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Original poster

We've exchanged and complete in 2 weeks - buyers want YET ANOTHER viewing

444 replies

MoominFeatures · 24/08/2023 08:30

We've exchanged contracts on the sale of our house - completion is in two weeks (we're in England).

Pre-exchange we accommodated multiple viewings - of course. We felt it was just part of the process and seemed fair enough.

We exchanged at the end of July. Since then, the buy has asked for (and we've accommodated) two more viewings, one really last minute while they knew we were on holiday and away (but we figured it out so they could come) and the second time one afternoon on a day they knew was a working day for us but was the only day/time that worked for them. We accommodated. They were here for four hours (the house is a pretty regular 4-bed detached house in a village - not some pile somewhere with a million rooms and corridors).

They're coming again today - for the third time. They've even asked me to push out a work call I have in case they need longer than 90 minutes here (I told them about that to try to get a sense of how long they'll be here for).

AIBU for feeling really quite put out??! The house is utter chaos - boxes everywhere, dust all over because we're actively packing. It doesn't look good at all and it's really stressing me out. I have been up until god knows what our the past two nights and up with the sparrows the following mornings trying to make things look a bit neater (not sure it's made a difference) but the more i do the angrier I get about it all. To top it off, the buyer sent us an email last night essentially saying "see you tomorrow" but jibed that "I guess you're more relaxed than we are". Well that's set me right off. I'm absolutely raging - they have no idea of all the shit going on in our lives at the moment (the house move is only one element and probably the least stressful one).

Please someone tell me I'm not being over-sensitive and they're truly CFs. Being tired and cranky isn't helping me no doubt, but we wouldn't dream of heading to our sellers' house now, when we'd been twice post-exchange already and when completion is in two weeks, so this is really pissing me off. I really need to not lose my shit at them when they rock up later this morning. Eeeeek.

OP posts:
Babydaddy1978 · 25/08/2023 12:46

Sounds like they are measuring literally everything to pre order furniture, curtains etc. I get it but they sound completely unreasonable to have so many viewings. If you had not yet exchanged you may want to be somewhat flexible but given they are now committed to the purchase then I would just refuse any further viewings until completion.

Lucyboat · 25/08/2023 12:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

KittytheHare · 25/08/2023 12:50

We sold our house in May. The day before completion our buyers requested a final viewing. I reluctantly agreed, reminding our estate agent that we would be up to our eyes in boxes etc. When they arrived they refused to step inside the door and were shocked that we hadn't the entire house completely empty and deep cleaned for their final 'inspection'. They said that once we had stripped our 250 year old, 5000sq ft house of absolutely everything, had it deep cleaned, landscaped the garden and removed two garden sheds they would be willing to complete.

Our estate agent was incredible, he had a team of people descend on the house and somehow we managed to accede to their 'most reasonable' requests. Now I know that technically they were locked into the sale, but they could have delayed completion and we were on an unbreakable time schedule to complete our purchase. It was a complete nightmare at the time.

Oaktree55 · 25/08/2023 13:03

This is fairly normal in higher value houses but perhaps not in your price bracket.

wizzyderbyshire · 25/08/2023 13:26

When we bought the house that I am still living in, I saw it for a grand total of 25 minutes - on 2 visits. The estate agent was doing the viewings and wouldn’t allow us any more time. Tell them to F off!

SomeCatFromJapan · 25/08/2023 13:28

This is fairly normal in higher value houses but perhaps not in your price bracket

I love this hilarious MN thing where people try to big themselves up like this and just wind up looking pathetic. 😂

horseyhorsey17 · 25/08/2023 13:30

KittytheHare · 25/08/2023 12:50

We sold our house in May. The day before completion our buyers requested a final viewing. I reluctantly agreed, reminding our estate agent that we would be up to our eyes in boxes etc. When they arrived they refused to step inside the door and were shocked that we hadn't the entire house completely empty and deep cleaned for their final 'inspection'. They said that once we had stripped our 250 year old, 5000sq ft house of absolutely everything, had it deep cleaned, landscaped the garden and removed two garden sheds they would be willing to complete.

Our estate agent was incredible, he had a team of people descend on the house and somehow we managed to accede to their 'most reasonable' requests. Now I know that technically they were locked into the sale, but they could have delayed completion and we were on an unbreakable time schedule to complete our purchase. It was a complete nightmare at the time.

I'm having palpitations just reading this. I moved last Sept and that was stressful enough because we had an eight household long chain (!) and somehow it still all ended up coming down to the wire and us getting two days to clear our house and move out, but luckily nobody was dicks about anything in the way you describe! In fact, I was a bit irritated that I ended up having to take loads of stuff left in my new house to the tip, plus is wasn't clean at all. But I'm just not nasty enough to have potentially destroyed the whole chain by making a fuss about it.

