Page 12 | AIBU to think we should be able to view a house even though we aren’t selling?

HolidayHun2020 · 2023-02-06T15:39:45+00:00

So a house has come up for sale near us, we’re in a position that it’s not the ideal time for us to buy BUT for the right price and property we could make it work. Our house isn’t on the market but if we wanted to go for something we would put it up straight away. We plan to look at selling and actively trying to move within the next 6-12 months. I want to go and see this house as I saw it a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. It’s come up again, but the estate agent has said that we can’t view it unless we proceed with putting our house up and then if it’s a no from us on the house we are viewing we would then need to get out of the contract to sell our house! AIBU that this is ridiculous? We just want to see this one house on the off chance it’s the one? If we offer and they say no under the circumstance fair enough. Should we just walk away until we are definitely ready to move.

howmanybicycles · 06/02/2023 22:52

Our old house was not on the market when we looked at the house we now own. I did fib and say we were going to rent, but in reality, my plan was yours. And it worked. Our old house sold really quickly. This one needed some work so was still on the market and we put an offer in. There are not many houses in the area we wanted to live and the price bracket we were in. Had we put it on the market on the off chance that a house would come up, we would have messed around our buyers. Been here 12 years now.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 06/02/2023 23:07

mellicauli · 06/02/2023 16:50

Just tell the estate agents you are putting it on with another agents and you'd still like to see the house. If they say no, ask them if that's in the vendors best interest and whether they'd be happy for you to talk to their compliance officer about that. They are supposed to be representing the best interests of the vendors, not of their business after all.

Which is all well and good, but if the vendor has instructed their agent to only allow viewings from proceedable buyers you will just look silly taking that approach. And IME most buyers are only interested in proceedable buyers, unless they themselves have a hard to sell house…

WishIdDoneItYearsAgo · 07/02/2023 00:52

Rosscameasdoody · 06/02/2023 22:39

Not a property expert, posting from experience, and I’ve been in this position. If you sell and can’t find anywhere you want to live straight away, then you move out and rent until you do - that’s if you’re serious about selling. I don’t understand why you think it’s so complicated. When you put your house on the market, you look in EA’s and shortlist properties you are interested in. Some may let you view without having sold or having a valid offer, some may not. Most won’t let you view unless you are at least on the market. But you would at least have a list of properties you are interested in. Once you have an offer, you start viewing. And you keep in mind that once you accept an offer from a buyer that the EA has introduced and who is able to proceed, you are still liable to pay the EA fees whatever you decide to do.

Show quote history

@Rosscameasdoody, but what if, like me, you’re only willing to sell for a very specific house or tiny range of houses? We didn’t want to be in rented for 5yrs+. We wanted that house and would have sold for that house without hesitation but by the time we agreed to go on the market, the EA had done all their stuff then finally let us view, the house had sold. They then complained because we didn’t accept the offers that came in very quickly. But considering how much our house value has increased since then (and likewise the house type we’d want) if we’d sold and moved into rented we’d have missed out hugely and never been in a position to buy what we’d like.

Chumbibi · 07/02/2023 06:24

YANBU OP it has changed in our part of SE London. Before you had to be under offer but now EAs will let you view. We’ve seen one house in 18 months that we want to buy, we are not going to live in rented for that time with two kids. We actually saw one we loved, listed ours the next day, got an offer the next day, just for our seller to pull out…

Jimboscott0115 · 07/02/2023 06:32

I'd have personally let you view it OP but the fact is you'd never have an offer accepted on it anyway so you'd only be disappointed.

Noone in their right mind would even consider entertaining an offer from someone who hasn't even got their house on the market, especially in an ever slowing market in a year where prices are dropping. Therefore, what's the end game? You seem to think you've got a chance at this house but you're probably one of the most undesirable interested parties out there so if there's an open house or similar, I'd be looking at saving spaces for people in better positions too.

Jimboscott0115 · 07/02/2023 06:37

WishIdDoneItYearsAgo · 07/02/2023 00:52

@Rosscameasdoody, but what if, like me, you’re only willing to sell for a very specific house or tiny range of houses? We didn’t want to be in rented for 5yrs+. We wanted that house and would have sold for that house without hesitation but by the time we agreed to go on the market, the EA had done all their stuff then finally let us view, the house had sold. They then complained because we didn’t accept the offers that came in very quickly. But considering how much our house value has increased since then (and likewise the house type we’d want) if we’d sold and moved into rented we’d have missed out hugely and never been in a position to buy what we’d like.

