Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To contact our house viewer?!?

91 replies

TomHardysLittleWeener · 04/04/2018 15:56

We are selling our house. We have had a few viewings, one of which was a couple who are FTB's, it was a positive viewing they were impressed with the room sizes and storage space, we were chatty, they asked lots of questions about local area. All was good, wished them goodbye, thought we would at least get a 2nd viewing and maybe an offer in the next few days to follow. Especially as they stated they had driven past our home a few times to check it out first... and said they were really interested in living in the area and our development.

But the agents have had no call back for feedback - no calls returned.

AIBU to be slightly pissed off as it takes a lot of time and organising on our part as we like to get our young children out of the house.

I feel like messaging the couple on Facebook to ask lol - I wont obviously as it looks unhinged but I just would like to know what their thoughts were!

As you were.

OP posts:
iTonya · 04/04/2018 17:38

We probably viewed 30 houses (conservative estimate) before we found one we wanted to offer on. There was nothing wrong with at least 20 of those houses, other than they just didn't have the undefinable quality that made us want to part with hundreds of thousands of pounds to live there. We were pretty sure a different couple would see them very differently, so didn't have much to offer the EA in feedback other than 'lovely but not for us'.

Some, on the other hand...

Viviennemary · 04/04/2018 17:44

Nothing changes in this house buyers market. Years and years ago same thing happened to us. People really enthusiastic would be straight on to the estate agent with offer. And then nothing at all. Why do people do this. If I don't like a house I make an excuse like too far from the station, or we were really looking for a bigger kitchen. But not lead people on.

BoomBoomsCousin · 04/04/2018 17:46

Selling a house is an emotionally draining time. There's so much at stake and you have so little control and certainty. Obviously, it would be lovely to know what they really think, but you can't. Even when you get feedback you can't really be certain how candid they're being or how objective the feedback is. Try to take a step back and not get too attached to the idea of individual buyers, they are a mercurial bunch.

user1486915549 · 04/04/2018 17:55

By the way I have just seen you have found your next home.
Sadly you are doing this the wrong way round. You need to sell first.
Don’t fall in love with a house you are not in a position to proceed on

Strawberry2017 · 04/04/2018 17:57

Totally inappropriate for you to contact them. If you were selling privately then fine but they didn't give you their contact details and to look them up on Facebook with a view to message them is just wrong and an invasion of their privacy.
Leave it to your estate agent.

HulaMelody · 04/04/2018 18:01

I’d ask the agent to seek their feedback.
But maybe it was a perfectly nice house but just not ‘the one’ - very hard to talk about gut feeling when you’re viewing a house with the vendors there.

Thistlebelle · 04/04/2018 18:02

it looks unhinged

Yes it does. And if you did that to me I wouldn’t buy the house even if I liked it.

It’s incredibly inappropriate to even consider it.

Buying a house is a big purchase. They might be still talking it over or working out their finances, they might have other houses to see.

Leave well alone.

SecretBum · 04/04/2018 18:02

I always found something positive to say, even when we were going round as fast as we politely could

Years ago when we were looking for our first house, we viewed a place that was just awful and, among other things, had a full sized outdoor patio that had been floored in kitchen lino. Clearly new but already peeling due to it being indoor bloody lino. I can still remember me and dh stuttering our agreement with the vendor about how practical and low cost it must be Grin

hibbledibble · 04/04/2018 18:09

Op, you are being a bit unreasonable.

You sound too emotionally invested in this.

Yes preparing a property for viewings takes a lot of work, but people viewing and not making an offer is all part of the parcel of house selling.

One way to reduce to work is to do an open day. You can obviously only do this if there is enough interest though.

We did one open day and got several offers.

FloydOnThePull · 04/04/2018 18:11

When I was a FTB a few years ago I viewed a few flats before buying and found that every time I provided feedback to an estate agent they started bloody arguing with me and trying to talk me round. It seems to be worse when you're a first time buyer, all estate agents think you're a gullible moron who can be talked into parting with hundreds of thousands of pounds. I just ignored their calls in the end. It's frustrating for you but I think ignoring estate agents is completely understandable.

SecretBum · 04/04/2018 18:20

Floyd I've had that recently with an EA over a house viewing...and some argue even in the most un-arguable circumstances.

EA: So what did you think?

Me: We really liked it but would have to make xyz adjustments to make it suitable (non negotiable). Unfortunately it was at the top of our budget anyway and with all the work needed is beyond us.

EA: Oh but it might still be worth putting an offer in...

Me: I'm sorry we're not in a position to at present.

EA: Have you considered looking at other mortgage providers in case you can get a better rate? What about a 30 year term? Have you thought of renting your existing property out rather than selling and releasing the equity without sale costs? (Sure that one is dodgy as fuck).

And on and on until I had to repeat 'We can't afford it' three times.

FloydOnThePull · 04/04/2018 18:37

Drives you nuts doesn't it secretbum the one that sticks in my mind was one flat that had a relatively short lease on it, in that if I'd had it longer than about 5 years I'd have had to look at extending the lease and I didn't want the hassle or expense of it, the agent got really shirty and starting mansplaining leases to me and trying to convince me that I was being unreasonable and it's a really easy thing to do.

