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AIBU?

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Moving house and new buyers

51 replies

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:37

Ex and I are selling our house. I moved back with my kids to where our family live/kids dad too. I'm buying a house which is part of the chain and my ex has moved in with his mum he has moved his stuff out.

The buyers of our house have been pretty Intimidating and have been I would say aggressive in their demands etc. The completion date is Friday. I will be moving my stuff out on that day.

I got a call today from the estate agent asking if the buyers can view the house Wednesday. I say no because I am really busy, work all day, driving to the house in the evenings to pack etc. It's stressful moving as it is. The Estate Agent went back to the buyers and told them it's not practical. They called me back and sais the buyers want to check the house is empty. I tell her it isn't and they are aware I am moving to a new home Friday. They go back to them and say no it isn't empty. They say they want to check my garde furniture is gone. I say no as I have a moving van booked for Friday and it will be gone then. She goes back to them and tells them this. They then say their solicitor has advised they view the property and check any damage that may have been caused since the survey. I tell her there is no damage and say I'm busy packing, sorting stuff out and have limited time. The buyers they say they won't complete if I don't let them check. I've reluctantly agreed but feel really under pressure. Would it be unreasonable to cancel and stick to my guns. I've got a lot on, not much time and don't want them there while I'm getting sorted. I feel like they are checking up on me.

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 24/09/2024 22:40

Stack your furniture and boxes up across various doorways and across the staircase - they won't stay long.

Maloneyb · 24/09/2024 22:41

Our a—-ole buyers were the same.
they wanted to check we hadn’t put a hole through our wall lol - they had been so difficult with setting a date

we said no
estate agent tried to help us
they didn’t agree.
we agreed to let estate agent come and do the “viewing” cuz I didn’t want to see them.

so once we agreed.. they never mentioned it again! So we never had to.

its despicable behaviour really.
if they’re unhappy with anything you leave behind they can raise it through solicitor AFTER. I don’t know why your solicitor or estate agent isn’t fighting this for you ?

good luck and I hope they don’t want to view in the end because it is SO stressful

WineIsMyMainVice · 24/09/2024 22:41

It depends how desperately you need this sale to go through! Can you risk it falling apart?

Pieandchips999 · 24/09/2024 22:42

I'm assuming if completion is Friday you have exchanged? If you have exchanged Id be tempted to tell them to lump it. They have a legal obligation to complete. If you haven't exchanged you'll probably have to put up with it but it feels like they might be pulling a last minute fast one so fingers crossed you already exchanged and they are being stupid

jamtarty · 24/09/2024 22:42

Have you exchanged? Assuming you’re not in Scotland (because I know they have different rules but not what) then they can’t just refuse to complete.

If you have not exchanged then you are being a bit unreasonable not to let them do a pre-exchange viewing.

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:44

It's unbelievable isn't it. They have been like this all the way through. I'm calling my solicitor tomorrow. I've got all my stuff packed and tbh I don't want them mooching around.

OP posts:
Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:45

I'm gona check tomorrow. They have been multiple times but wanted to make sure I had moved out, which I haven't. They are checking up on me I'm in the middle of packing.

OP posts:
Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:47

Love this idea haha

OP posts:
MutleyCrew · 24/09/2024 22:47

Have you exchanged ?

It is normal for solicitors to advise a pre-exchange check.

The EA can facilitate the viewing.

You need this to go through!!

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/09/2024 22:48

In France it is standard to visit the property on the morning of completion to inspect it and make sure that it is still in the contractual state.

Ever since I bought a house which it transpired the vendor had no intention of vacating on completion ( he was a terrible person, and it was his own solicitor who told us his plan) we have a retention clause in the contract, so that we can inspect before releasing all the money.

Its a stressful time for everyone, buyer and seller. If you can grin and bear it, let them come, just carry on packing and cleaning around them.

Namenamchange · 24/09/2024 22:49

My solicitor was pretty adamant I visited the house the day before exchange to make sure it was all ok. I’m paying for his advice so I took it.

schloss · 24/09/2024 22:55

@Sunshine186 Please answer the question as to if you have exchanged as it is very important as to what options you have.

If you have exchanged you can continue saying it is not convenient, if the buyers do not complete they will be in trouble both financially and legally.

If you have not exchanged then you may need to be a bit more flexible, as annoying as it is.

There is nothing wrong with doing a final inspection of a purchase and it is recommended however your buyers are wrong to presume or insist the house is empty, including the garden before completion.

If you havenot exchanged, I would say the buyers can visit at X time, but there will be boxes, furniture etc still in situ.

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:58

Thanks guys. I needed some perspective. It's been stressful and they have kept asking for money off etc I just didn't want the stress tbh. I'll ask the EA to do it.

