Can I view a house under these circumstances?

[Skypatrol]

We moved house about 18 months ago. We have no plans to move. However there is a house come up for sale on the street that we originally wanted that I like the look of. It's closer to schools which is a big plus and they don't come up often.

If we liked the house on viewing it then we would consider putting ours on the market (though it might sell before we even had chance).

Would the Estate Agents think we were time wasters viewing under those circumstances? I know they usually ask loads of questions when you ring up to view.

We do have a buy to let for sale but couldn't transfer the mortgage as we'd be intending on living there - I don't think.

They’d take a viewing but I doubt the vendor would accept an offer until your house is sold.

Go and view it. Just admit saying the “we have no plans to move” bit!

Sorry omit....

What would you say when they start asking if we're first time buyers, or if we've got a property to sell? I'm crap at lying.

You don’t need to lie. If you’d sell through the agent you’re looking through they’d love you to offer so they can sell your house too.

I've done 'mystery shopper' for friends a few times, when they wanted insight on how the EAs were shoeing people around. I've always said something along the lines of "would put my house on the market immediately, if this is the right house for us". Also explained why I was so interested, eg have been walking past this house on my way to work for the last 3y, always interested in it, very excited to see it come ip for sale, perfect location, etc. Honest about the location of my current property, but refused to give the address as not actively house-hunting, so don't want to be bombarded with mailings.

Never had any bad vibe off the EA.

I’d tell them the truth. I’ve done the same thing. Just be clear that you’re prepared to act quickly and price your own house sensibly if you like the one you want to view.

Shoeing? Showing.

It I were selling my house I wouldn’t let someone view it if the agent didn’t have their address Jelly, and I wouldn’t think much of my agent trying to show someone around without their details tbh.

Ah ok, thank you.

I wouldn't let you view my house if yours wasn't up for sale. In my experience, these tend to be the time wasters.

Like I said, Through, I was spying on the EAs for my friends. I probably did give them my mobile number.

Don’t think much of those agents Jelly, very unprofessional.

If I knew my estate agent was taking some random person round my house and personal property with no details about them,
other than a mobile phone number which may or may not be genuine, I’d hit the roof and dismiss them immediately. It’s not on.

I don't recall telling any EAs my address, though I may well have done. We trusted our EAs to get on with things as they conducted all the viewings we had - we didn't ask them whether they had obtained viewer addresses, etc.

You’re very trusting.

we put in the offer on our house the day ours went on the market & the seller accepted on the condition they leave their's on the market until ours sold - ours sold in 2 days so wasn't a problem

We were the same as you last summer and my dream house came up for sale. No problem with viewing it although the EA was clear an offer probably would t be accepted until we were in a proceedable position. We put out house on ASAP and unfortunately the dream house was then under offer...but it fell through on the same day our house sold so we got the dream house, yay! I would go for it.

Sorry for typos, baby in arms only leaves one hand free

Go for it. Surely all viewers that don't put an offer in could be time wasters. If the agent is doing all the viewings does it really matter.? When we sold our house we had a couple of viewers who were just neighbours being nosy. If you love the house then you will sell yours. I imagine lots of viewers do exactly this.

You should not lie, just be honest, tell them if you like it you will put your house on the market immediately.

That's what I'm thinking bluntness and Scarlett, I don't know if the EA would be funny about it but I suppose there's only one way to find out.

we accepted an offer about 2 weeks ago on our house from someone who lives about 1/2 mile away and can't be arsed to do a renovation on their house (we did ours about 2 years ago). It was the highest offer we had (we turned 3 down) and they are prepared to pay a premium because, being local themselves, they appreciate some features of our property (mostly the specific location), that out of/new to area buyers probably aren't aware of.They have subsequently put their house on the market, and we are expecting to hear today that they'd accepted an offer on theirs.
Tell the EA that the house is where you really wanted to be, that if you liked it you would immediately put yours on the market (preferably with that EA as then they have double reason to make it work - they get 2 commissions). Its not time wasting, they might get a sale, or even 2.

Thanks all. I phoned the EA, I was honest about the circumstances. Said that it was the road we'd wanted initially and we'd put ours straight on if we liked the house. He didn't seem phased just said he'd contact the owners to arrange a time.

It's all a bit of a long shot, but I guess you don't know until you go and look.

Your EA wouldn't have been phased because at the end of the day people do this all the time. We never gave any details when we viewed many houses in the process of buying our current house, just name and phone number.