Or is the person we're buying a house from totally fucking batshit?

[sootspritez]

I'm gonna start by saying I know I'm not being unreasonable, however I am inexperienced, so looking for some guidance on where you think things have gone wrong and what I can now do to placate this nutjob vendor. NC as outing. Will try not to drip feed.

Dh and I are first time buyers. Visited a house. Loved it. Offered full asking price. All fine up until this point.

3 weeks after offer is accepted the survey happens. This is when things start going south.

Let's say that house was on market for 150k. Survey came back and said the house was only work 137k due to needing new Windows, chimney work, roof tiles, etc and the bank believe this was all the house was worth.

Survey cost in excess of £500 so fairly decent survey for a reasonable priced house. Put it to the agents that unfortunately this is now all we can offer as the mortgage lenders I.e. bank believe it's all the house is worth due to work needing doing. Fully prepared to be told tough and that they're holding out for the full price as I know they rejected a previous offer for being slightly below asking.

Vendor agrees to sell for 137k immediately. Phew... Or so we thought.

From this point on the following has happened via estate agents -

• vendor has cancelled 3 second viewings because they were inconvenient though she initially agreed

• she has denied entrance to the property for a contractor to come out with us to estimate how much work needs doing

• pointlessly got in touch to specify that now that they had gone below asking that all appliances wouldn't be included (I didn't want her appliances)

• asked EA to ask us TWICE if we would be willing to offer them more money despite accepting price given by mortgage lender

• when we have asked for another viewing she has proposed just insane times '20 mins at 6pm on the last Sunday of the month' '30 mins at 10.30am exactly 4 weeks on friday' despite us offering to be entirely flexible where possible (I.e. evenings and weekends at her convenience but would be willing to book an hour off work if she can guarantee the time). She says she cannot guarantee time as she works fill time and has 2 boys who play football until 8pm every single night and all day every weekend and they are her priority.

She has told the EA that she thinks we are inflexible and both the EA and the branch manager have apologised to us for her behaviour but obviously won't challenge her on it.

Am I right in thinking she's pissed off about lowering the price and just doesn't wanna sell her house?!

@passthecherrycoke because she held 10 viewings on one day and told us she had had an offer on the house already that morning. When exactly were we meant to go back?

You should’ve got the builders round prior to reducing the offer so you had an idea of costs

You have already done this via the lower offer.

Do you have a list of thisngs she’s leaving?

I think what you do next depends on how much you want the house.

If it's the PERFECT house for you because of a/b/c and x/y/z, then you'll have to dance to her tune.

If the house is ok-ish for your needs and desires, but (say) only a 6 out of 10 and/or you don't see yourselves staying there for very many years in any case, then back out now and find somewhere else.
OR at the very least, tell the EA that you're going to walk away if she doesn't meet you half way. We had a similar-ish (ish) situation when we were buying our first house, and when the EA came back to us after 8 months (!) to say that the vendor felt that during that time house prices had gone up and would we consider paying more, my IMMEDIATE reaction was to say "absolutely not. The price we agreed is the price we agreed, and if she wants to change it now then she can put it back on the market; and could you arrange to show us some other houses this weekend, please". And the EA must've told her we were serious, because she withdrew the request.

Second viewings are normal BEFORE an offer is agreed. Once the sale is agreed, it's actually not that common to have another viewing and the vendor is within her rights not to be that accommodating about it, sorry.

I know it's bonkers. In fact I'm literally watching a Victoria Wood piece about how she's spent more time choosing shoe polish than a house. But that is the system, sorry.

I measured up once I had the keys

And this is why buying and selling property in England is so bloody stressful. Massive difference between wanting a second look (even after offer agreed) and making numerous requests.

“sootspritez

@passthecherrycoke because she held 10 viewings on one day and told us she had had an offer on the house already that morning. When exactly were we meant to go back?”

Well that’s just the way it goes with an in demand house, you have to move fast. None of the other 10 viewers could get a second look either.

I'd walk away

I think your the one BU OP!

All the viewings should be done before the offer is put in, as should any quoting for potential work. It is still her house and she has accepted not just your original offer but your hugely reduced offer.

