamma2017 · 07/05/2023 02:32

WeeblesWobbled · 05/05/2023 18:01

It does sound like a good day out.

I thought of trying it out myself after seeing that old Mike Leigh film about the girls who do that (forgotten what it's called), but i'd never have the nerve.

Show quote history

Please tell me these posts are sarcasm

Mamma2017 · 07/05/2023 02:39

Rewis · 06/05/2023 19:44

Me and my bf go to showhomes and occasionally to an open house. Although we're not buying just out of interest. Obviously only when there is an open house so we don't contact anyone to give private viewing cause there is the estate agent doing the viewing and usually more people. It's good fun. But would never go through others stuff or stay longer than the polite 15min. So I can't really blame them for going around but for that long?!?!

Whyyyy though???! So boring and odd!!

Nanaof1 · 07/05/2023 03:54

MissConductUS · 05/05/2023 16:58

In the US, they're called looky-loos. I've had a few. One showed up at an open house I was having when selling a flat, and I told her to leave. I know she wasn't interested in buying as I overheard her telling the estate agent that she couldn't afford my flat, but wanted to "see what was out there".

Show quote history

USA here too!👋
Back when Open Houses were popular and more of a party type thing, with refreshments, coffee, lemonade, etc., people would spend their Sundays going from Open House to Open House to sample the goodies. It was said that some of the new development model homes would put out a nice spread. I just would laugh and roll my eyes. I barely want to get out of bed on Sunday, let alone drive all over for a cookie and watered down lemonade. 😎

ButterBastardBeans · 07/05/2023 04:47

I'm surprised the EA allowed it if they are not proceedable.

CantBeArsedOrAsked · 07/05/2023 06:37

Are you in the UK OP?.
I didn't think this could happen as estate agents usually won't allow people to view now unless they're in a position to buy.

Copperfield27 · 07/05/2023 08:00

Non-UK estate agent here - all our viewings are accompanied by the self-employed agent, it's just part of the service. We do try to pre-screen so only serious buyers are introduced but some tyre-kickers get through especially as we are in an area with lots of 2nd homes. Even if the property is unoccupied it's so selfish to take up a day of an agent's time -sometimes with substantial travel costs - when there's nothing but nosiness. If you're that nosey became an realtor!

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/05/2023 08:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Posters like this, who speak with such authority are soooo tedious.

Report the thread if you think it’s bullshit, don’t clog it up with your boring, self-important posts.

wentworthinmate · 07/05/2023 09:11

I thought estate agents would only let you view a property if your house was on the market but I suppose they could lie.

Stewball01 · 07/05/2023 13:29

Well done.

Manthide · 07/05/2023 13:58

Dwightlovesmichael · 05/05/2023 17:08

Omg yes, me too!

I’ve spent longer trying on jeans!

In my defence though, there were only two houses in our price range in the only area in a 20 mile radius we could afford when we bought this time.

It was either this house, or the boarded up one that had been used as a weed farm.

Show quote history

Me too - and lived to regret it. We were living with my parents and desperate to move out (dh and 2dds). First time buyers and we had already agreed to buy one house and that had fallen through when the sellers pulled out - apparently they had done this a few times before! Anyway a lady at dds' school said she just put her house on the market and we arranged with ea to view. We were only there about 20 mins and the seller told us various things eg her dc used the utility room door to go in and out of the garden.
We moved in - that door had been sealed shut! And I still wonder how we missed the fact that the lounge was completely open to the conservatory so no wall or window and there was even a plug socket under the sink.

T1Dmama · 07/05/2023 16:47

I’ve heard of people who look round houses for ideas of how to decorate etc. but not in such detail as your ‘visitors

’

MsDee1995 · 07/05/2023 19:23

I LOVE that you told them off!! Perhaps they will think twice about wasting a seller's time, just so that THEY can have a "fun" afternoon! I get that a buyer needs to check everything out, but 3 hours??? ONE hour at the MOST, because they DO have to check water pressure, heat and air conditioning, to make sure that each room is heated or cooled properly, that toilets, faucets, drawers, doors, and windows, open and close properly, but after that, GTFO, lol!! What THEY did was pure bullshit!! Hopefully they found a NEW "hobby", lol!!! Good for you!!!

OctopusComplex · 07/05/2023 23:19

Where I live the estate agents have open houses, so every Wednesday and Saturday they'll have 30 min allocated to your house.

They actively encourage neighbours to come and have a look around, partly so it seems busy and interesting, and partly to start building an acquaintance with you, so that you remember them when you sell your house.

Also encouraged to attend the auction if that's how it's selling. Gives the impression of greater interest!

Rhubarbandtoast · 07/05/2023 23:29

I agree that some people only understand the words” Fuck off”!🤣

well done for recognising them op

Sparks240v · 08/05/2023 09:36

Did all our own viewing as the estate agent could not sell a life raft to a drowning man. Family turned up kids in tow and various people running through the house and garden. When we finally saw them out my wife, fairly low value, jewelry had gone. People who think swearing at time-wasters is excessive have forgotten just how stressful moving house really is.

ImJustMeSimpleMe · 08/05/2023 09:37

Haha we had a viewer once ask to use the toilet. I said ok thinking they just wanted a little nosey and to check the flush was working/water pressure ok, etc.

NOPE

He did a 💩

Left skidders in the loo and the whole of upstairs stunk!! 😷

Then I found the door handle on the windowsill which he had pulled off. (He would have had to pull it really hard to pull it off)

He then bid a quick exit, I was left cleaning up a stranger's s**t💩 and we never heard from them again.

We have always done our own viewings without the estate agent. And only once been shown around by an agent was when it was a vacant house and the owner lived a few hours away.

Sparks240v · 08/05/2023 09:41

Final thought... (can't find an "edit" option) I have looked at a LOT of houses for potential buyers. Shiny new fuse boards (called a consumer unit) on decrepit old fire-starter electrical installations are more common than you would think. Find a qualified sparks on the NAPIT or NIC webby and get your intended purchase checked. A rewire is known as "house bashing" in the trade 'cos we have to tear a house apart to do a complete rewire.

longtompot · 08/05/2023 13:33

@ArtG that was hilarious! I take it you didn't sell to these people?