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.

Hi all, we have done the video tour and love it. Which made me fall in love even more. Still think the note is the best way in the morning! I spoke to the EA and they said there are viewings hosted from seller tomorrow, but they're full. So unsure.

Note through door is a good idea rather than a knock and putting them on the spot. I would mention you're looking at the house across the road as they will know you're serious and comparing the 2

It's worth popping a note through and seeing what they say. When we were looking for a house we ended up viewing 2 houses on the same street. Put an offer in for one but for various reasons we pulled out. I ended up knocking on the door of the other house we viewed (it was my favourite in the first place but DH wanted a project initially) to see if I could arrange a viewing and whether anyone had since put an offer in. She invited me in and we arranged to view it the following day and put an offer in the day after that. You've got nothing to lose.

A note seems a good compromise. Tell them you're very keen but the EA can't fit you in, and you won't be there next week. Tell them you're available to view anytime at their convenience, leave a phone number and keep your fingers crossed.

Good Luck!

I would put a letter through the door first thing in the morning explaining your position with your contact details. Tell them you've contacted the estate agent and what they've said.

If someone did this to me when I was selling, I would not be pleased, and would direct them to the estate agent.

I simply would not trust them.

With the virus now, the difference would be I would not answer the door, and if you persisted I would call the police.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to knock, but be prepared for the owners to not want to show you round right then for a million different reasons. Don't be upset/offended if they say no, but it absolutely can't hurt to ask.

On that update if I was hosting viewings tomorrow and the EA told so,done in your position they were full without asking me I would be pissed off. I would be asking the EA to call the seller and explain your position and see if they can fit you in.

If you really think it’s what you want, i’d be inclined to phone the agent and offer asking price if you can get a viewing today.

Don’t they have to pass on offers to the owners? That may get you in.

Tbf what with modern floor plans, photos, video walkthroughs what actually would make you not want it after the viewing? Unless it’s totally falling apart or something in which case they won’t get asking anyway.

I'd stick a note through the door with my number on it & asking them to call me if they could fit a viewing in. I'd explain that you're up for the only weekend & if they can let you see it then great. This way you're not putting them on the spot if it's inconvenient.

I don’t think it’s bad. My parents did this when they relocated to another part of the UK 20 years ago, knocked on the door, explained they were in the area just for that day, ended up buying it and lived happily ever after.

I'd stick a note through the door with my number on it & asking them to call me if they could fit a viewing in. I'd explain that you're up for the only weekend & if they can let you see it then great. This way you're not putting them on the spot if it's inconvenient

That's exactly what I'd do.

Call the agent and ask them to contact the owner and explain your situation. They may agree to show you round. Don't just go and knock on their door.

Not sure if this has already suggested but could you put a message on the local facebook group today asking if the owners are on there and explain your situation. Most areas will have a group or a buy and sell group and it will give the owners a chance to prepare and you won't be waiting around all day to see if they ring you.

It’s very pushy of you! The viewings are full. They probably have to be really careful so as to keep up social distancing - only one person/ couple / family can presumably view at any given time. And there’ll be a limit as to how long they want viewings for.

So I think YABU still to try to “push in” like this

Update: a very generous friend has driven 30 mins over to the house to post a letter for us through the door with our number on, explaining the situation. We're only early twenties, going for a house way out of most first time buyer budgets so maybe we would look like burglars

Do you think it is abnormal to offer without viewing? We have done an in-depth video tour, love the house and the area is perfect.

Ps: I wasn't ever intending on being pushy, if they said no, they said no and we will happily walk away, and I was intending on making that very clear that it was in the sellers court.

I didn't mind at all when I got a letter from a potential buyer complaining about my estate agent and making a request for me to phone them to discuss an offer they wanted to put to me.

I didn't get in touch with them because I wanted to sell to the people who had already made an offer.

So no I don't think you were too pushy with a letter they can, as I did, ignore.

I wouldn't let you in, I've just sold my house and was worried that might happen. A note through the door would be better, I'm sure theres a reason they're not showing this week though?

I would put a note through the door with my number and ask them to call if it is ok

@LittlePesto please read thread! They ARE doing viewings, just EA not available.

Back in 2006 we had sold our house and were looking for somewhere. We had seen a house in a pretty village but ruled it out as it some layout issues. We looked at other places but liked this village.

We went back to the village house and were planning to knock on the door and ask for another look (with a view to changing the layout) when we saw that one of their neighbours had gone on the market that day.

We knocked on that door instead and they let us in to view the house. We had a chat in the hallway and they accepted our offer. The board came down the next day.

We've been here for 14 years now and we love it.

The letter is perfect Cassandra96. The current owners can choose to respond or not. Obviously it's unusual to offer without viewing but we are in a different world. You'd still need the homebuyer's report wouldn't you so it's not as if you would not be able to withdraw your offer. I heard an interview on the radio with a woman from Scotland (different legislation of course) who was buying after only a virtual tour. She was very happy with her decision, although I think she did say it was in an area she knew.

I would knock on the door.

Are you mad? Or have you been living under a stone for the last three months?

About 5 years ago when our old place was on the market we were offered the asking price from a couple who hadn't viewed. She grew up in the area and knew the house. We refused as we didn't consider it a serious offer. (I worked in estate agency for over ten years, some time ago). They arranged to view the following week and didn't proceed further as they didn't like the rear garden. I just wouldn't advise any vendor to consider an offer from anyone who hadn't viewed in person but that, of course, is their perogative.