Show quote history

other than being annoyed about getting your house on the market for no reason in this instance, I think you're expectations were way off anyway. The other house would still have sold quickly and you wouldn't have been the buyer - simply because noone with other offers on the table is accepting one from someone who's own house isn't yet on the market.

I think it's simply one of those situations where you couldn't have won regardless but I think the reminder that your situation would have stopped you getting the house regardless is a useful one.

LlynTegid · 07/02/2023 06:44

I am one of the 32% who think your wishes are reasonable. At least until we replace the current process for buying and selling a house with something better, say Scottish law as an example.

GoodChat · 07/02/2023 07:05

Because I asked about another property, that to be honest we potentially wanted to see for comparison - same price but different area, and the EA said absolutely not because that vendor wasn’t allowing anyone who wasn’t under offer to view. BUT dream house we could view but it was pointless because we weren’t on the market yet.

This is why the EA doesn't like you. You can't just view random houses you have no interest in buying to make comparisons. This is why they think you're tire kickers.

mummabubs · 07/02/2023 07:05

HolidayHun2020 · 06/02/2023 22:30

@Rosscameasdoody Since you’re a property expert. Genuine question. I put my house on the market, it sells. I can’t find anywhere - then what happens? I wouldn’t be able to afford and rent…Should in theory someone not buy my property until I’ve found somewhere so I’m not ‘inconveniencing’ the chain?

My friend has had this... Twice! If you sell, but nothing comes up that you like then you just be honest with your buyers that you haven't found anywhere yet and they may choose to wait or walk... Lots of people are in this position, we were as we were only interested in very specific areas.

Also I feel I have to pick up on your assertion that you're definitely not a time waster in relation to the house in your OP, but then a couple of updates ago you drop in that you've also considered viewing another house "just for comparison"...!? Which would be textbook time wasting for that vendor! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Honestly, if you seriously think you may want the house then put yours on the market!

LillyBugg · 07/02/2023 08:00

@Blossomtoes absolutely not. What would be the point of allowing viewings from people who aren't on the market and therefore not in a position to proceed within my one month deadline? Even those on the market could have months before finding a buyer. So I would only have viewings from those under offer. I slashed the price by £20k and sold within a matter of days to a proceedable buyer.

lieselotte · 07/02/2023 08:15

Moveoverdarlin · 06/02/2023 18:50

This is standard practice and has been for at least the last two years. People will be snapping their hand off, they just don’t need to do viewings with people who are thinking about moving in the next year.

That may have been the case until September but it isn't the case now. A house has been on the market in my road since November (admittedly I think it's on for too much money and they've not reduced the price). Sellers are not in charge. And as some of us have said, some people only want to move if they find the right house, not for any old house.

In fact that reminds me of the thread where the poster was offended because someone had made her an offer under the asking price and despite everyone saying the market has changed and it's reasonable to offer under the asking price anyway, she was sure she was right. I wonder if she has sold her house yet.

WickedSerious · 07/02/2023 08:27

lieselotte · 07/02/2023 08:15

That may have been the case until September but it isn't the case now. A house has been on the market in my road since November (admittedly I think it's on for too much money and they've not reduced the price). Sellers are not in charge. And as some of us have said, some people only want to move if they find the right house, not for any old house.

In fact that reminds me of the thread where the poster was offended because someone had made her an offer under the asking price and despite everyone saying the market has changed and it's reasonable to offer under the asking price anyway, she was sure she was right. I wonder if she has sold her house yet.

Show quote history

I know a woman whose house took twelve years to sell because she refused to knock a penny off the asking price.

She got lucky when a family moving from a much more expensive part of the country viewed it and decided it was a bargain.

WishIdDoneItYearsAgo · 07/02/2023 08:55

Jimboscott0115 · 07/02/2023 06:37

other than being annoyed about getting your house on the market for no reason in this instance, I think you're expectations were way off anyway. The other house would still have sold quickly and you wouldn't have been the buyer - simply because noone with other offers on the table is accepting one from someone who's own house isn't yet on the market.