I'm currently in the process of extending the lease on my current flat and guess what? It's exactly the pain in the arse I knew it would be! Only on this flat its worth the hassle as I bought it very cheap at auction whereas on the other it wouldn't have been.

PookieSnackenberger · 04/04/2018 18:55

Don't contact them.

As PP said, some people just love a nosy around other peoples houses and sometimes life happens and circumstances change.

I had two very strange experiences selling my last house. One was a vague acquaintance who had no idea it was my house. She had no intention of buying, was not ever going to be in a position to buy, just liked the look of my house and wanted to look around. She admitted as much and I was extremely accommodating (but furious) as I was 10 wks pg with a toddler and preschooler. Timewaster.

The other one was a group of 5 (yes 5!) people who turned up to view together. Not related, not couples just very, very strange.

iTonya · 04/04/2018 19:03

When I was selling my house, two different couples came to view twice, did the whole 'oooh, the sofa could go there!' routine, and seemed on the point of making an offer... and then they both completely disappeared off the face of the earth. Agent had no idea what had happened, or why they'd decided to go incommunicado.

Until I found myself sitting next to one of the wives in the hairdressers, when we were both trapped there, getting our colour done. Obviously I didn't say anything, although it was very tempting to make a loud phone call to the estate agent about timewasters.

Mascarponeandwine · 04/04/2018 19:08

I never bother with asking for feedback as it’s mostly things I can’t do anything about eg east facing garden or garden too small.
When asked for feedback I just say it wasnt for us. Not helpful but when you find the one you kind of know.
Would also say that we had a shocking viewing a couple of houses ago, football richoched off the front door as the viewers were about to leave, large plane flew over low, conservatory vibrated when aforementioned plane went over. They made an offer the next day. So you can never control, predict or really influence who’s going to buy it.

waxedlyrical · 04/04/2018 19:09

The couple who bought my house viewed and didn't put in an offer for a fortnight! Turns out they went on holiday then had problems arranging their agreement in principle.

I found it best to have no expectations at all. I started off all eager after every viewing then gave up and tried to forget about it. The offer (at full asking price) came in on a random Wednesday afternoon. Easier said than done I know.

Also try not to read too much into reactions when looking round... I viewed a property and decided it was a no as soon as I walked in. Could hardly walk back out, so looked around the rest and saw the accompanies viewer writing 'seems keen' on the form. Erm no, I was being polite.

Nunkie · 08/08/2018 15:25

Hells yeah, its frustrating, so you have my sympathies, OP. We had a third viewing from a seemingly enthusiastic lady on Saturday. She brought a second pair of eyes round to look too (good for her, I would do the same!) Its now Wednesday and the estate agent can’t seem to contact her.

So I’m less than hopeful - however, I'd always support her right to go to ground and consider things in privacy. I do hope we hear something back eventually because when there is no offer after that level of interest, it could be helpful for us to understand what went wrong.

So, yes, i identify! I’ve had to sit on my hands to stop myself calling the estate agent prior to this morning when i finally caved, knowing they’d have no significant news anyway, or they would have updated me already.

But - well - having to put yourself out to arrange things, … that just comes with the territory I think.

I’ve been thinking back to when we were slightly naive FTBs (ah, the glory days! :0) and very enthusiastically returned to the first property we saw for a second viewing.. only to find, when DP actually thought to open Sketch Up later on, that we couldn’t physically fit all our stuff in the property - whoops!! So it could be all sorts of odd things. Or there's a cahnce they might just be carefully calculating an offer, but...

Either way (well this is probably way ofter the fact now but...) good luck!!

lastqueenofscotland · 08/08/2018 15:27

When I looked round houses I hated it when the vendor was in I often felt I had to be complimentary of a minging kitchen or wired shaped living room because their house was their pride and joy.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 08/08/2018 15:34

Why is anyone posting on a thread from April?!!!

SamSmithYawnsWhenHeSings · 08/08/2018 15:37

They are not interested.

If they were they would have responded to the agent or booked another viewing.

Don't contact them on Facebook! Will look stalkerish.

Onwards and upwards, good luck!

MsHopey · 08/08/2018 15:39

Shit happens.
I viewed a house 3 times. Absolutely fell in love with it. It needed work but was an amazing price, ticked all our boxes and we loved it.
We had a mortgage in principle. We were over the moon.
Went to the bank to confirm mortgage offer in a meeting. They'd changed their mind. No mortgage for us.
I felt like such a time waster and was gutted for them.
But it was an inherited house that was empty, so at least I didn't annoy a whole chain.
I was more gutted for ourselves who now live in a tiny, mouldy, one bedroom council flat.
I still dream about that house Sad
You just never know the reasons for no further contact.
(I did call the EA and explain, in was devastated).

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/08/2018 15:45

Of course you shouldn't contact them. Can't believe you're even asking Shock

Part of seeking your house is having strangers come and look, the majority of them will be tyre kickers.

Don't read too much into people's body language and how they comment in future and you'll be less disappointed if it goes no further.

Good luck and hope you sell soon!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/08/2018 15:45

Seeking = selling

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/08/2018 15:47

Because some numpty bumped the thread TheHodge.

Why didn't you say it was a ZOMBIE thread eh?

applesisapple5 · 08/08/2018 15:51

Haven't RTFT but if you've looked them up on FB you'll likely come up on their suggested friends, which they will see, so that's awkward.
YABU.