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AIBU?

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Original poster

About the buyers from hell

92 replies

bimbabirba · 04/07/2013 17:23

Buyers are requesting to come in with two painters/decorators and I'm freaking out. We've exchanged but they've proven such a nightmare from day one that I'm worried that letting them in again may cause further problems or questions or God knows what. Plus I don't fancy tidying up again when I'm busy packing and it hurts to think i'll be hearing about all the changes they're going to do to what still feels like my house.
WIBU to not let them in? I know that legally I can do so but I fear the repercussions. They are incredibly rude and demanding people who have managed to piss everyone off, including their own solicitor who has described them as "control freaks". Unfortunately they have my email address.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 04/07/2013 17:24

Say 'no'. They have to wait until exchange like everyone else.

YouTheCat · 04/07/2013 17:24

And change your email or block them once it has all gone through.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 04/07/2013 17:25

I'd tell them that the house is theirs after completion and their decorators can come then.

AnythingNotEverything · 04/07/2013 17:25

You've exchanged, so surely no one can back out now!?

I wouldn't bother tidying up for them. Can't the agents do it when you're out?

AndHarry · 04/07/2013 17:27

Just say no! It's not their house until you've completed and you need to pack without decorators under your feet.

The woman who bought my parents' house sent a company round to install fitted cupboards. Before exchange and completion and without asking my parents Hmm

Xales · 04/07/2013 17:27

Sorry that is not good for us, there are boxes, wardrobes, units etc of ours in the way. We do not want your painters damaging them or getting paint on them and we would hate for your new painting to get knocked by the removals. As such it would be best to do it after completion...

grants1000 · 04/07/2013 17:28

Yes tell them you are too busy and to piss off! Also all communication should be via solicitors or estate agents.

AnythingNotEverything · 04/07/2013 17:28

Surely they don't want to actually start decorating?! I assumed they just wanted quotes?

CloudsAndTrees · 04/07/2013 17:29

Tell them no, and use the wording provided by Xales.

EagleRiderDirk · 04/07/2013 17:30

I'm assuming they want the decorators in so they can do some quotations rather than to do decorating. I'd be inclined to say sure, but we have units/boxes/etc and general packaging mess and they will have to work around that. But no, yanbu. You can't be too far from completion anyway.

BakingWithToddler · 04/07/2013 17:32

If you've exchanged then they're legally bound to purchase at the price on the contract. If your house is in disarray with packing, that's to be expected. Even if they tried to reduce the price / delay completion now they can't without serious legal and financial implications for them. Saying that, if you just don't want them in your home again until you've completed then just say it isn't convenient.

BakingWithToddler · 04/07/2013 17:33

I'm also assuming it is for quotes, not to start the redecorating!

Original poster
bimbabirba · 04/07/2013 17:34

Yes it's just for quotes but I fear the next request will be to start the work before completion because she wrote that she wants to have the quotes now "so that we will have things done on time".
That's how I took it anyway Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
bimbabirba · 04/07/2013 17:36

Surely having builders round is something you would worry about when you're in and anyone with a bit of decency would not want to disturb the owners too much?
It's a new build so it's not like it needs anything doing to it.

OP posts:
ValentineWiggins · 04/07/2013 17:36

If they've been the buyers from hell (and we had those) then the answer is no, sorry, you can have access when you complete. And absolutely no way to starting before completion!

YouTheCat · 04/07/2013 17:37

I'd still tell them to bugger off. It's not theirs yet.

Crikeyblimey · 04/07/2013 17:40

When we sold my late mother's house, the cheeky buyers wanted us to let them have a key so they could let the carpet quote people in!! They were quite shocked when we said no and that one of us would have to be there whilst their measuring was done.

Just tell them no (or if you are feeling really kind, tell them you will show the decorators round without them needing to be there). Having said that, sod it, just say no.

MrsBodger · 04/07/2013 17:44

Definitely, very politely, very firmly, you are so busy with all sorts of work/family/etc commitments and have so much to do before completion date that it really isn't convenient to make appointments for their contractors. If contracts have been exchanged, I don't really see what repercussions there could be.

MrsBodger · 04/07/2013 17:46

And get your estate agent to tell them. You don't need to have any contact with them ever again.

AaDB · 04/07/2013 17:46

Why can't the decorators use the measurements within your house details to calculate an estimate?

If they have been pains, then I would say no.

adeucalione · 04/07/2013 17:48

Our buyers came in dozens of times - to measure for curtains, to get quotes from various tradesmen, to double check that their sofa would fit in the snug, and so on. I was happy to accommodate them because they were lovely, and it all made things easier for them, but if they had been 'buyers from hell' then I would have said no too.

Fairenuff · 04/07/2013 17:50

Do not reply to their email. Forward it to the estate agents with a note to say please let them know that it would not be convenient and leave it at that.

Do not enter into any negotiations with them direct. Do not respond to any emails from them. They will get the message and wait until completion.

Original poster
bimbabirba · 04/07/2013 17:51

There's a slight problem with saying that. I'm waiting for my children's passports to arrive through the post and I'm worried they'll so something revengeful if the passports are delayed and I need to ask them a favour. Maybe I'm overthinking this but you have no idea what a nightmare they've been. Unfortunately my estate agent gave them my email address at the start and I've indulged them so far for fear of them pulling out

OP posts:
HotSoupDumpling · 04/07/2013 17:55

OP, if that's the biggest worry then you can pay a fee for the Post Office to redirect your mail (so they won't be able to get their paws on it in the first place) -www.postoffice.co.uk/redirection

Crumbledwalnuts · 04/07/2013 17:55

Then ignore the email bimbabirba. Just ignore it. If they do something revengeful with your passports you can go to the police.