To knock on the door of a house up for sale?

[Cassandra96]

Context: we live in the south and planning on relocating to the midlands. On Saturday we have a lot of viewings lined up, one being on the same road (literally opposite) another house we have fallen in love with. We rang the estate agents and they said they can't show us the property for another week which a) it's such a beautiful house, it will likely go quick and b) it is very hard and expensive to travel up again.

AIBU to knock on the door of the house and ask the seller if they'd show us around? I understand they might not even be there, but I thought it might be worth it a knock. And if I explained the situation I presumed they may show us around. What harm could it do? We could even agree a price there and then and get the ball moving with a sale.

Yes

Yes. They are paying the agent for a reason. There is a reason they can t do viewings now. I'd be fuming.

You cant put someone on the spot and a free a price when they have no idea or proof of if you are proceed able or can even afford the property. I could rock up and agree an offer on a multi million pound property, doesn't mean I can afford it.

We have paperwork and an AIP to prove we can afford it if that was the issue.

What harm could it do?

I'm guessing you don't watch the news much?

I know it would be an inconvenience to travel up again. but knocking on someone's door like this is intrusive and inappropriate.

a) they could be older/vulnerable and feel pressured
b) they could be shielding, and again, feel pressured into letting you in or
c) this could work against you if you did want to put in a future offer

Suck it up, travel up again if need be. I'm a firm believer in 'what is for you won't go by you' - it'll work out if it's supposed to.

You still can't blindside someone expect them to show you round their home when there is a reason there a no viewings and expect them to accept whatever offer you come up with.

I would absolutely hate that if it were my house (and C19 adds further complexity, obviously). I would pop a note through the door with a telephone number so you can chat on the phone, but if you appear too keen then obviously you might not get the best price either...

I had this happen yo me and I didn’t let them in. You could be a murderer for all the owner knows - go via the estate agent

I think this is a bad idea. We've bought and sold a few times and I would not have been happy for people to knock on my door and ask to view, and that's in normal times let alone during a pandemic!

Perhaps you could call the agent and see if they could ask the sellers if they would be happy conduct the viewing themselves, then at least they would be expecting you.

@Dazedandconfused10 there are viewings, the agent just isn't free to show us until next week.

There is a global pandemic. The last thing they will want is a stranger knocking on uninvited surely.

Pop a note through the door with your number and an explanation and wait a few hours to see if they respond. If not, you tried, and will just have wait and hope. I wouldnt knock and ask though.

Waiting for the AIBU on Saturday...

Random southerners knocked on my door asking for an on the spot house viewing. WIBU to tell the cheeky buggers to sod off?

@Allinadaystwerk probably the best idea - thanks!

You would be very, very unreasonable for many reasons.

It's rude. There is a global pandemic. They have set viewing days/hours for a reason. If you knocked on my door not only would I not let you in but I would ensure you were not successful if you put an offer in.

@waytheleaveswork it wouldn't be on the spot! We would just ask if we could view it that day.

I doubt they’d appreciate this. That’s the whole point of doing it through an estate agent - so you’re informed and can prepare. I wouldn’t welcome this at all, and would find it a tad invasive.

Did you ask the estate agent to ask the seller? When we sold my boyfriend's house we showed a few people round ourselves when there wasn't an agent available to do it. Always pre arranged though, if someone had knocked on the door I wouldn't have let them in there and then. And that was before there was a pandemic on!

I would never let someone into our house if they just knocked on the door having seen a For Sale sign. They could be anyone, they might just be a bit bored... or worse boring! An estate agent would (or should) vet prospective buyers before introducing them to ensure that they have the means etc.

Could you post a note through their door with your name and contact details, explaining the situation. It's less intrusive than just turning up? Shame you don't have time to post a letter.

Go back tovyhe estate agent and tell the. You ard only up for the day, are looking at one over the road and are very serious. If they want to sell they will let you in for 30 minutes if they don't then gheir loss.

Explain you are only there for 1 day and live a long way away. If you like the property you are in a procerdsble position.

It could be the ea is putting those off ggeh dont hhink are proceedable. If that doesn't work then on Saturday morning put a note through the front door. Ask them to call you.

I’d definitely put a note through the door and explain, they may not even know the agent have delayed you. Then they can choose whether to reply or not but at least you tried. I wouldn’t have an issue with someone approaching me this way. They are already hosting viewings so clearly are comfortable to some level with that happening. Good luck!

People putting their houses on the market now want to sell, they’ve got good reasons they can’t wait. I’m trying to sell a house myself and I would love to get another viewing. A note through the door is best, I think, to avoid putting them on the spot.