I think it's simply one of those situations where you couldn't have won regardless but I think the reminder that your situation would have stopped you getting the house regardless is a useful one.

Show quote history

Well, I was annoyed because there was 1month between them going on the market and them accepting an offer. If the EA had let us view we’d have offered immediately, put ours on the market and accepted an offer on ours very quickly. So they’d have had an offer quicker and we’d have got the house.
But also frustrating was that the EA then tried to say we were breaching contract by going on the market and not accepting one of the 3 offers that came in very quickly. Yet they knew we didn’t want to sell as there was nothing to move into. They couldn’t seem to understand that we didn’t need to or want to sell our house and would only consider moving for something very niche and specific. It’s not the case that we’d always have missed out. This was 6yrs ago. We’d have viewed, offered and accepted an offer on ours before they received the other offer.

WishIdDoneItYearsAgo · 07/02/2023 09:28

Also, does nobody think it would be unfair to any potential buyers of my house to have it on the market, accept their offer but then keep pulling out or expect them to wait years until something we want happens to come up for sale? Our EA was frustrated that we didn’t accept any of the offers but I bet those buyers hadn’t been told our situation meant we were looking for something very specific.
I really think in cases like ours, the EA could put the choice to the vendor telling them we’re not on the market but our house will sell quickly and let them decide.

It was all very frustrating as we were seen as time wasting buyers but also time wasting sellers when the neither of these were true.

Saza123 · 07/02/2023 11:11

MrTumblesSpottyHag · 06/02/2023 16:01

I tidied our house with my clingy 2 and 5 year olds under my feet only for the couple viewing to announce that they lived further down the street and just booked an appointment any time a house in the road was put up for sale because they liked to see what each house looked like 😯

I’d have been fuming!

Mumto2kids86 · 07/02/2023 11:33

I wouldn’t say you’re being unreasonable, but the property market is very buoyant now, and if I was selling my house I wouldn’t want people wasting my time to just come for a nosy. It sounds like you’re clearly not in a position to buy cause you’re not willing to put your house up for sale. I don’t really see why viewing it is necessary. If you have basically decided now is not the right time for you. They must be pictures online with surely should be sufficient?

workingitoutnow · 07/02/2023 11:34

No you shouldn’t go round there and totally waste their time. You’re not ready to sell. They on the other hand will be putting time and effort into making their house looks good. They will be planning where they will go whilst the viewing will be taking place and they will be pinning their hopes on you giving them an offer at the asking price.

estate agents want as many feet through the doors as possible.

”buyers” like you are time wasters.

Perennis · 07/02/2023 11:41

The last 2 times we moved we put in an offer (both accepted) before our house was on the market. The first time we could get a mortgage for the full value of the new house, so didn't need to sell (although we did - who needs 2 houses!).

The second time we had our offer accepted but they gave us 6 weeks to get ours under offer, which we managed.

So it's not completely crazy to view without having your offer in place. It very much depends what position the vendor is in. In a fast market you don't stand a chance, but if they are struggling to shift it that's very different. Whilst the estate agent can advise the vendor ultimately it should be the vendors' choice who views.

workingitoutnow · 07/02/2023 11:46

HolidayHun2020 · 06/02/2023 18:50

Thanks for all the responses, a real mixed bag for MN 😂 mostly IABU but a fair few I’m not. Just to clarify a few things…

When I say ‘we saw it’ we didn’t actually view. We couldn’t afford to move then so only saw it on Rightmove! I would NEVER go and view a house unless we genuinely were in a position to buy sans current property being on the market this is the first ever property we are going to see (move in to this place straight from parents houses and was a new build)
Since that time we’ve managed to save enough for the deposit for this house in question in cash, plus stamp duty is being gifted, plus equity in our current property & changes in salary etc
I do think part of the problem is our house isn’t desirable in the area (two bed in a new build development) so could be hard to sell.
The house is having viewing days rather then going round at convenient times so I don’t think by going we are putting them out if I’m honest

I also don’t think we are time wasters. We can afford it and would be willing to offer we just would need time to sell ours. I think that should be up to the sellers rather than the EA! I got the impression the sellers were fine with our position it’s the EA who have said it’s pointless as we won’t be able to compete with a market of largely cash buyers!

