To pop a note through the vendors' door.

[MoveMeNow]

Long story short, we're nicely in the middle of our house move. Short chain, all looking good. Would IBU to put a note through the vendors' door introducing ourselves and giving contact details? My last two house moves were much smoother for having direct contact with the vendors (vendors had done/been present at viewings themselves). When things got stuck between the agents and conveyancers we were able to resolve things and keep it ticking along with the odd text or two.

This time the vendors did not do the viewings themselves so we don't have that direct connection. Would IBU to pop a note through their door offering our contact details?

Yes - YABU - this is a crazy idea
No - YANBU - great idea, crack on

Thank you

Nope. Very bad idea.
Let them have your forwarding details only once the sale has gone through and the contract is completed.

Did this for our last move. It became a huge problem with the vendor starting off just offering us furniture he wasn’t taking with them, ended up with him calling repeatedly, hassling us about delays with solicitors. In the end we had to ignore the calls and insist all communication went through solicitors.
I wouldn’t recommend it based on that experience.

Absolutely not a good idea. It can so easily go wrong.

We did and it made it easier as there was a problem with the roof identified and we negotiated directly. But I can see how it could go wrong as PPs have said above...

From experience this is a terrible idea. Let the solicitors so their jobs. Any delays/ wanting to leave stuff/ issues after become ridiculous.

I've always done it with no issues. In fact I've found it very helpful to move things along a few times.

My last buyer had my number and vice versa and it worked out well. We went through the solicitor for most things and just used it occasionally for little things. But she was very civilised and so am I

However, my vendor was an A Grade wanker and there's no way I'd want them having my details. So it can work, but it also has the potential to go very wrong.

I think this is what you pay estate agents for.
If they wanted to deal with you direct they would do so.

I would only do this past exchange, they could be lovely and friendly and amenable or could be a complete nightmare. My MIL recently bought a new properly and due to poor estate agents her vendors harassed her constantly. It was a nightmare for her.

They haven’t done viewings themselves for a reason so I wouldn’t.

This is what you pay your estate agent to do.

Don’t make it personal - you have hired a solicitor and an estate agent to manage this transaction for you. Make them earn their money.

Don't do it. We nearly got lumbered with a cat.

it's easier to keep it business-like if you don't. Let the estate agents and solicitors do what you're paying them £££ for

My preference would be to keep it a business relationship. A family member bought from a neighbour and got constant calls demanding updates, it was very unpleasant.

Don't do it.

Just don't.

No advice from me but the consensus seems pretty clear.
Out of curiosity though, why all the people saying no? I understand’it might be a bit forward’ or ‘it’s rude as the vendors may not welcome direct contact’ but I don’t understand what people are saying can go do badly wrong? How does being in touch mean you’re more likely to get lumbered with stuff you done want, etc?

YWBVU. Some people prefer to keep a personal distance.

Entirely defeats the purpose of an “agent” ie someone who acts on your behalf. General things like timescale, delay getting dealt with by the agent. The your solicitor for bigger things plus pushing matters along.

Its a bad idea also as it can leave agents and solicitors out of the loop for things they need to be aware of. Let them earn their fees!

I fairly recently sold a property and it was very helpful, when things seemed to get stuck for no obvious reason, to be able to contact my buyer and ask if they knew why we'd ground to a halt. It turned out that neither of our solicitors were prioritising us, so we both nagged and cajoled and got there eventually. If it had just been left to the EA I would have been fobbed off with 'These things take time...'

So I'd agree it might be useful. I'd keep it fairly cool to start with. I didn't want to be friends with the person purchasing my property. I didn't want her phoning me up in six months to complain about the heating system or the dodgy side gate. Perhaps something along the lines of 'Just in case there's anything you need to contact me about privately, this is my number' and leave it there.

Nope that’s what we’re paying the estate agent their 1% for anything communicate with buyers would need to be communicated with the agents anyway so it’s just doubling the time spent on the phone!

How does being in touch mean you’re more likely to get lumbered with stuff you done want, etc?

Because hours after exchange they would not have been able to start messaging us asking that we take on the care of their cat. The estate agent would have fielded this or, more likely, they wouldn't have asked at all.