OP posts:
Hiccupsinmyear · 24/09/2024 23:10

I had this with buyers who had also asked for a £10k discount after everything had been agreed, it was already selling for £5K less than previous buyers had offered. I was a single parent with 4 very young children, some with disabilities, trying to pack up the house, when they suddenly requested a viewing the day before exchange with no notice. I absolutely refused, the estate agent was bemused and said are you refusing access? I stuck to my guns, I was so annoyed tbh and had boxes and stuff everywhere, they had had plenty of time to request another viewing as the sale had moved quite slowly. I thought they also may try and ask for money off again. They exchanged and completed in the end without the last minute viewing!

jamtarty · 24/09/2024 23:13

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:58

Thanks guys. I needed some perspective. It's been stressful and they have kept asking for money off etc I just didn't want the stress tbh. I'll ask the EA to do it.

Please could you clarify if you’re exchanged or not - it’s very confusing trying to advise without knowing this!

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 23:14

Similar thing here. We sold at 10k less just to get it sold. Then they had their survey and asked for 5k off, but wouldn't share the survey. They got quotes for different things and wanted us to pay for them. I refused as it was cosmetic stuff. I'm dreading the moving date as I worry they will be trying to get in before they should, while I'm moving.

OP posts:
Ariela · 24/09/2024 23:19

Just tell them No, but they can reassure themselves you've still got your stuff there till the removal van arrives on Friday, and they're more than welcome to look through the front room window to confirm this. And maybe offer a photo or two by email to their solicitor (not yours, theirs so it costs them unless a fixed fee)

Turmerictolly · 24/09/2024 23:29

People are asking repeatedly if you've exchanged contracts yet? Sometimes buyers pull out at the last minute before exchange unfortunately or try to lower the offer price drastically just before exchange when you're almost ready to go. They look to find fault at a last minute viewing.
If you've already exchanged then tell them to get lost. They'll get the keys on moving day.

Ihateslugs · 24/09/2024 23:41

Our buyers pulled out on the day we were going to exchange! No reason, their solicitor just told our solicitor that they no longer wanted to proceed! Nothing we could do except put the house back on the market. Had we exchanged though, they would have lost the 10% deposit you transfer at exchange.

In another house move, the buyers turned up at 10am on the day of completion, along with the furniture van but had to wait outside until the money had been received in my solicitors bank - normal procedure. It was almost 3 pm when I got the word that the chain had completed and I could let them have the keys. My solicitor told me not to let them start moving their things in but I did allow them to pile some boxes on the front lawn to save a little time - it was early December and I felt awful about them and their three children sitting in the car but I had to do what my solicitor told me.

good96 · 25/09/2024 00:00

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:37

Ex and I are selling our house. I moved back with my kids to where our family live/kids dad too. I'm buying a house which is part of the chain and my ex has moved in with his mum he has moved his stuff out.

The buyers of our house have been pretty Intimidating and have been I would say aggressive in their demands etc. The completion date is Friday. I will be moving my stuff out on that day.

I got a call today from the estate agent asking if the buyers can view the house Wednesday. I say no because I am really busy, work all day, driving to the house in the evenings to pack etc. It's stressful moving as it is. The Estate Agent went back to the buyers and told them it's not practical. They called me back and sais the buyers want to check the house is empty. I tell her it isn't and they are aware I am moving to a new home Friday. They go back to them and say no it isn't empty. They say they want to check my garde furniture is gone. I say no as I have a moving van booked for Friday and it will be gone then. She goes back to them and tells them this. They then say their solicitor has advised they view the property and check any damage that may have been caused since the survey. I tell her there is no damage and say I'm busy packing, sorting stuff out and have limited time. The buyers they say they won't complete if I don't let them check. I've reluctantly agreed but feel really under pressure. Would it be unreasonable to cancel and stick to my guns. I've got a lot on, not much time and don't want them there while I'm getting sorted. I feel like they are checking up on me.

It’s not their home until the sale completes so it’s really none of their business what is inside the house right now. Why do they need to check?
It’s bizarre behaviour IMO.

Have you exchanged yet? They could be arseholes and pull out… but don’t let that intimidate you. It’s your house. It is in their best interests to not interrupt you on your last few days.

BIossomtoes · 25/09/2024 00:04

WineIsMyMainVice · 24/09/2024 22:41

It depends how desperately you need this sale to go through! Can you risk it falling apart?

It’s not going to fall apart. They paid a 10% deposit at exchange, they’re not going to forfeit that.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 25/09/2024 06:24

Sunshine186 · 24/09/2024 22:58

Thanks guys. I needed some perspective. It's been stressful and they have kept asking for money off etc I just didn't want the stress tbh. I'll ask the EA to do it.

So it sounds very much their inspection will lead to them reporting 'unacceptable damage' /other fabricated stuff to bully you into accepting less money...

Get your EA /solicitor to deal with this

Hoorayharry · 25/09/2024 07:29

BIossomtoes · 25/09/2024 00:04

It’s not going to fall apart. They paid a 10% deposit at exchange, they’re not going to forfeit that.

Noone knows if they’ve exchanged the OP is avoiding the question.

If you haven’t and you need the sale I think you’ll have to let them view. At least they can see that you’re packing.

If you have exchanged already just continue to say no.

Notsuchafattynow · 25/09/2024 07:50

You are very AIBU by not confirming if you've exchanged or not.

Couldyounot · 25/09/2024 07:53

Two word answer to this sort of try-on, really, OP. The second one is "off".

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