Original poster
MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 13:53

SomeCatFromJapan · 25/08/2023 13:28

This is fairly normal in higher value houses but perhaps not in your price bracket

I love this hilarious MN thing where people try to big themselves up like this and just wind up looking pathetic. 😂

Edited

Grin I'm not biting. I didn't say what area the house is in or what it's worth, it wasn't the point of my OP and....isn't a lovely day today?! 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:53

they bought your house. BOUGHT it. they haven't asked to sleep over. they want to see the house they bought and probably just doing some furniture measurements etc. i don't think it's much to ask tbh. also, you are still under contract to ensure the house is sold as per agreed conditions, they can sue you if after they move in they find it is not. i would not p people off who are spending thousands more than they need to on homes right now.

Original poster
MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 13:55

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:53

they bought your house. BOUGHT it. they haven't asked to sleep over. they want to see the house they bought and probably just doing some furniture measurements etc. i don't think it's much to ask tbh. also, you are still under contract to ensure the house is sold as per agreed conditions, they can sue you if after they move in they find it is not. i would not p people off who are spending thousands more than they need to on homes right now.

They haven't bought it yet though? We haven't completed?

OP posts:
wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:59

MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 13:55

They haven't bought it yet though? We haven't completed?

Show quote history

are they your "buyers"? if so then just be grateful you even have buyers in this climate. they're purchasing your house and if you don't like the conditions these people expect from this sale, then reduce your price or don't sell at all or sell to someone else. it's a business transaction. they want to see the product. it's their bloody money

SirVixofVixHall · 25/08/2023 13:59

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:53

they bought your house. BOUGHT it. they haven't asked to sleep over. they want to see the house they bought and probably just doing some furniture measurements etc. i don't think it's much to ask tbh. also, you are still under contract to ensure the house is sold as per agreed conditions, they can sue you if after they move in they find it is not. i would not p people off who are spending thousands more than they need to on homes right now.

They haven’t bought it. They are part way along the process but could still pull out. The house belongs to the OP, not the intended buyers, and acting as though they own it already and bossing the OP about like this is Cheeky Fuckery at its finest.

Hibiscrubbed · 25/08/2023 14:01

Oaktree55 · 25/08/2023 13:03

This is fairly normal in higher value houses but perhaps not in your price bracket.

😂😂😂

Also, no it’s not. Don’t try to pretend you’re a high roller.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 25/08/2023 14:01

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:53

they bought your house. BOUGHT it. they haven't asked to sleep over. they want to see the house they bought and probably just doing some furniture measurements etc. i don't think it's much to ask tbh. also, you are still under contract to ensure the house is sold as per agreed conditions, they can sue you if after they move in they find it is not. i would not p people off who are spending thousands more than they need to on homes right now.

Are you on glue? What “furniture measurements etc” these people POSSIBLY be doing for hours and hours over multiple visits?

And what would make you think that the house isn’t “sold as per agreed conditions” or that they are “spending thousands more than they need to”? Hmm

Honestly, the mental gymnastics some people contort themselves through to declare OP unreasonable are something else.

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 14:02

SirVixofVixHall · 25/08/2023 13:59

They haven’t bought it. They are part way along the process but could still pull out. The house belongs to the OP, not the intended buyers, and acting as though they own it already and bossing the OP about like this is Cheeky Fuckery at its finest.

Show quote history

hahahah it's not cheeky! they are about to spend hundreds of £thousands on a house. seriously, do you actually think this is a seller's market right now? if you sellers are going to be this arssy i can't want for your homes to crash in value. because see what buyers will be like then. these are people who are making a big financial decision. if you don't like the process of selling, then don't sell. if a seller refused me a viewing, I'd pull out in a flash. what they hiding exactly?

Original poster
MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:04

@wheretolivehelp Thanks. We are grateful. It's precisely why we've bent over backwards to accommodate them, even though objectively it seems they are behaving unusually. We haven't prevented them from doing anything they've asked to do. I can't imagine you're suggesting we should have done yet more?

OP posts:
Hibiscrubbed · 25/08/2023 14:04

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 13:53

they bought your house. BOUGHT it. they haven't asked to sleep over. they want to see the house they bought and probably just doing some furniture measurements etc. i don't think it's much to ask tbh. also, you are still under contract to ensure the house is sold as per agreed conditions, they can sue you if after they move in they find it is not. i would not p people off who are spending thousands more than they need to on homes right now.

