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Original poster

Estate Agent won't let us view house

50 replies

ComeTheFuck0nBridget · 10/02/2021 18:15

A property I'm interested in has come up for sale, but when I rang the estate agents to request a viewing (at 9am the day after it went up for sale), the EA told us they weren't booking any more viewings on the property as they'd had a lot of interest. Is this common practice? It really took me by surprise. I know there is Covid to consider but I would have thought it would be in the sellers best interest to let all interested parties view the property.

We're not desperate to move, but this house is ideal and they don't come up very often. It's well within budget so we are in a good position to negotiate on the price and would potentially go a bit over the asking price. There'd be no chain either.

I felt like the EA was quite rude to me on the phone as well and I'm wondering if it's because my accent gives me away that I'm not from the area that I'm looking to buy in? Or am I overthinking it?

I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to just give up, but no one is living there for me to just knock on the door.

I suppose I'm just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or could give me any advice please?

OP posts:
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 10/02/2021 18:18

We had similar. House came on Rightmove on the Monday, we phoned Tuesday but they weren't taking any more viewings.
Is your house on the market though?

CodenameVillanelle · 10/02/2021 18:24

I assume the seller has led that decision. I've just had an offer accepted on a property and they had a date by which the sellers were going to decide so I assume they would have refused any viewings after that date.

BasiliskStare · 10/02/2021 18:32

If you have no chain I would just phone once more and make sure the EA and owners understand that & let them know your budget. If they still say no & it is a house you want just make sure they have your details.

Not quite sure why accent would be a thing ? Frankly if someone was in a position to buy my house I would't give a merry hell what their accent was.

msgloria · 10/02/2021 18:35

That happened to me a couple of times where the agents had literally booked in a full day of viewings - ie about 16 - and were expecting to get enough good offers out of that day not to book in any more. To be honest for "hot properties" it seemed quite an efficient approach - i.e. the ones I'm thinking of went SSTC a few days after the viewing day. I did sometimes see the odd one go back on the market a couple of months later - lots of sales are falling through, so you never know.

Caroline147 · 10/02/2021 18:44

Yeah, we've been getting this for houses with lots of interests- EAs are booking in lots of viewings over a couple of days (usually Wednesday and Saturday, or two Saturdays). Once they're booked up those days, they stop taking viewings as they assume it will go to best and final offers on the following Monday. It's frustrating if you miss the boat.

I agree that it's worth emphasising if you're in a good position to buy though- a couple of EAs have 'saved' a spot for us for a couple of hours as they're getting things organised on that basis.

crazylikechocolate · 10/02/2021 18:44

Most agents around here in the SE are asking that you are ready to proceed before allowing you to view whilst the others are asking that you are already on the market , tbh there is very little coming onto the market and most are snapped up pretty quickly, so it's probably working well to get property moving

It may be the buyer has requested no more viewings as they are confident they have a buyer already

addicted2spaniels · 10/02/2021 18:47

Yep, has happened to us a couple of times.

Bloody annoying when you've been looking for ages.

Suzi888 · 10/02/2021 18:48

Happened to us. We had a feeling it would as it was a massive property, well under market price for a quick sale. Needed a ton of work, as in total gut, damp issues, Japanese knotweed, structural problems. We knew this as we knew the seller, but the EA was basically only letting builders view it initially. They eventually let us view as we had the capital, but they informed us anyone else needed to be first time buyer or already have sold their house and have the proof.

Clymene · 10/02/2021 18:49

You need to befriend estate agents so that they call you first.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 10/02/2021 18:52

Because of COVID EAs are not conducting viewings unless you are ‘proceedable’, I.e FTB with a mortgage in principle, or your house is under offer.

It is worth registering with EAs if you are keen and know what you want because then they will approach you as soon as they get a property to market, before it goes on Zoopla etc.

PatsyStone39 · 10/02/2021 18:52

We are having the same issue with rentals at the moment. To the point we've gone from looking at one town, to extending to the whole county and now we've started to look at the whole North of England! It's driving me insane.

Regularsizedrudy · 10/02/2021 18:58

This is very normal now unfortunately

AgileMadness · 10/02/2021 18:59

A relative has also been told by an EA that they can't view a property unless they have a mortgage in principle.
I thought you were only required to have the mortgage in principle if you wanted to make an offer, but now you can't even view the property without it.

Original poster
ComeTheFuck0nBridget · 10/02/2021 19:06

Do you think it would be worth popping a letter through the door? We could explain our situation and that we weren’t able to view but still interested in purchasing?

We don’t have a property to sell ourselves and the EA know this and our top budget etc.

I suppose it isn’t unusual practice then but just seems so disappointing to not even be allowed a chance! I know our offer still might not be accepted Or we’d be outbid if we viewed but I just feel like that would be easier to take!

OP posts:
Eviebeans · 10/02/2021 19:08

My understanding is that estate agents should not currently offer a viewing unless you would be in a position to make an offer - ie finances in place, own property sold if you're not a FTB

HoneysuckIejasmine · 10/02/2021 19:10

I would definitely put a note through the door under these circumstances. Including that the agents wouldn't let you book.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 10/02/2021 19:11

Do you think it would be worth popping a letter through the door? We could explain our situation and that we weren’t able to view but still interested in purchasing

I would. Nothing to lose.

combatbarbie · 10/02/2021 19:14

Do the note but do not include your top end budget!!

sst1234 · 10/02/2021 19:19

OP, not all properties are equal. Some are so desirable, because of location, potential, size etc that people are waiting for them to sell before they would move.
This is why it’s strange when people come on here asking what they should offer for a house priced at x. How long is a piece of string. For the most popular properties, you would need luck to get a viewing. It is so popular, it will be SSTC within days, maybe sell over asking price.
Do you have a specific search criteria?

sst1234 · 10/02/2021 19:20

@combatbarbie

Do the note but do not include your top end budget!!
Bad advice. If you want it and it is so popular, go in with the serious asking price offer. If a property has so much interest, why would the owner take you seriously if you get into a negotiation.
GameSetMatch · 10/02/2021 19:23

Is your home on the market? You say you aren’t desperate to move so maybe they are only letting people in a position to buy veiw??

Renovnono · 10/02/2021 19:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
ComeTheFuck0nBridget · 10/02/2021 19:36

Just to confirm, we are in a position to buy straight away and we don’t have a property to sell. I don’t want to be too specific with the details of our set up but the EA does know.

We aren’t desperate to move because the house we’re living in currently is fine, but the house that is for sale is just our “dream” house.

OP posts:
Grenlei · 10/02/2021 19:42

I experienced this with an estate agent some years ago. Slightly different situation, house had been up for sale for a while. I had no property to sell to fund the purchase. Estate agents refused point blank to arrange a viewing. First it was they had someone they thought was going to make an offer Hmm then the vendors were considering going to auction. I was very interested; my opening offer would have been slightly more than they eventually sold it for at auction when it finally got there 6 months later.

I find some estate agents work in very odd ways.

Clymene · 10/02/2021 19:52

I absolutely would put a note through the door. You don't know how many of the people who have seen it are in as good a position as you . In times of covid, I'm sure most vendors would prefer to view all offers on paper tbh.