If you got to meet your vendors....

[BewareOfTheToddler]

....what would you ask them?

We've exchanged contracts (yessss!! ) and have a few weeks before completion so are off to measure up this weekend. Vendors will be showing us round, rather than the estate agent. So far, I have the following to ask about:

• Neighbours
• how the boiler works.
• where the stopcock is.
• any quirks to the house they think we should know about.
• whether they can recommend any tradespeople/vet/GP, etc.

Is there anything else you'd ask? Keen not to turn it into the Spanish Inquisition but also want to make the most of their knowledge!

I would stick to asking about practical things. Agree with stopcock and boiler, also bin day, recycling rules.

Can't see any point asking about the neighbours. They'll have their opinions - you need to form your own. They won't tell you the truth if any of the neighbours are nightmares, will they?

It's not their responsibility to recommend tradespeople etc. If they volunteer the information, that's helpful, but I wouldn't ask.

Again with quirks of the house, that's for them to volunteer. If someone asked me that question, I'd probably not admit to the dodgy loo flush etc.

I've yet to view a house where the owners are still alive!

Agree, dont ask about neighbours.
I found out two years after i moved in that the previous owner brought the sisters next door to court. Im glad I didnt know that. I started with hello. I wouldnt have wanted the complication of pretending not to know that.

I would not ask about neighbours - they will never tell you that next door plays music at vlume 10, leaves for work at 5.40am which will wake you up everyday etc etc.

I always ask if they can leave all the instruction books for appliances, heating etc and where the best fish and chip shop is.

should have asked about neighbours and "quirks" BEFORE you exchanged. Now is not a good time to find out about problem neighbours. If you ask the question before buying EA's are obliged to answer about problem neighbours!

also ask bin day is when + alternate weeks for recycle bins or both together

Ask them to take you through any work they have had done. Knowing where pipes and wiring is hidden can be really helpful!

Bin day is a good one, I'll add it to the list. Ditto instructions for appliances.

Fair point about neighbours - no issues have been disclosed (and my understanding is that they are obliged to disclose any formal disputes on the property information form). I was minded to just ask who they were, eg names/how many people.

Re tradespeople- it could be useful to know if they've used a particular e.g builder or plumber etc. We learnt a lot about history of our house from the builder that had worked on it previously.

It's fine to ask about the neighbours, but more who are they type thing rather than what are they like.

Ours are lovely, our venders said they were lovely, turns out they all hated each other's guts 😂

Our vendors redecorated before selling. I wished they had left details of paint colours or the old tins with the names of the colours on. I know it's unrealistic to expect a full written list but I have some scuffs to fix here and I can't match the colours.

Yeah, it's that sort of thing I'm thinking of, MidsummerMoo. We're leaving details for our buyers of the plumber we've used for just about everything, and as we're new to he area, I'd appreciate details of anyone our vendors can recommend.