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Original poster

Buyers coming back to view multiple times. Normal?

33 replies

Helloyellow876 · 16/04/2021 21:05

DH and I disagree about this. But perhaps I’m being unreasonable?

Our buyers put in an offer on first viewing (as did others) and we accepted theirs as it was the highest. They wanted to come back again after it was accepted and that was fine and did.

Now they want to come back again tomorrow (all this has happened in the last 10 days) and I feel a bit Hmm

DH thinks this is normal, that they want to see stuff, and what’s the big deal?

But I think they’re having second thoughts. It’s also a bit of a pain as we have children and I feel like I have to show the place perfectly each time and clean, clean, clean because of Covid before and after.

Am I being grumpy that I don’t want three visits in about 10 days when they’re under offer? And that we had multiple offers, and I could have accepted someone else’s?

I definitely get the feeling this will keep happening, or that they’ll try and knock ££ off (the house went to offers over).

What do you think?

OP posts:
happytoday73 · 16/04/2021 21:08

I'd be a bit 🤔 about this too.. Twice at beginning and then perhaps another visit just before moved in... Fair enough if needed to measure for curtains, blinds etc... Anything else feels a little strange or as if comparing two houses have had offers accepted on...

Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 16/04/2021 21:12

Our last buyers came back a 4th time too to measure up! PITA.
We bought our first two houses and only viewed each of them once, our 3rd house we viewed twice.
It is a huge expense though so I don’t know why we felt unable to be a nuisance and visit more often or why we felt our buyers were a PITA. When people are shelling out that my money they (we) should be able to view loads really.

Ginfilledcats · 16/04/2021 21:15

I wouldn't find it weird, we did similar. The two of us looked around, offered, accepted.

Then took each of our dads round 2 separate times after.

Visited a third to measure up for curtains/sofas. All before exchange.

Annoying for the vendor maybe. Suspicious? Doubtful.

Hope it all goes through smoothly x

Lilybeanbag · 16/04/2021 21:19

My Dad viewed his current house nearly weekly throughout the sale and texted the buyers, who (stupidly) gave him their number, for a few weeks after they moved.

We did tell him he was bloody annoying but it didn't make any difference, it was how he dealt with the stress of moving. Good luck OP, don't give them your number!

Original poster
Helloyellow876 · 16/04/2021 21:27

Unfortunately they have our number! And they have been texting almost daily! DH gave it to them when they came back for that second viewing under offer (they were with the EA for the first one pre- it going under offer).

Luckily they have DH’s number and not mine. He has the patience of a saint and I do not Grin. I would never be anything but nice, but it would drive me mad. But he doesn’t mind.

I’m mentally preparing for constant visits until the sale goes through Confused

I try and take DC out for them, as one DC is not happy we’re moving!

OP posts:
cheerfulpanda · 16/04/2021 21:31

Given it’s possibly the largest purchase you will every make I don’t think three visits is totally unreasonable. I would expect to visit twice before making an offer (different times of day etc, maybe a second opinion). And then a more ‘practical’ viewing post offer. That’s if the market allows!

Your DH was unreasonable giving out his personal number though! It should be organised via the EA who can push back to find a time most suitable for you.

Weatherwarnings · 16/04/2021 21:33

I would worry they just made an offer to reserve it and haven’t actually decided yet. Twice is enough say it’s not covid safe and they can come later after survey to measure up!

readytosell · 16/04/2021 21:38

If you're spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on something, I don't actually think it's all that unreasonable.

I actually find it more surprising people don't visit more!

Soontobe60 · 16/04/2021 21:39

Our purchasers viewed the house 2 times. When they wanted specific room / window sizes we measured ourselves and sent them the details. Just tell them youre self isolating, then speak to the EA and ask them to tell the purchasers to keep all communications via the EA going forward.

Original poster
Helloyellow876 · 16/04/2021 21:40

@Weatherwarnings

I would worry they just made an offer to reserve it and haven’t actually decided yet. Twice is enough say it’s not covid safe and they can come later after survey to measure up!
This is my worry - they were “reserving” it. We had multiple offers in the end, and it was only one day of viewings before that happened, and I think the EA made the buyers all feel the tension a bit!
OP posts:
Cattitudes · 16/04/2021 21:58

At least if they are coming around you can ask questions like whether they have heard about the survey, instructed a solicitor etc. Responses to those questions might reveal how keen they are.