No they haven’t, you dingbat. Have you ever bought a house?! I suspect not. 😬

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 14:07

BrightYellowDaffodil · 25/08/2023 14:01

Are you on glue? What “furniture measurements etc” these people POSSIBLY be doing for hours and hours over multiple visits?

And what would make you think that the house isn’t “sold as per agreed conditions” or that they are “spending thousands more than they need to”? Hmm

Honestly, the mental gymnastics some people contort themselves through to declare OP unreasonable are something else.

Show quote history

POSSIBLY be doing for hours and hours over multiple visits

it's none of yours or the OP's biz what they're doing it for. it's no different from checking any product before you buy. there's no limit to viewings, it's a buyer's market so tough s.

sold as per agreed conditions

are you new to the selling process? you need to actually speak to a previous owner who has been sued by their buyers after moving in and see what happens... my cousin in a solicitor in this area and it is not pretty. with FTB, most are millenials and they will not take s.

spending thousands more than they need to

do you live under a rock? high interest rates!

Original poster
MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:07

Is it me or did this thread suddenly go a bit ...weird? 🥜

OP posts:
wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 14:07

Hibiscrubbed · 25/08/2023 14:04

No they haven’t, you dingbat. Have you ever bought a house?! I suspect not. 😬

Show quote history

dingbat? what did you get for your GCSEs? let me guess.... lol

Pudmyboy · 25/08/2023 14:11

MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:07

Is it me or did this thread suddenly go a bit ...weird? 🥜

Sometimes Mumsnet can get a bit feral, don't take it personally!

userxx · 25/08/2023 14:11

KittytheHare · 25/08/2023 12:50

We sold our house in May. The day before completion our buyers requested a final viewing. I reluctantly agreed, reminding our estate agent that we would be up to our eyes in boxes etc. When they arrived they refused to step inside the door and were shocked that we hadn't the entire house completely empty and deep cleaned for their final 'inspection'. They said that once we had stripped our 250 year old, 5000sq ft house of absolutely everything, had it deep cleaned, landscaped the garden and removed two garden sheds they would be willing to complete.

Our estate agent was incredible, he had a team of people descend on the house and somehow we managed to accede to their 'most reasonable' requests. Now I know that technically they were locked into the sale, but they could have delayed completion and we were on an unbreakable time schedule to complete our purchase. It was a complete nightmare at the time.

What!!!! I'd have lost my shit or been gently rocking in a corner.

wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 14:11

MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:04

@wheretolivehelp Thanks. We are grateful. It's precisely why we've bent over backwards to accommodate them, even though objectively it seems they are behaving unusually. We haven't prevented them from doing anything they've asked to do. I can't imagine you're suggesting we should have done yet more?

I'm not going to bother responding to the other unintelligent comments on this thread, OP. i do understand it can be frustrating , moving is stressful for everyone, but let me tell you this. this market and going forwards in the future with millenial and gen z buyers, house selling/buying will NEVER be the same again. these generations know what they want and if they're going to spend money they worked hard for knowing that they have it harder than prev generations with high interest rates and stagnant wages, savings up for years just for a deposit, they will not give a crap about your stress levels, they will not take crap from any buyer. if you don't have another buyer, i wouldn't tick off anyone. it's a business transaction and the sooner sellers understand that, the easier it will be.

Original poster
MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:13

To clear up a few small bits:

  1. I'm not worried about not delivering up our house as agreed. We're on track with packing, vacant possession will be given, all screwholes will be filled (and walls repainted - we haven't agreed to do that, but we just will because morally it feels like the right thing to do), the garden will be pruned, weeded, mowed and tidy, and the house will be scrubbed clean.
  1. Our buyers are not FTB.
  1. We're buying with a mortgage, so - if and to the extent there is any overpaying being done on account of interest rate rises, our buyers (who aren't buying with a mortgage btw) won't be bearing that issue. Rather, we will.
OP posts:
wheretolivehelp · 25/08/2023 14:16

MoominFeatures · 25/08/2023 14:13

To clear up a few small bits:

  1. I'm not worried about not delivering up our house as agreed. We're on track with packing, vacant possession will be given, all screwholes will be filled (and walls repainted - we haven't agreed to do that, but we just will because morally it feels like the right thing to do), the garden will be pruned, weeded, mowed and tidy, and the house will be scrubbed clean.
  1. Our buyers are not FTB.
  1. We're buying with a mortgage, so - if and to the extent there is any overpaying being done on account of interest rate rises, our buyers (who aren't buying with a mortgage btw) won't be bearing that issue. Rather, we will.

even so, it's still their money and they want to see the product they are planning to buy. if you don't like that, find another buyer. it's that simple.