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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

House Buying Help - Knocking on a Vendor's Door!

56 replies

WyldChyld · 01/02/2015 09:34

Hi all,

I am fully prepared to be told I am unreasonable having never bought a home before!

I've seen a property last night which I very, very much like the look of. DH likes the look of it too, good area, good price. I suspect it will go quite quickly and wanted desperately to try and see if we could avoid a viewing today. However, the estate agency is not open weekends and for a variety of reasons, this week is a nightmare for us! There is a slim possibility that we could be free for an evening viewing on Thursday if the agent will agree to it, but it's likely to be next Saturday and I'm concerned someone else will get there...

We're going to be in the area and I wondered AIBU to consider knocking on the vendor's door and asking if it would be possible to arrange a viewing and explain the above? Obviously if they say no, I won't be arsey and will just go through the estate agent! I'm 50/50 either way - it would just be myself and DH and we'd go at a normal time (so no 9pm at night etc!)

If you were selling your house (board up etc) but still living in it and someone did that, would you be hacked off?

OP posts:

Coconutty · 01/02/2015 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BingBong36 · 01/02/2015 09:36

I would put a note through the door with your mobile. Do not knock!!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/02/2015 09:37

If I wanted to sell my house I'd be pleased. Only reservation is that sellers might not be occupants. I'd also offer to come back later - they may want to tidy.

MrsTawdry · 01/02/2015 09:37

YABU. If it is a rental the tenants will be most unhappy.

zfactor · 01/02/2015 09:38

Do not do this! You run the risk of seriously pissing off the vendors, and the agents.

seaoflove · 01/02/2015 09:38

I don't see what's so terrible about knocking. If they're keen to sell (and they wouldn't be in the market if they weren't) then they should be happy to talk to you.

Original poster

WyldChyld · 01/02/2015 09:40

Thanks for the replies - a real split which is hard haha! I know that they're living there and not tenants as it specifies in the description that no tenants, it's a family home etc. Very happy to be very charming and apologetic and offer to come back at a mutual convenience!

OP posts:

Lozzapops · 01/02/2015 09:40

I would post a note, explain you are very interested, and is there any possibility of them giving you a call.

Haggisfish · 01/02/2015 09:40

Yes you'll piss the agents off because they wouldn't get a fee! I'd knock-be prepared to go back later though.

seaoflove · 01/02/2015 09:44

The OP doesn't want to go behind the agent's back though: just arrange a viewing ASAP even though they're closed. Assuming the vendors allow a viewing and the OP wants to offer, that would go through the agent, right? So the agent gets a sale with zero work. Win-win.

Feelingworriednow · 01/02/2015 09:46

I bought my house this way. However it wasnt on the market at the time I contacted the owners. The house had been on the market the previous year but hadn't sold (over priced imho). I dropped a note through the door saying I was interested if they were still thinking of selling and they rang me that night. We agreed a price and a date and I owned the house 4 weeks later but it was a cash purchase.
But FAR the easiest property purchase I have ever made!
If there is a board outside, you speak to the owners and agree to buy it, the current owners will still have to pay the estate agent. The EA will not care how they get their money

SpicyBeat · 01/02/2015 09:47

I'M shocked at the responses so far. Where I live at least it is really bad form to do this.

If the house is desirable as you describe they don't need to put up with someone door stepping them. I would be very annoyed to be approached this way.

seaoflove · 01/02/2015 09:47

Just as an example, we had a couple turn up unexpectedly one evening for a viewing when we were selling our house. The agents always came along for viewings, so I assumed there'd been a mix up with the days, but it was too late to phone them. We were happy to show them around anyway, even though the house wasn't exactly pristine.

Next day I rang the agent and they had no record of this mystery couple and I didn't ask their names Thankfully, they called the agents again later that day and eventually bought the house.

youmakemydreams · 01/02/2015 09:49

If I was keen to sell and you did that I'd be fine with it. You aren't demanding to come in there and then you are just asking a question. I'd go for it.

