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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think they need to be more available (house buying)

62 replies

CowgirlBride · 29/06/2019 19:15

So DH and I have just this week put an offer in on a house. We saw it Monday and put an offer in on Tuesday as we knew that it would get snapped up. Offer has been accepted, so we now want to go back and have a second viewing. House is on the market as the grandad of the family passed away and the granddaughter is living in the property to help to sell it and once it’s sold she’ll go back to her mum’s.

Tried to book viewing after work on Thursday, got told the granddaughter was not around. Spoke to DH and then rang on Friday asking for a booking on Saturday afternoon (that being today) - we gave a time that was convenient but tbh if they’d said they couldn’t do this time but could do another time we’d have worked around it. Estate rang back around midday today to say sorry they haven’t got back sooner - granddaughter had only just rung them back and she couldn’t do any time today. I asked if the estate agent could do it and apparently they don’t have a key and are reliant on granddaughter being around to let them in. We’ve now scheduled for after work Monday.

AIBU to think that this is a bit ridiculous? We’re first time buyers and first time that we’ve made an offer on something, so don’t know what is normal. The sellers wanted us because we have no chain but I feel like the granddaughter is making things tricky due to her limited availability. I know this won’t hold up the actually selling as the solicitors are all on it, but I’m just imagining every subsequent viewing being pushed back and back cos she’s not around (we’d quite like to go with our builder friend at some point to look at some of the work that needs doing) I know people have other things going on but surely Saturday is a normal day to expect people to want to view? Surely if you’re not going to provide the estate agent with a key you need to make yourself more available if you want the property to sell?? (Note: the original viewing we had on Monday, we’d actually asked for Saturday and had the whole afternoon free but couldn’t go cos again the granddaughter wasn’t around. So it’s two Saturdays on the trot!)

OP posts:

Lovestonap · 29/06/2019 19:18

Sorry, yabu. It's still their house and a few days isn't too long to wait in the grand scheme of things. How excited to have your offer accepted though, good luck!

KnobJockey · 29/06/2019 19:22

You don't normally get subsequent viewings in sorry to say- I would expect one or possibly 2 viewings before putting an offer in, and then possibly a viewing close to exchange/ completion to measure up, but it's entirely possible to see a house once before you move in. Mad, I know, for the amount of money spent!

moreismore · 29/06/2019 19:25

YABU but I understand as I was the same when I bought first house. Second viewing totally fine to measure up etc esp if you offered quickly. Subsequent visits with builders I would mention now as they will need to be at her convenience too.

Also as a seller I hate the builder visits as I always worry offer will be withdrawn when people get told they can’t do things or have to spend more than they want!

batvixen123 · 29/06/2019 19:26

I'm surprised you're expecting multiple viewings post offer. That's not normal at all in my experience - maybe one to measure rooms etc or something just before moving but multiple viewings to just look around? Not standard at all.

Babysharkdododont · 29/06/2019 19:26

Sorry but YABU. You've offered and had it accepted, you've got at least 8 weeks to do a second viewing, she's probably thinking you'll want loads of viewings if you're after another so quickly. I appreciate you're probably very excited, but she's really not being unreasonable to have not facilitated a 2nd viewing yet.

ChaoticKate · 29/06/2019 19:26

YABU. I know it’s exciting but once you’ve had your offer accepted it’s not really normal to have further viewings unless the survey brings up something that needs a specialist in to look at it. It’s their house until you’ve stumped up the cash so it’s rather presumptuous to assume that they will make themselves available for multiple additional viewings.

Freddiefox · 29/06/2019 19:27

Why do you want a second viewing now?

You’ve made an offer they have accepted it. What’s the news for the second viewing now
I did the same thing but wanted to get in quick before anyone else did, but that meant no second viewing and I will have to wait for just before exchange to look again.

I know it’s mad but it’s the way it is

Cheby · 29/06/2019 19:28

I can see why you’d want a second viewing, but you would be unreasonable to expect multiple subsequent viewings, as you appear to be.

stillworkingitout · 29/06/2019 19:31

I got really peeved when our buyers wanted a second viewing after we had negotiated a price to take the house off the market. To me it felt like they weren’t sure about the house, and was also massively inconvenient. Not to mention that they live in a near identical house a few streets away. Still not sure why they needed to see it, but they did and all was ok. Is she at Glastonbury perhaps?

OneStepSideways · 29/06/2019 19:31

It's a bit rude to ask for another viewing once you've had an offer accepted! You should have checked everything on the first viewing (or arranged a second within days of the first). You've now committed to buying the house so she's probably wandering why you want to view again!

