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Original poster

Buyers wanting to meet seller

17 replies

InProgress · 17/08/2018 22:29

I've sold my house subject to contract. The buyers viewed the house twice before putting in an offer (and twice more cancelled viewings at the last moment).

I deliberately chose an estate agent who did all the viewings. I've paid for this service and I'm very happy with them. I chose it as people can make me very anxious and there's enough stress in house buying already. Plus I'm a single mum who works full-time with an autistic DS.

For full context the sale price finally agreed at £10k under asking price. Then they asked through my EA if they could purchase all my furniture. I said no.

Anyway my buyers wanted to view the house a third time to "measure up". I'm fine with that. The EA showed them round again while I was at work.

I got a phone call from my EA after the viewing to say that the buyers were "very disappointed " that I wasn't there to show them round and are "insisting" that I arrange another viewing so I can be there to show them round.

Is it usual?

OP posts:
MsHomeSlice · 17/08/2018 22:35

they sounds like timewasters to me! We had a right palaver with one woman on a house we sold, she had somehow missed it when we bought and when it had been for sale to the people we bought from, so we naively thought she'd be as keen as mustard, but no she wanted to view, then re view, then again with a friend, then again to measure and see where her furniture might go, then to meet us all properly, she tried all sorts to get a fourth viewing but by the time she shillyshallied about with the friend she was on My List and I wouldn't have sold her the bloody house if she had offered me double what it was worth.

I wouldn't put myself out to meet them tbh, but if they have a few specific questions I might feel inclined to answer them in an email

ianbealesonwheels · 17/08/2018 22:37

Why on earth would they want to meet you? I never met our buyers. I would have expected the EA to tell them it’s not necessary and not bother you with this request tbh

BlueAnemone · 17/08/2018 22:37

Er that sounds really odd.
I'm in Scotland where sellers usually do the viewings if they're still living in the home (Estate agents usually only do the viewings if the seller has moved out) but even then it'd be weird to expect to meet the seller. And I can't imagine anyone arranging further viewings in the hope that they meet you.
Anyway, whether it's normal or not where you live, when they arranged the viewing presumably the estate agent said "I'll meet you at X o'clock" rather than "Ms Y will meet you at X o'clock". Don't allow them to bully you, as you say you've paid for the estate agent to preform a service. They are indeed rude to behave like this. Disappointed! 😂

BepBopBap · 17/08/2018 22:38

My last buyer wanted to know so much about me, my EA told them where I moved to and the buyers builder informed the JW who occasionally visited. I got a letter Shock redirected via the post office from the JW telling me all about it, apparently I "did a runner" whatever that means? Confused

I would avoid the buyer and ask your solicitor adhere to the new data protection laws. People are strange. Confused

ViserionTheDragon · 17/08/2018 22:38

They are taking the piss! I like the suggestion of answering their questions over email. Have you exchanged yet?

BlueAnemone · 17/08/2018 22:41

I like the suggestion of telling the estate agent not to bother you with this nonsense.
Tell them that you're very disappointed, and that you insist they inform the buyer that this is not usual and not appropriate.

Original poster
InProgress · 17/08/2018 22:53

"Disappointed 😂" I know Blue I'm simply oozing mysterious charisma

Thank you for the replies I'm reassured in telling them to piss DD politely refusing the request though I am prepared to answer email questions via EA (thanks for that suggestion).

Separately I do need to speak to the EA about GDPR. I had a look round a new build and the CF saleswoman rang the EA to enquire about my situation. First I knew about it was when my EA rang and asked how my viewing had gone on said new build.

Gosh I don't understand how some people can move often. It's just not for me!

OP posts:
pilates · 17/08/2018 22:53

They sound weird. Hope they’re not time wasters.

whingeyarse · 17/08/2018 22:59

they probably just want to ask you specific questions, no?

How does this work?

What are the neighbours like?

erm... yeah, I don't know what else it would be

Jozen · 17/08/2018 23:04

Tell them to jog on.
I agree with above, if they need answers to particular questions, they can do via email via the EA.
The guy we bought our house from lived overseas, I should of requested he fly back to personally ask him what night was bin night.

wowfudge · 17/08/2018 23:13

Our buyers asked to meet us at a second viewing of the house as they wanted to ask us questions the EA couldn't answer. We had no issue with that, I just had to rein DP in from going into full-on salesman mode.

londonliv · 18/08/2018 20:57

We've just moved. Our buyer looked round once, made an offer and then a week later asked to have another look round & wanted one of us there. We saw no harm in it so I met him. He was very nice & just had questions re: neighbours, freeholder, our loft conversion & our moving plans (he was keen to complete ASAP). He came round about three different times afterwards to measure up, do an unofficial survey (Hmmthat's another story) but he wasn't a time waster.

I guess it comes down to how keen you are to sell & how much interest you have been getting. We were on for 3 months & were very keen to sell so we were happy to accommodate meeting him if it helped push the sale through!

OhtheHillsareAlive · 18/08/2018 21:10

Good lord! Some people are weird. I’ve never wanted to meet either vendors or buyers. It’s a business transaction, not afternoon tea.

Just tell your EA no, if you don’t want to do it.

Lilmisskittykat · 18/08/2018 21:32

I might buck the trend here, ideal scenario of house viewing is shown around by agent first time second if like it the vendor... just so you can ask questions. There are so many that the agent just cannot answer for you..

There is so much money at stake (solicitors, surveys etc) that can be lost before you even buy a house that I think it's human nature to want to know the kinda person you are dealing with when buying a house.

This could just be me though, but in the same respect I wouldn't request it specially just preference I guess...

MargaretDribble · 18/08/2018 21:41

We moved last year and we're pleased to meet our buyers (much loved house, now in good hands) and seller (general info about neighbours etc) but we live in a small town where people are usually friendly anyway. I might feel differently in a big town or city.

llangennith · 18/08/2018 21:44

I'd agree to exchange phone numbers once the sale is agreed. Then you can contact each other if solicitors are being slow and blaming the respective clients. Also helps as questions can be asked and answered quickly and not go via solicitors which can cause delays. EA can then butt out once the sale is agreed.

FabulousSophie · 18/08/2018 22:10

When I sold, I made a point of never being around for viewings. I sold the day it went on the market to the first people who viewed, but they kept on coming back, showing various friends and relatives. I never met them, and everyone seemed fine with that. The only question they asked me personally by email after completion was for the names of the paint colours.

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