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Original poster

Strangers in my house?

95 replies

Wildflower123 · 11/01/2020 14:55

I’m selling my house at the moment, the estate agent has done all my viewings. Had one today and I came home around 2.5 hours after it had been done.

About 20 mins after I got home the doorbell rang and it (so they said) were the viewers from this morning and could they have another look.

Is this normal?

OP posts:
MintyMabel · 11/01/2020 16:56

The EA is there FOR YOUR PROTECTION in that they get details of any potential buyers. They do check into addresses and they take bank details. They don't take just anyone round; after Suzy Lamplugh they really tightened up their security

We do open viewings round our way. Open house for a couple of hours, usually on a Sunday, no EA involved. It has happened as far back as I can remember and there has never been a problem with safety. Ridiculously over protective to suggest there is a problem with it.

Butchyrestingface · 11/01/2020 16:57

@Butchyrestingface overreaction much.

It's never happened cos I've ever never had any strangers just pitch up. I'll report back on how I react if it ever happens though. Grin

1forsorrow · 11/01/2020 17:06

s a single female living alone, I'd rather risk losing to a sale to an impertinent prat Definitely wouldn't give any money to someone like you.

EssexGurl · 11/01/2020 17:08

A friend of mine was struggling to sell her house. Up for sale about three times in two years with different estate agents. A couple of offers but buyers messed them around, A couple of days after the last board went down, she got a knock at the door from someone who’d seen the board the week before and wanted to look. She let him in, he put in an offer the next day and they moved a couple of weeks later. Just saying not every speculative person not going through an estate agent is a serial killer.

Butchyrestingface · 11/01/2020 17:10

Definitely wouldn't give any money to someone like you.

Great, win, win for us both. 👍

Amazing that by virtue of sticking a "for sale" outside your property, suddenly you're just supposed to ignore all the advice about letting random strangers into your house when you're there alone.

Butchyrestingface · 11/01/2020 17:14

Just saying not every speculative person not going through an estate agent is a serial killer.

Of course not, but I'm not willing to let random strangers who chap on the door into my home. If others are happy to do so, fair enough.

Never though that was a controversial statement until this thread.

2020BetterBeBetter · 11/01/2020 17:15

Not normal but lots of people aren’t polite or considerate enough to think going through the Estate Agent applies to them.

StoneofDestiny · 11/01/2020 17:18

OP - did you let them in?

isabellerossignol · 11/01/2020 17:27

The EA is there FOR YOUR PROTECTION in that they get details of any potential buyers. They do check into addresses and they take bank details.

I've never been asked for any bank details or even an address by an estate agent. The only thing they have ever asked me is my name and if I am also relying on selling my own house in order to buy.

Alsohuman · 11/01/2020 17:30

If I was wanting to sell the house, not sure why I would have it up for sale if I didn't, then I'd welcome them with open arms. People interested in buying something I want to sell is great in my opinion

This with bells on.

1forsorrow · 11/01/2020 17:31

Of course not, but I'm not willing to let random strangers who chap on the door into my home. If others are happy to do so, fair enough.

Never though that was a controversial statement until this thread.

That isn't the controversial bit, that was the bit when a person who had viewed your house with an estate agent and liked it so much that they politely asked if they could have another look was called an impertinent prat. I assume you've never worked in diplomacy.

Jaxhog · 11/01/2020 17:34

No, not normal! They need to go through the agent. They could be anybody really, couldn't they? Don't let them in.

That's what you'll be paying the agent for.

Butchyrestingface · 11/01/2020 17:35

That isn't the controversial bit, that was the bit when a person who had viewed your house with an estate agent and liked it so much that they politely asked if they could have another look was called an impertinent prat. I assume you've never worked in diplomacy.

I assume you’re not skilled at reading?

I had already stated that I would let someone who’d viewed the property 20 minutes previously back in for a 2nd viewing.

What I said I wouldn’t facilitate is someone pitching up apropos of nothing saying they just happened to see the sign on the street.

Missarad · 11/01/2020 17:47

Haha I did this loads x

RubysRoo · 11/01/2020 17:48

Not Normal. Not okay. Not safe. Estate agents should be making it clear all viewings are through them and must be scheduled in advance.

Tigger001 · 11/01/2020 17:49

If I didnt feel threatened or scared, yes I would let them in.

I hate anyone turning up at my house unannounced, but if I were selling, I would be quite happy for them to call by if it increased the chances of a sale.
I don't mind people being a bit cheeky and trying their luck in this situation.

AssangesCat · 11/01/2020 17:49

Round here the standard operating procedure is you do an open house from 2-4 every Sunday afternoon. No estate agent present. You might sit alone in your beautifully tidied home, or you may have a crowd traipse through.

Weffiepops · 11/01/2020 17:50

It's odd that your title is 'strangers in my house' when you're actually trying to sell your house, sounds to me like you're not that bothered about selling it, if you were you would have done a quick check with the ea then let them look again.

Ohdearohdearyme · 11/01/2020 17:51

I had someone turn up a day early for an open house I did, I pulled onto my drive as they were standing in my front garden peeping into my front window. When they asked to have an early look I politely declined and said all viewings had to be via the agent, there was no way I was letting a random couple off the street wander into my house.

Notthebloodygym · 11/01/2020 17:58

Where I live these days, agents do not accompany. Personally I thinks it's lazy, and wonder how they justify their fees to sellers.

When we were buying, we had to point out to one agent in particular that one or two houses were right within our remit, despite the fact that they knew we were very actively looking and had funds available.

Ariela · 11/01/2020 18:04

I would have asked their names and then verified them with the agency before letting them in

minniemoll · 11/01/2020 18:29

When I was buying I tried to get an appoint to view a house but the agent couldn't get hold of the vendors. The next day (Sunday) my parents and I were in the area so we went to look at it from the outside. The vendors were in, saw us, we explained that we were going to book a viewing, they insisted that we could view them and there, I did a second viewing (via appointment this time) a couple of days later and put in an offer which they accepted.

diddl · 11/01/2020 18:43

But in this case Op didn't even know if they had viewed as she hadn't been there.

Frenchw1fe · 11/01/2020 19:22

@diddl I read that they'd viewed that morning. I don't think a random stranger would have that information.

diddl · 11/01/2020 19:33

No, you're probably right.

Otherwise they'd probablyhave to have been passing at the time & realised what was going on!