PlatypusPie · 29/06/2019 19:33

They’ve accepted your offer so there really isn’t any motivation on their part to put themselves out to facilitate another viewing so quickly - from their point of view, what’s in it for them ? They will be allowing a survey and may allow you to bring a builder on a separate visit but they are by no means obliged to,

ProteinshakesandAntonsbum · 29/06/2019 19:34

If you want to keep going round and take builders etc.

You need to book further in advance. She has absolutely no obligation to be more available. She doesnt even have to accommodate further visits

dreichuplands · 29/06/2019 19:35

Second viewings after offer aren't that unusual but if she is busy you may just have to wait OP. You have months to go yet OP.

PositiveVibez · 29/06/2019 19:36

Yabvvu!

It's highly unusual to demand multiple viewings so you can take a builder round.

Just wait until you've moved in. That's what usually happens.

Xyzzzzz · 29/06/2019 19:37

YABU to expect that they should be free at a drop of a hat. You should have had a 2nd viewing before offer.

zafferana · 29/06/2019 19:38

It's a Saturday in summer - YABU to expect anyone to be available at short notice to basically hang around at home while you toddle round at your own pace. You're going on Monday, so what's the problem?

colourlessgreenidea · 29/06/2019 19:38

YABU. Buying someone’s house doesn’t mean that they are expected to be available at your convenience. People have lives, jobs, other commitments, plans for the evenings and weekends.

It’s also really odd to want another viewing immediately after making the offer. What is it you want to check at this stage? Another viewing nearer to completion to measure up, fair enough, but a couple of days after your initial viewing/offer? If I was the vendor I’d be anticipating a nightmare couple of months from you while the conveyancing goes through.

ChicCroissant · 29/06/2019 19:43

You are less than a week in to the process here OP, with around another three months to go so complaining about only having one viewing this weeks seems a little OTT!

She may work Saturdays! It is usual to have at least two viewings before offering but I appreciate that you thought it might go beforehand.

I have let people view after making an offer, but wouldn't guarantee a lot of visits tbh. It may be worth letting them know you would like x more viewings, including one with a builder - again, I've let someone bring a builder round before making an offer but not everyone would.

Good luck with the house purchase OP.

MoveOnTheCards · 29/06/2019 19:44

What colourless said. I’d also be expecting you to end up putting it back on the market.

MoveOnTheCards · 29/06/2019 19:45

Be expecting ME to put it back on...

Purpleartichoke · 29/06/2019 19:47

They have accepted your offer. They don’t have to accommodate any other viewings. Any viewings are a favor to you and are completely optional.

You do have the right to have the property officially inspected. I would recommend attending that inspection.

AnthonyCrowley · 29/06/2019 19:49

Yabu.

You have made an offer which has been accepted. If she was still trying to sell it she probably would be more available but she probably thinks there's no hurry. Weather has been lovely today....who wants to be tied up facilitating second viewings? Some people refuse viewings after an offer has been agreed anyway.

colourlessgreenidea · 29/06/2019 19:51

Also, be wary of becoming a pain during the buying process. If the house is one that is likely to have no shortage of buyers (which according to you it is), if you rub them up the wrong way they might well back out: it’s an inherited property so they’re not necessarily in a hurry to sell, granddaughter is living there do it’s not empty/deteriorating, and it’s apparently a very desirable property.

Your ‘want’ to buy from them is likely a lot stronger than their need to sell specifically to you just now, so I wouldn’t risk making yourself into a headache for them.

TheZeppo · 29/06/2019 19:57

She probably has a life, which doesn’t involve dropping everything for you (especially when it’s not her house if I’ve read that correctly?!) Asking is ok, but being put out when she can’t do 2 days (very close together and very close)) is not.

This Saturday was the most beautiful so far this year weather-wise, why should she have to waste it?!

sevenoftwelve · 29/06/2019 19:58

I’m just imagining every subsequent viewing being pushed back and back

Um, this isn't how it works! How many viewings are you planning?

It's not your house yet. She has a life. She does not have to be at your beck and call to keep visiting. You are not doing her some favour she has to be grateful for. Builders can look at it once you've completed.

She doesn't have to agree to multiple viewings. If you make her life hassle she'll sell to somebody who won't instead. Don't piss her off.

You're lucky you've managed to get her to agree to a viewing after having your offer accepted. If I were you I'd make the most of it and wouldn't be expecting more. If I were her and you carried on like this I'd be considering putting it back on the market to sell to somebody who wouldn't piss about.

Or are you not serious about buying? She's accepted your offer, so it is sold subject to contract. Why are you complaining that "if she wants it to sell" she has to do what you want? It is sold. You've agreed to buy it.

I know you're a first time buyer but I'm still shocked at quite how unreasonable you're being.

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