@mitzi this is where we are atm. Going to see another house which looks nicer, bigger and is cheaper than this one just on a slightly less nice street.

Her house value was changed in part to reflect the work that needed doing and in part because it was overpriced for the area. She had the property up for 10k more than any house in the area and had insisted upon this with EA because of the size of the mortgage she wanted in her new home.

Currently thinking of pulling out as I feel she is hiding something but will wait to see what the other house is like.

I’m surprised so many people don’t do second viewings after the offer to measure up etc. For the 3 houses we’ve bought and two we’ve sold we’ve always done a second viewing after the offer and I’ve let my buyers do second viewings after the offer too. You don’t have to but as long as it’s just the one why be obstructive.

I'd walk away and find another house. This one is obviously more trouble than it's worth

@frequent I take exception to that - as said I would have been happy to pay her asking price but the house needed work and was overpriced for the area. Am I meant to go into negative equity to appease her ego?

I also think second viewings are a normal thing to do

@gamer and others thank you- this is the feedback I've had off friends and family exactly. It's only one quick visit that I'm after, not an overnight stay!

@queenbee thank you! Felt like I was going mad for a second then, have even done second viewings on my rented homes!

The seller is being unhelpful. She's not going to sell the house this way.
We had a second viewing after our offer was accepted OP.
You got new Information after your survey. You're sensible to go back and review. Tbh I probably would have waited to tell her that you can't afford to pay what you offered as it's not worth it until after you went round with the builder but yanbu in wanting a second viewing.

Unless it’s your dream home I would just walk away. Sounds like it will be painful

I would never offer on a house until I had seen it second time (and third sometimes). First viewing for me is just a general look around, second is much more important to me. I would never stop someone coming around to measure up after I have accepted an offer, probably because no-one has ever said no to me if I have wanted a quick measure or just to check something.

I would got back to EA and tell them you will be retracting your offer if you cannot have another viewing within the next 'x' days. If vendor is going to say no to that then I would wonder if they will pull out of sale just days before exchange of contracts - and if that happens you will be down solicitor's fees as well as the survey.

I think the vendor is worried that you'll use a second viewing to find even more reasons to knock money off the price.

I agree that second viewings are more common before putting in the offer and that viewings after that point are very much at the discretion of the vendor.

Of course if you aren't happy you can pull out, but I don't think the vendor is being particularly unreasonable.

You do a second viewing before you offer but if issues are raised in a survey, it's normal to get an expert (eg electrician) to look them over before any price negotiations are done.

You are past that stage, OP. If there are any conditions of sale that need to be met, eg remedial work to be completed, it's normal to be allowed to inspect the house (doesn't have to be you in person) prior to exchange of contracts.

Your relationship with the vendor sounds strained already, though and i think you should be prepared to walk away, this time, and to consult more with agents the next time.

I think the problem is that you are expecting to do this further investigation after you’ve already agreed a reduced price.

Normally, you do one or 2 viewings before offer. Then survey. Possible adjustment in selling price after survey. If survey flags up issues which need further investigation, this should have been done before any renegotiation of price.

If everyone still on good terms, one subsequent visit may be arranged for measuring up/fact-finding purposes, but not for investigations which may lead to a further reduction in the price.

If you are genuinely concerned about major structural issues you need a full structural survey. That’ll really piss her off!

It's a bit since I sold/bought a house, but we went round after the contracts were signed for a polite cup of tea, any necessary measurements and polite discussion of logistics.

Any first or second viewings were done before the offer, and after that it was the survey on our behalf, which is probably enough hassle.

I imagine she thinks that you will be doing another viewing to try and knock more money off the house, so I can understand her reluctance. In my experience second viewings are before you put in an offer, measuring up is usually after surveys etc and possibly even after exchanging, and builders for quotes is always after completion.

So, you put an offer on a house after seeing it once.

You then lowered that offer after survey

You then - and only then - want a second viewing... in order to bring a builder round.

Nope, I wouldn't be letting you do that if it were my house you were buying as I'd assume to were about to lower your offer again and I'd be considering pulling out and remarketing.