Strangers in my house?

[Wildflower123]

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?

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?

Maybe maybe not, but it does seem their intrested in buying it so let them in, well I would:)

FWIW Do bear in mind that the buying and selling of houses is most of the time a bit of a stresfull event. And estste agents bless 'em, only reflect the greater British public at large, and a lot of them shouldnt be out anyway;!

The OP never came back which can only mean she let them in and has been murdered.

The OP never came back which can only mean she let them in and has been murdered

Where are the trigger finger 999 calling posters when you need them?

There was one on a thread I was on but yesterday.

But what protection does an estate agent offer? Just because buyers have come via an estate agent doesn't mean they are 'safe' or can be trusted!! EAs do not ask about criminal records etc, do they?

@Ohdearohdearyme - there was no way I was letting a random couple off the street wander into my house

But what's the difference with them being a day early? You were going to let lots of other randoms in 24 hours later!

@olivertwistwantsmore - if they turned up on the viewing day itself the agent was ticking them off a list, they had (albeit only a tiny bit) been pre-vetted by the agent and would seem like a more serious potential buyer than someone walking in off the street.

@olivertwistwantsmore - I should have also added that I asked for people who had already sold their properties subject to contact to view. I wouldnt know this if someone claimed they were attending the next day, they could have been refused by my agent for all I knew.

It’s not unusual.

If you lived by MN rules of ‘what’s acceptable/safe’ you’d never leave your house, let anyone in your house, or breath

The uk is actually a safe country to live in you realky don’t need to wet yourself anytime someone knocks on your door.

I think it depends on the area and the people, some people find it normal others wouldn't feel comfortable.

But from my own experiences EA can be absolutely ridiculous and tedious to view through, have had more then one experience when the EA has been over a hour late, cancelled without warning, or plainly messed me and DH around (once wanted to put a offer in, was told to call once the ea was back in office at 1pm, called on the dot and was told the house had already gone.. they only started taking viewings that morning). So in a way I dont blame people for wanting to take the initiative.

What ptumbi says, HugoSpritz!

We did that but... We contacted the estate agent and asked if we can see the house again.

Currently selling my house and viewing properties to buy.

A) I'm doing my own viewings around my house, but the EA makes the appointments at times agreed by me.

B) No 'stranger' has knocked on asking to view, but if they did, I'd say no...for one reason...knickers on radiators 🤷‍♀️

C) If a previous viewer knocked on and wanted a 'second look' without an appointment, I'd agree, but ask them to 'give me 5 minutes to put sensitive work files away' (knickers on radiators 😳😂👍)

D) As I said, I'm also viewing properties to buy. Not a SINGLE EA has asked me for 'my details' in order to adequately verify my identity. I could be literally anyone! They wouldn't know. I have had to give my name/address (which could be fake, they don't check) and phone number so they could ring back to confirm booking. A couple have asked me what my 'position' was, ie investor, FTB etc, but again, I could say anything! They can't check that. All the houses I've viewed have been done by the owner, so I'm also wondering if it's a regional thing?

E) I guess if it's the actual agent doing the viewings, they may do a more thorough background check, but I'm not convinced that this is true (or legal?). I've just googled and all I can find is that proof of ID is required by the agent at point of buying, for money laundering purposes. Information given about viewing and keeping safer etc merely says 'check name and current address' which is easy to fake. Appointments now are usually made by phone or online.

OP...were your radiators free of washing? If so YABU 🤷‍♀️

@ptumbi

Well over the years, I’ve viewed about 35 houses, across various areas, within 2 different counties and several estate different EA and I have never once had to give my bank details to view a house!

All any agent’s asked us for is name, address, phone number and buying situation. Any request for bank details would be met with an incredulous look and a polite fuck off.

It prob is the norm for some ill-mannered people and it's just the sort of thing my DH would do.

However, I think you should make people to thru the estate agent, for your own safety and security and also to protect your leisure time.

I regularly “mystery shop” for friends/colleagues who are concerned that their estate agents are not doing a good job on viewings (they’re almost always correct). I make the arrangements from a withheld number and a different pseudonym each time.

Protection. 😂😂😂😂😂

Not normal. If you have a for sale sign up, they could be thieving chancers for all you know.

Totally normal. Sounds to me as though they must have liked the house. I’d certainly have let them take another look when I was selling my house.

If i was single or alone in the house I might be more reluctant to admit strangers. I'd probably make a decision based on the people themselves at the time I know, I know, not a reliable indicator

If they were the people who visited that morning then I'd probably agree even if I was on my own. I'd probably ask what time they visited to verify their story.