Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not allowed to view a property!

162 replies

MissMildred · 31/05/2018 18:32

Just wondering if this is a 'thing'.....
We're not officially 'on the market', but are tentatively looking for a sideways or upwards move in the same area to gain a larger garden, fewer neighbours and room to extend in the future. We are in the south east but outside of London. The idea would be that if we see something that fits the bill, we'll go on the market immediately and we do have a really saleable house (school catchments/ nice interior/ not much else in the price range).
Thing is, I don't want to waste the time of agents and buyers, because if we go on the market now, it could be some time before we find something that fits the bill.
So......there is a an old cottage on the market less than 10mins away, we drive past it regularly, have seen the interior pics. Looks chocolate box from the outside and ticks the garden/location box, but clearly needs a lot of updating, despite the blurb saying 'well presented'. I can tell from comparables that it is overvalued. It has been on sale for 3 months and I keep coming back to it as it might be suitable - from the photos I can't tell if the ceiling height is low and can't see a good view of the kitchen. Hard to judge the potential.
Just contacted the agent to arrange a viewing and just had a call back to say the vendors refuse to allow viewings from anyone not on the market. I asked if it was under offer and was told 'no offers' but had lots of viewings. I explained that we were serious for the right property, but was told that the vendors are firm that they will only have viewings from people on the market or under offer. It has been on since the end of Feb.
I used to work in the London market many moons ago and never really came across this. Thing is, we could actually view it and if suitable, go straight on - hard to know until we see it! Is this normal now - AIBU?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 31/05/2018 18:33

I am guessing they have had a lot of time wasters who are just going for a nosey at their chocolate box cottage rather than being genuinely interested so I can see their logic

ScreamingValenta · 31/05/2018 18:34

I have come across this before, certainly. I think it's a reaction to suffering too many time-wasters (obviously not suggesting you are one, OP Grin ) - that is, people looking round from nosiness who have no real intention to buy.

blackteasplease · 31/05/2018 18:35

I've come across that too. can't blame them as it's a faff having people come round and you don't want to do that for no real prospect of a sale.

Stompythedinosaur · 31/05/2018 18:36

Tbh it seems fair enough to only facilitate viewings for people who seem serious about moving. I can see how you wouldn't seem like a serious buyer if you aren't on the market.

I think it is normal to get an offer in your own property before expecting to be taken as a serious buyer.

scurryfunge · 31/05/2018 18:36

I get that vendors don’t want sightseers if they are time constrained for viewings but do estate agents actually know if you are really on the market or not? If you are interested (and you seem to be) put your house on the market. You can change your mind at any point.

Gizlotsmum · 31/05/2018 18:36

Moved last year and we were told not to view until we were on the market and had an aip for a mortgage by the estate agents

FiestaThenSiesta · 31/05/2018 18:36

Totally normal. Lots of people like to “test the market.” We had to explain why we were looking without being on the market (neighbour’s friend was interested and we hoped to both avoid EAs)

Motionoftheoceon · 31/05/2018 18:38

Yes, we regularly buy and sell on and often won't have viewings from those not on the market themselves. From their perspective you're not a serious buyer if you haven't tried to progress the sale of your property.

UrsulaPandress · 31/05/2018 18:41

Just put your house on the market

FluffyMcCloud · 31/05/2018 18:42

we only put our house on the market because I fell in love with a house I viewed. I had no plans to move whatsoever then drove past a house with a for sale sign, looked it up and it was potentially within budget etc. Went to see it and fell in love with it so offered asking price and put our house on the market. Maybe an odd way to do it but that’s the way round it happened for us. I think only having viewings for people on the market isolates a section of the potential market and is a little shortsighted.

5inabed · 31/05/2018 18:44

Just phone again and say you're a first time buyer with a mortgage in principle.

e1y1 · 31/05/2018 18:44

Yes, is a thing.

A lot now outright refuses people who aren’t on the market, as apparently people will book a viewing just to be nosy Shock.

Not saying you are OP, but I have definitely heard of this, a few times.

FrancisCrawford · 31/05/2018 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MissMildred · 31/05/2018 18:45

Hmm, interesting. Maybe AIBU. Perhaps I do need to be a bit more inventive in what I'm telling them and being too considerate about people who might offer on ours and have to wait until we find something. I just thought that as we explained we're looking for something quite specific they might have taken a punt on letting us see it as they've been on the market a little while.

OP posts:
Teateaandmoretea · 31/05/2018 18:48

I'd tell the agent that if you like it then you will go straight on with them.....

Original poster
MissMildred · 31/05/2018 18:48

Exactly Fluffy - we bought one of our properties in London on a similar basis. We went onto the market after viewing it and had a solid offer in three days - the rest is history!

OP posts:
Original poster
MissMildred · 31/05/2018 18:50

Teatea I did decline a valuation from them as we've recently had three. Perhaps if I had accepted it might have been different.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 31/05/2018 18:51

My parents did this because when they put their house up they had various people come look who lived up the road and just wanted to be nosey.

RebootYourEngine · 31/05/2018 18:52

I can understand where they are comimg from. Your house isnt on the market yet so you would not be able to do anything until your house is under offer which could take months.

Also if they have had a lot of viewings but it hasnt sold maybe they are fed up of time wasters.

monkeysox · 31/05/2018 18:52

Just sold our house to people who weren't on the market at first viewing. Theirs went on the market and was sold within two weeks of their viewing of ours and completion was 8 weeks after first viewing. The owners Abu

Teateaandmoretea · 31/05/2018 18:53

I suspect that's the case mildred. If you want to buy the other one they will serially pull their finger out 2 sell yours!

BubblesBubblesBubbles · 31/05/2018 18:54

We only allow viewing by people who are proceedable we’ve had a lot of ‘tire kicker’ and got fed up.

Cannockcanring · 31/05/2018 18:54

I've come across properties where it's impossible to get a viewing, estate agent says they'll set it up, but just doesn't, repeatedly. I do wonder if they have a friend in mind who wants the property, or are giving particular people first chance and taking a back hander...
You could always put a note through the door of the cottage with an email address for them to contact you, explaining that you're very interested, but wanted to check if they really won't allow a viewing. They don't have to reply, but it would at least check whether it IS the seller imposing these rules...

Dieu · 31/05/2018 18:56

I can totally get their point of view. Very annoying for you, but just one of those things.
Good luck!

Didiusfalco · 31/05/2018 18:59

I think it depends on the market and individuals as to how flexible people will be. Last year in a very saleable property I told the estate agent I only wanted ftb or people who had offers on their properties to view. We received two offers from ftb the same day so cleaning wasn’t unreasonable.

Swipe left for the next trending thread