The thing is the system is broken. Say we put ours on the market and say the same thing ‘only those under offer’ it just becomes a cycle!

I am now in two minds whether to still try and view on the one hand, houses like this genuinely don’t come up often - this is maybe 1 of 10 houses that come up in our area a year and it’s completely turn key!!

You’re a bit deluded honestly.

The fact it is an open day has nothing to do with whether you are putting them out. You are taking up a slot someone who is proceedable could actually use.

the estate agent

You say you are not time wasters because
yoh can put in an offer
based on a house that’s difficult to sell (your words, not mine)
and I bet the EA wouldn’t share that

so this is how your scenario might play out…..
you put in an offer
EA plays up your position
you put your house on the market pronto
the market is “challenging”
you don’t get offers or get lower offers than you need to make the move
EA keeps seller sweet as long as possible and blames you for all the delays
sellers insists you pay for a survey to show good faith (but you don’t want to as your house hasn’t sold)
seller get pissed off at best, misled at worst and pulls out
you look like a complete idiot as you will no doubt have told everyone who knows you”yeah, we’re buying that house,” when actually you aren’t.

Want that?

Blossomtoes · 07/02/2023 11:51

You are taking up a slot someone who is proceedable could actually use.

Is the market flooded with proceedable buyers at the moment? It’s dead as a doornail round here.

GoodChat · 07/02/2023 11:55

Blossomtoes · 07/02/2023 11:51

You are taking up a slot someone who is proceedable could actually use.

Is the market flooded with proceedable buyers at the moment? It’s dead as a doornail round here.

Houses are getting snapped up here.

AddieLoggins2 · 07/02/2023 12:01

2 years ago I was in the exact same position as you. We were only going to move for the exact right house and they don't come up much in the area we live in.

It took almost 18 months but we did it. We had our house ready to sell, when the house we wanted came up we quickly got our house on the market, and made sure our estate agent made viewers aware of our position etc.

Our vendors were in the exact same position too. At one point the house they were buying fell through so the chain waited about 6 months while they found a new house.

(Our buyers were a couple who were going to keep their flat and renovate our house so they were happy to wait).

But, it is very much the luck of the chain. It relies on the right people being in the right position at the right time.

We didn't view until our house was under offer. There wouldn't have been any point anyway because at each point the chain below needs to be proceed-able.

E.g.When our vendors saw a house they loved, the people selling it wouldn't accepted their offer until they knew our vendors and us were under offer and our buyers had demonstrated proof of funds.

This might be the same for the owners of the house you like; they might have seen a house they want to buy and they need to be as desirable a buyer as possible when putting their offer in. Having an incomplete chain below them is not desirable.

For those saying it's crazy or doesn't make sense to not be able to view until you've sold; it's literally how the housing market in England operates and is how the vast majority of house sales happen here. So it might not make sense to you but it is the way it's done and clearly it works.

It is also shit; it's why moving is so stressful and why so many house sales fall through. But that's life sometimes.

Blossomtoes · 07/02/2023 12:02

GoodChat · 07/02/2023 11:55

Houses are getting snapped up here.

Show quote history

Nothing’s moving here. There are houses that have been on the market since last summer and not much is coming on to the market. It’s definitely not a sellers’ market any more.

budgiegirl · 07/02/2023 12:02

Well, I was annoyed because there was 1month between them going on the market and them accepting an offer. If the EA had let us view we’d have offered immediately, put ours on the market and accepted an offer on ours very quickly. So they’d have had an offer quicker and we’d have got the house

But you could have just put your house on the market, then made an offer, still within the one month window. If you were having offers on yours very quickly, you would have been in a much stronger position to view and offer on the new house. If you didn't get an offer on yours in time, you could just take your house back off the market.

There can't be many vendors out there who would accept an offer from someone who's not even on the market yet, so you don't know that the vendor would have accepted your offer without your house being on the market, if you had been allowed to view. I know I wouldn't have. We've moved several times, we allowed viewings from people who had their house on the market, but wouldn't accept an offer from people who hadn't sold yet. We just advised them to come back with an offer once they had sold.

GoodChat · 07/02/2023 12:05

But then don't you think it'd be shitty to give someone false hope by viewing their house when you're not proceedable @Blossomtoes?