Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Vendor is refusing us a second viewing

84 replies

Elasticatedwaist · 25/01/2022 16:09

Nearly ready to exchange on a house that is being sold by a man on behalf of his elderly mother who is now in a care home, so has been empty the whole time.
We initially asked him if we could go in a few days before moving day to clean it as there’s mould due to being empty for ages but he refused.
We’ve asked to view again before the exchange of contracts and the estate agent has said that he won’t allow any more viewings. We’ve been in it once for 10 minutes . Wtf ?

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 25/01/2022 23:08

@surreygirl1987

It was only from mumsnet that I found out that some people DO do a pre exchange viewing! We never have!
Same. It seems to be a relatively recent “thing”.
ShowOfHands · 25/01/2022 23:09

@surreygirl1987

It was only from mumsnet that I found out that some people DO do a pre exchange viewing! We never have!
Me too. I've never heard of it before and suspect if somebody had asked me before I saw these threads, I'd have assumed they were looking for spurious reasons to reduce their offer. Mostly because I've been burnt by the buying/selling process and wary of being left high and dry again.

I appreciate it's a good idea however. Just not one with which I was familiar.

rooarsome · 25/01/2022 23:13

Their refusal would make me jumpy- my mind automatically went to wondering what they're trying to hide

GrannytoaUnicorn · 25/01/2022 23:13

Yea it's a tough one because if you say "exchange conditional on second viewing" then they may think you're wanting to go in in order to find reasons to suddenly reduce your offer

Honeyroar · 25/01/2022 23:19

I’ve never heard of a pre exchange viewing- on all the houses I’ve ever bought you viewed once or twice, offered, had it accepted and got the keys a few months later. So I’d probably think I had a fussy, awkward, inexperienced buyer if they started going on about pre exchange views. Surely at this point you’ve had surveys etc and ought to know whether you want it??

Honeyroar · 25/01/2022 23:19

@GrannytoaUnicorn

Yea it's a tough one because if you say "exchange conditional on second viewing" then they may think you're wanting to go in in order to find reasons to suddenly reduce your offer
That’s exactly what I’d have thought.
EmmaH2022 · 25/01/2022 23:26

@Honeyroar

I’ve never heard of a pre exchange viewing- on all the houses I’ve ever bought you viewed once or twice, offered, had it accepted and got the keys a few months later. So I’d probably think I had a fussy, awkward, inexperienced buyer if they started going on about pre exchange views. Surely at this point you’ve had surveys etc and ought to know whether you want it??
It's not to check if you want it

It's to check they haven't done a massive alteration or had flood damage etc.

I'm about to do my third buy and fourth sale and will be doing all this and checking on the sale property regularly. After the survey thread, I will now be present for any surveys potential buyers do. I did that the last two times but it wasn't hard as I was working from home, will be less easy this time.

surreygirl1987 · 25/01/2022 23:29

We did have our buyer want a pre expunge viewing, just a few months ago. It was annoying actually. They were jumpy, nervous first time buyers, had loads of extra surveys and checks done (including a bizarre soil toxicity check!) and then wanted to view again (she'dprobably been reading mumsnet 😁). Then they asked us to knock off £5k. I would be very wary of anyone wanting to do a pre exchange viewing in the future.

Hairyfriend · 25/01/2022 23:42

On a side note, has the house been empty for 2yrs or longer? There is a little known government scheme where the council will inspect the property, write a list of things that need updating/improving to get it back into a livable state and give you a certificate.

It allows building supplies to be charged at only 5% VAT. You pay 0% VAT if its been empty for 10yrs or longer. Its not the new build scheme where YOU claim the VAT back. We've saved thousands on doing up a derelict home, but some suppliers just don't understand the scheme and cant be bothered to read up on the HMRC website.

I wouldn't exchange without another viewing. On our final check, the multiple car tyres that were supposed to be removed- had been thrown into and 'hidden' in the overgrown garden. Several wired in things in the house (think light fittings, heated towel rails) had been unscrewed and removed! It was sorted in the end though.