Quitelikely · 01/02/2015 09:49

Put a note through the door explaining the above. With your mobile number.

They can only say no. They won't think it rude at all.

CaptainAnkles · 01/02/2015 09:50

I think I'd do the note through the door thing too. That way they can ignore it and bin it if they want to without having to be rude to you face to face if they're offended, or ring or text if they don't mind.

yellowdinosauragain · 01/02/2015 09:51

When we were selling I said no to this. I was in on my own and didn't want to let strangers in off the street. If dh had been there it might have been different.

I think the advice to put a polite note through the door with your mobile number indicating how keen you are to view today because you're in the area and in a position to proceed (if that is true) and that you'd be very appreciative if they feel able to contact you to sort out a time today that is convenient to them. You've lost nothing if they don't contact you, and if they don't they'd probably have said no if you knocked

Wailywailywaily · 01/02/2015 09:53

Does the3 board say viewing strictly by appointment only? If not I would either knock or post a not explaining your situation.

He who dares wins ime. It probably isn't great form but the estateagent will still get their fee and the sellers will still get a sale.

MidniteScribbler · 01/02/2015 09:54

If I were trying to sell my house I would have absolutely no issue with someone knocking. As long as they didn't demand to come in immediately (although give me 15 minutes it would be fine because I keep it pretty well inspection ready anyway when selling).

wheresthelight · 01/02/2015 09:55

does the sign outside say viewing by appointment only?

if it does - pop a note through and explain the above a d ask them to give you a call if they are able to do a viewing today

if not - knock on the door. apologise for being cheeky and explain that you love the house are keen to look around

have you checked rightmove to see if it's listed with pictures? at least that way you can say you are hoping to out an immediate offer in

TheBeanAndTheBee · 01/02/2015 09:55

Have door knocked when house hunting, asked nicely and every time people happily showed me around. DH always left me to do it! We lived a 3 hr drive away and had to make the most of our weekend visits. Knock, smile and ask very politely!

MrsMaker83 · 01/02/2015 10:03

Really can't see the problem at all with knocking most vendors are desperate to get moving so surely most would appreciate a viewing! How on earth would it piss off the agent?!

Just knock on, explain you are very interested, and ask is there any chance of having a look around. Obviously tell them you don't expect it there and then, but could come back a little later or whenever!

Whats the worst to happen? They are busy/not up for out of hours viewings etc, their loss if you find something else in the mean time!

SellyMevs · 01/02/2015 10:05

I had my house up for sale last week and I would have refused to show anyone around if they had come to the door. I was flexible and happy to see people out of hours by myself, but the appointment had to be made via the EA. Even then, we still had no shows.

We are now looking for our perfect house. In our area, houses sell within a few days and you have to be in a position to put in an offer after viewing. My husband will take short notice leave or move his flexible working about to finish early. The market in this area means you just have to make sacrifices and cancel pre made plans if the house is one that you really want.

I'd also get in touch with all the local agents, they will email you before the house has a board or goes on the Internet so you get a bit of extra time before the "open market" gets a look in. Ours was on the market 2 days and had 4 viewings booked before the board appeared out the front.

Bowlersarm · 01/02/2015 10:08

I wouldn't let you in if you knocked in my door.

I'd put a note through the door with mobile, then it's up to them.

NaughtyDoggie · 01/02/2015 10:08

I would not be happy with this at all. I would not want a random knocking on my door at the weekend and would feel very put out to have to tidy up and rush around with no warning. If they wanted to sell their house themselves they could have gone with an online agent, they clearly want an estate agent to do and organise the showings.
I agree a note would be better and they might agree to an evening viewing (don't most viewings happen in the evening in the week anyway for working people?!)
If the estate agent knows your situation then they might be willing to wait until Saturday anyway, I'm sure lots of other buyers will be in the same situation.

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