Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Vendors too busy for second viewing

49 replies

rowtunda · 18/04/2013 17:41

We had an offer accepted on a house 6 weeks ago, had the survey done and a few issues but nothing insurmountable. They are not leaving any white goods and we have only seen the house once when we put on the offer on (we are in London and everything goes to sealed bids).

Asked two weeks ago to go for second viewing given a whole range of dates and times but vendors came back they are too busy at work. Offered further dates for this week and next and now they are saying they are too busy, her mum is unwell and should be able to get us in by the end of the month.

I'm a but pee'd off really, surely it's not to much hassle to drop the keys off at estate agents and we could go round whilst they are at work.

I am spending a lot of money and just want to reassure myself and check out what things we need to buy and do - including size of appliances for the kitchen. We definitely don't want to pull out as we have buyers for our flat but I'm really disconcerted that they won't let us have a second viewing and keep on putting us off.

Am I just being really cynical -WWYD?

OP posts:

PragmaticWench · 18/04/2013 18:09

Whilst they don't have to let you visit, it does seem strange of them considering they want you to proceed with the purchase of their property. I think it is quite normal to want to view again to take measurements etc.

Have you spoken to them through the agent or directly? Can you stress to the agent that you wanting to take measurements is a positive sign of you proceeding with the purchase, rather than a negative, in case the vendors are concerned that you're coming round because you're unsure.

lightrain · 18/04/2013 18:12

Tbh, if you've given them a number of options a good few times an they're not playing ball, I'd be tempted to get the big guns out and say that ours not prepared to proceed (move forward with the sale process) until they find a convenient time for you to visit. It's not an unreasonable request at all.

LaurieFairyCake · 18/04/2013 18:16

It's not an unreasonable request to go but there's no way anyone's going to leave keys for you to visit.

I'm about to put my house on the market and that thought gives me palpitations

NorthernLurker · 18/04/2013 18:16

I agree. Personally I couldn't bear to do a second view till we'd exchanged. Having offered and lost once on the house it was just too tense and there was nothing I needed to see until we'd exchanged when I did take measurements etc. SOunds like you do though and it's perfectly normal to do so. Be firm with the agents.

soonbesailing · 18/04/2013 18:30

Well I'm amazed you are being so nice about this. If you are buying a house in London you are spending ££££ and you have only seen it once.

Very unreasonable not to let you come again, also why can't the estate agents show you around in the day when they are out/unavailabe to show you themselves.

Second viewings are very important, you have already committed to this house but there will be many things you will not have taken in on the first viewing.

We recently sold in London and our buyers came at least 3 times before exchange.

Once you have exchanged you can't pull out without losing lots of money, so you need to see it before.

We made the mistake of letting our heart rule with our new house purchase and it didn't even occur to me till the visit after exchnge that most of the bedrooms in the house faced onto a road! I'd been so busy thinking about other things that I just hadn't thought about that, it's not that much of a problem but I realise its something that could put off others and I didn't even think about it at the time.

I would be insisting on a second viewing.

cooper44 · 18/04/2013 21:11

When we were buying the agent was also very funny about us coming a second time. I was very firm - told them I wanted to measure up and I think at that viewing I brought a builder with us too.
As others have said be really firm about it - it would make me suspicious that they are being so tricky.
And as for leaving keys with the agent - of course they can do that! When I have sold I definitely haven't been there for all viewings.
Good luck!

MintyyAeroEgg · 18/04/2013 21:14

Yanbu! Completely understandable in the circumstances. Let the agents know in no uncertain terms ... they should be able to accompany you and if not you can make mention of the £thousands they stand to lose if you withdraw from the sale.

MintyyAeroEgg · 18/04/2013 21:15

Laurie: leave keys with the Estate Agents, not with the buyers!

crazyhead · 18/04/2013 21:17

I'd tell the agent that I was becoming suspicious that the vendors were going to pull out, and insist I saw it. Frankly I would be very suspicious without a better reason than work.

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:19

You should have assuaged your second thoughts before you submitted your sealed bid, no?

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:23

I think conventional wisdom is as many viewings as you want pre-offer then you can come once more between exchange and completion, commonly known as "measuring for curtains" which is just a euphemism for checking on my investment.

specialsubject · 18/04/2013 21:25

if they want to sell, they let you visit - with agent escort, naturally.

make sure that visit is at a different time/day of the week from your first.

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:31

Surely they can list the appliances thy are taking, and give you the measurements?

What I you really feel unsettled about?

MintyyAeroEgg · 18/04/2013 21:31

LittleFrieda: how patronising are you?

I think conventional wisdom is that you don't get a chance for several viewings before offering when a property is so popular that it goes to sealed bids.

Op has seen the house ONCE. It is perfectly reasonable for her to go back for the "measuring for curtains" viewing now.

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:33

Are you purchasers ready to exchange?

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:35

Mintyy - I don't mean to be patronising. . Isn't it sharp practice to elbow the completion out if the way by being the inning bidder and then start with the doubts.

LittleFrieda · 18/04/2013 21:39

Sorry about my dreadful typing.

MintyyAeroEgg · 18/04/2013 21:40

Is that what you think op intends?

Original poster

rowtunda · 19/04/2013 10:40

Littlefrieda - think you have got the wrong end of the stick. It was sealed bids so we didn't have time before putting the bid in to have a second viewing. Its not that we have doubts but I want to measure up and figure out what work needs to be done immediately to house - order fridges, freezer to arrive that will fit, sort out DS's new bedroom on the day we move in, make sure bed and sofa will fit etc etc. I'm certainty not being the inner bidder and then starting with doubts as you suggest.

Thanks everyone else for your feedback - I have spoken to the estate agent today and emphasised that whilst we don't want to pull out the fact that we have not been allowed in to measure up and do a second viewing has made us highly suspicious that either they want to pull out or that they are hiding something. Therefore the purchase process will not move forward until we are allowed in for a second viewing. lets see what they say . . .

OP posts:

LittleFrieda · 19/04/2013 11:17

You said in your OP "I just want to reassure myself" aka as having doubts.

I think you would be mad to exchange contracts without a second viewing but I also think it was dishonourable of you not to have satisfied yourself completely before the sealed bids. The estate agent should not have rushed that process as other parties may have declined to bid had they not had the opportunity to visit the property more than once (but perhaps you were late to the process or there were other reasons why you didn't o more than once).

There is nothing to stop you calling roundas on the off-chance, as you happen to be passing, and asking them if you can have a quick whizz round with your tape measure.

I suspect they are just nervous that you are going to pull out.

Original poster

rowtunda · 19/04/2013 11:37

Littlefrieda in the following sentence I also wrote 'we definitely don't want to pull out as we have buyers for our flat'.

I don't think you are based in SE london - literally every house on the market in our price range (in our area) has open days on a Saturday with 30 odd couple all looking round the house at the same time and then you have to get your sealed bid in by Monday noon. So I don't think it is 'dishonourable' to expect a second viewing.

OP posts:

LittleFrieda · 19/04/2013 12:05

You may definitely not want to pull out, but you may well be thinking you may have to.

Whatis the price range?

Original poster

rowtunda · 19/04/2013 13:44

They only thing which is making think 'I may well have to pull out' is the fact that they are not letting us in for a second viewing which makes me think that they are hiding something!

£400000 - £450000

OP posts:

LittleFrieda · 19/04/2013 14:15

Rowtunda - what could they be hiding, realistically? You have had it surveyed and you say that threw up nothing insurmountable, you know where it is and can go and look from the street any time you like.

LittleFrieda · 19/04/2013 14:17

You could now ask for a damp survey and accompany the surveyor.

Flip

1 2