LittleOverwhelmed · 16/04/2021 21:59

This reply has been withdrawn

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

Thatswhathappens · 16/04/2021 22:51

The person who bought my house did this and then on the third visit started taking pictures of things in my house, without asking which I thought was a bit off! Of things like the skirting boards which needed painting and the radiators, he had one more visit after this and we were nothing but accommodating, a week before exchange of contracts he pulled out. This has made me really weary and I don’t think I would let someone do that again, it has caused us a lot of stress and heartache. I know that people pull out of sales but I do think he was quite sneaky.

umbel · 16/04/2021 23:05

Hmm. Maybe I am a nightmare buyer! We’ve had 4 in a month - the first just to view, where only the estate agent was present. We then made and offer which was accepted and the estate agent suggested a second viewing shortly afterwards to see the house again and meet the vendors. We arranged a survey which threw up a structural query so then arranged another visit with a friend who has experience of old property and a final one with a structural engineer (agreed between us and the vendors) who wanted us to meet him on site so he could talk us through his inspection.

FGSWhatNow · 16/04/2021 23:15

Our buyers have visited 7 times...

Elsiebear90 · 16/04/2021 23:23

I don’t think it’s too suspicious tbh. We visited three or four times, but the house was unoccupied and estate agents had keys, so wasn’t inconveniencing the owner. The second viewing was just to check we were making the right decision and we hadn’t missed anything before putting an offer in, other viewings were to show our parents and take a closer look at the house as it was a doer upper so we wanted to see what we could live with and what needed doing more urgently.

MaryIsA · 17/04/2021 07:09

We visited about 7 times but it had dragged on for nearly 7 months, was unoccupied and we were were only inconveniencing the estate agent.

Took builders round, in laws, a friend who is a surveyor...

customwatkins · 17/04/2021 07:13

Our buyers kept coming back....over and over until eventually they pulled out last minute Hmm

Cocoloda · 17/04/2021 07:18

It's a purchase of several hundred thousand pounds. I feel fair they would want to visit a few times.
However, should not be an inconvenience and should be done through EA. Maybe next time they ask to view, say you can't do anything for next couple of weeks and that they need to go through EA for further viewings. Tell EA that you need at least one week's notice due to working patterns etc and that you can only do certain days/times - hopefully that should stop then doing last minute 'checks' and maybe think twice if they have to book a time.

tryingtocatchthewind · 17/04/2021 07:22

It’s hard in the current buying frenzy as everyone is only viewing once before offering. I’ve only seen the one I’m buying once for all of 15 minutes. I’m going to ask for a second viewing but I’ll wait until after the survey so I can look at whatever that brings up.

Why don’t you ask the buyers to wait until the survey and then you have a bit more confidence they won’t pull out

KoalaOok · 17/04/2021 07:26

I think once before offering and once after survey is fine. Maybe another time to measure up if they need to. But I don't like it when people bring various relatives round and its obvious they are just showing the house off.

KoalaOok · 17/04/2021 07:26

They should be going through EA for viewings though. Not contacting you personally

moochingtothepub · 17/04/2021 07:28

I saw mine twice before the offer, then 2 weeks later with my dad in lieu of a survey then 2 weeks before completing fit measurements etc

Springchickpea · 17/04/2021 07:31

Our buyers did this and I found it very annoying. My feelings were very aligned with yours I think, namely that they either wanted the house or they didn’t (and I said as much to the agent). I was worried that they put the offer down to secure the property and then were still deciding - and I was extra annoyed because they already lived in a very similar house just around the corner, so they wanted ours because it had been extensively modernised, and had a better overall position, quieter road, driveway etc.

The agent’s take was that my fears could be true, but I couldn’t actually control that and if they were about to flake out getting it over with is better. That woman actually had the patience of a bloody saint. But they then also had our number from school WhatsApp etc and were a bloody pain in the arse and because we bumped into them regularly we had to deal with them.

I would let them visit and then hope they progress to survey etc and then insist on all comms through solicitor.

HardcoreParkour · 17/04/2021 07:32

3 viewings isn't excessive but 3 viewings in 10 days is.

If it's becoming a hassle then refuse, stating Covid as your reason. If they are going to pull out it's best they do it now whilst the others that offered might still be interested than weeks/months down the line, forcing you to re-market, etc.

We viewed our house twice, both times before offering. We asked to visit again to measure up 2 weeks before completion date but were refused. I felt that was really unaccommodating.