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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:
AmyandPhilipfan · 05/05/2023 13:37

Ok, I can maybe imagine people looking round the house for about an hour to look in all cupboards, check all taps etc. But 6 hours? What were they doing that takes 6 hours? Was some of that time relaxing in the living room chatting with the homeowner? Otherwise surely there is not enough to do in a normal house, even after going into each room multiple times, to look around for 6 hours?!

GreatBigBoots · 05/05/2023 13:38

Now I'm wondering how they started this 'hobby'. Did one of them have to sound the other out with the idea and hope their OH didn't think they were a loon, or were they once buying a house and enjoyed looking round so much they they didn't want to stop?

I have visions of them discussing it in the car with a sort of 'Peep Show' (comedy TV show, not the real thing!) voice over saying' There's no way this is a bad idea. Take a clip board, it will make you look like a serious buyer' etc. I wonder if they have a competition for how long they can spend in someone's home before they are asked to leave or the police are called?

MonumentalLentil · 05/05/2023 13:40

We had an elderly couple come to view, they spent ages wandering round, said they were looking for a place with some land. He made a big thing about having a website. They had no transport, either had a loft or taxi to the house and we were in the middle of a private park, you needed a car to get in and out. Ended up giving them a lift to the station to get rid of them. Agent was not present.

Then I found that the ring I wore as a wedding ring had also gone. It wasn't valuable, I took it off for work and had left it on the side of where I was working when they arrived.
Not as bad as the 3 and 6 hours but a long visit nevertheless.

This is what Facebook groups are for. Warning neighbours.

Precipice · 05/05/2023 13:41

3 hours is far too long, but most of the actions you list are reasonable things for people viewing houses to want to check. If you're taking your wardrobe and kitchen cupboards and they're not built in, there's no reason to check them, but checking windows, taps and toilets and taking photos is perfectly normal.

MonumentalLentil · 05/05/2023 13:41

they had a lift, not a loft! (We had a loft).

HurryShadow · 05/05/2023 13:41

I confess me and my DM used to do this for show homes about 20 years ago! I'd never have dreamed of doing it for a regular house sale though.

Show homes then were often just open properties you could wander through and take a look at without having to engage in a full on conversation with the sales assistant.

If a sales assistant ever did enquire, I was always "moving back to the area after having lived in the big city for a number of years"!

Suspect we couldn't do it now as they seem to gatekeep a bit better now!

Well done OP! I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that one!

Dwightlovesmichael · 05/05/2023 13:44

HurryShadow · 05/05/2023 13:41

I confess me and my DM used to do this for show homes about 20 years ago! I'd never have dreamed of doing it for a regular house sale though.

Show homes then were often just open properties you could wander through and take a look at without having to engage in a full on conversation with the sales assistant.

If a sales assistant ever did enquire, I was always "moving back to the area after having lived in the big city for a number of years"!

Suspect we couldn't do it now as they seem to gatekeep a bit better now!

Well done OP! I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that one!

Show homes are totally different though.

I once had a job for a developer years ago where I was part of the team than manned the show homes, there were 5 of various styles in a cul du sac.

You expected people to just some for a look. The serious ones would look and then ask for more details or to speak to one of the managers, but most people just wanted a nosey at the new homes and that was fine.

Apart from the ones who tried to nick things. So many people tried smuggle out the kitchen props, cushions, potted plants etc.

Original poster
snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 13:46

AmyandPhilipfan · 05/05/2023 13:37

Ok, I can maybe imagine people looking round the house for about an hour to look in all cupboards, check all taps etc. But 6 hours? What were they doing that takes 6 hours? Was some of that time relaxing in the living room chatting with the homeowner? Otherwise surely there is not enough to do in a normal house, even after going into each room multiple times, to look around for 6 hours?!

God can you imagine if they were friends or family and had come to stay for one night! I think they would still be with you a month later.

OP posts:
Clymene · 05/05/2023 13:47

Precipice · 05/05/2023 13:41

3 hours is far too long, but most of the actions you list are reasonable things for people viewing houses to want to check. If you're taking your wardrobe and kitchen cupboards and they're not built in, there's no reason to check them, but checking windows, taps and toilets and taking photos is perfectly normal.

It's really not, especially on a first viewing.

longtompot · 05/05/2023 13:49

The only thing yabu about is draws shudders Apart from that, the image of them wondering what tf just happened is hilarious!

crispsnutsandcake · 05/05/2023 13:49

I think show homes are fair game really. They're always ridiculously over staged, it's not like someone's actual home and you don't need to be shown around.
I had a couple of ladies come to see our last place we had for sale and there was a definite whiff of 'we're having a day out and thought we'd look at a couple of houses out of curiosity'. All that tidying up and waiting in for them for nothing. I think you have to tell people to leave after about 45 mins and say you have other viewers coming.

organicapricot · 05/05/2023 13:51

I wonder if they have a little spreadsheet at home that they record the details in and compare. Maybe that's why they went back to the same house to update it. Grin

Original poster
snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 13:53

Clymene · 05/05/2023 13:47

It's really not, especially on a first viewing.

Show quote history

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.

OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 05/05/2023 13:54

funny-alot of agents round here wont even let you view if you havent got your own house up or a privisional mortgage offer

my df used to drag us round houses in the 80s some were gorgeous but i got bored after awhile

Isthislife · 05/05/2023 13:54

I'd have done the same! Loads of local estate agents won't deal with my in-laws any more because they are serial viewers/enquirers who then take no action, or they start the process then come up with some random reason why they can't proceed. I don't think they carry a clipboard though so this won't be them 😆

Speckson · 05/05/2023 13:57

I have a friend who likes to nosy around show homes. She wouldn't dream of poking around someone's actual home just for fun - though I admit that when she and her husband were looking to buy (they rented for years) it took them a very long time and they must have looked at 100 or more houses.

mynewusername2023 · 05/05/2023 13:57

Surely a wanted sign needs to go up in all estate agents. They are mad.

Original poster
snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 13:58

I am sorry I didnt take a photo of their shocked faces now. I do have them on the ring door bell though.

OP posts:
CakeBeautifulCake · 05/05/2023 14:01

This is the real reason people should have Ring cameras. To capture precious moments like this. I can only imagine their reaction once the door was shut 🤣 go OP! I can only hope I find my inner you if the time ever comes!

Strictlyfanoftenyears · 05/05/2023 14:02

Clymene · 05/05/2023 13:47

It's really not, especially on a first viewing.

Show quote history

Really? Ive never known anyone spend more that an hour on first viewing (and very few of those tbh)

YourMommaWasASnowblower · 05/05/2023 14:03

🤣Hilarious! I wonder what they do with their clipboard full of information afterwards? 🤔

MaggieFS · 05/05/2023 14:03

I was going to say the estate agent should tell them to jog on, but I can imagine the outrage on mn if an EA was refusing to pass on viewers.

tailinthejam · 05/05/2023 14:04

😂

Original poster
snowandshowers · 05/05/2023 14:05

Thanks everyone I have to go now. Going to find out where they live and see If I can view it for a few days! 😘

OP posts:
GalileoHumpkins · 05/05/2023 14:07

YourMommaWasASnowblower · 05/05/2023 14:03

🤣Hilarious! I wonder what they do with their clipboard full of information afterwards? 🤔

I bet they have it all filed, colour-coordinated and ranked.

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