What about if the real estate stays with you in the house the whole time? Would the vendor agree to that?

EmmaH2022 · 25/01/2022 23:48

Hairyfriend that is very useful info on the council scheme - thank you.

that1970shouse · 25/01/2022 23:56

My sale is taking quite a while (mainly problems my end) and my buyers wanted to see the house again, (having already viewed it twice early on) so I took them there on Sunday. We had two or three viewings when we bought our house.

I don't see a reason to refuse, especially as the estate agent has keys so it wouldn't inconvenience the vendor. Unless you are very much in a seller's market locally, I'd insist.

Hairyfriend · 25/01/2022 23:56

@EmmaH2022- it was thanks to another mumsnetter that I too found out about the empty home scheme. Our council has a 'derelict homes officer' who we contacted. He wrote out a rough report of obvious things needing repair- removal of asbestos garage which was falling down, replacing the rusted boiler, replacing windows that were rotten and falling out etc. He then checked council records, and found that the home had been empty 7yrs (not quite the 10yrs to qualify for 0% VAT!)

We then just give a copy of the certificate/council list to trades and suppliers where VAT would be added.

This is more for the contractors/trades who are renovating a property for you (section 8) but gives you an idea.

Hairyfriend · 25/01/2022 23:57

Forgot the link!
www.gov.uk/guidance/buildings-and-construction-vat-notice-708#section8

RedBonnet · 26/01/2022 09:02

@surreygirl1987

It was only from mumsnet that I found out that some people DO do a pre exchange viewing! We never have!
Definitely seems to be a new trend. Bought my 1st house in the 80s, bought another 3 since and have never viewed more than the initial 1st viewing. Also find this group viewing thing strange...
CheltenhamLady · 26/01/2022 13:52

We have never done a pre-exchange viewing either.

AssemblySquare · 26/01/2022 13:59

I am amazed that so many people buy houses after just one viewing!!!!! I’m shocked! Even 2 isn’t many. It’s hundreds of thousands of pounds!!!! I’ve bought and sold a few times and saw all of them 3 or 4 times… and have never refused a buyer viewings either! Wouldn’t cross my mind!!

GreenerWithTheScenery · 26/01/2022 15:46

Same. It seems to be a relatively recent “thing”.

Bought three houses since 1996 and have always done a viewing before exchange, same with any I've sold.

It's sensible to check that what you're buying is still in the same condition it was, especially as months could have passed between then.
I'm not handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds and crossing my fingers hoping the ceiling hasn't fallen in or the kitchen burnt down etc

Blossomtoes · 26/01/2022 15:50

The ceiling could fall down or the kitchen burn down - pretty dramatic - between exchange and completion. The only difference being that you’d probably have done the sensible thing and insured it at the point of exchange.

TheSnowyOwl · 26/01/2022 15:56

But surely what you saw in those 10 mins was enough for you to decide to buy it so saying you need to see it again doesn’t really add up. I wonder whether you’ve put him off by saying you want to go in and clean and he’s concerned about what you are planning to do.

One of my friends was selling and during a second viewing the then-buyer got Virgin to drill through the wall to install their cables. They hadn’t even exchanged.

GreenerWithTheScenery · 26/01/2022 16:01

@Blossomtoes

The ceiling could fall down or the kitchen burn down - pretty dramatic - between exchange and completion. The only difference being that you’d probably have done the sensible thing and insured it at the point of exchange.
Thats why you view before exchange. It's not a stretch to imagine an empty house with pipes bursting in winter etc causing the ceiling to fall in. Thats not 'dramatic' and it absolutely happens.

Insuring from exchange is a different thing altogether and something that everyone should do, but I'll be damned if I'm exchanging and spending all that money on an unknown.

Starseeking · 26/01/2022 16:06

@surreygirl1987

It was only from mumsnet that I found out that some people DO do a pre exchange viewing! We never have!

I'd never heard of it before MN either. I last saw the house I am currently buying over 6 months ago. I don't think the vendor would take too kindly to the suggestion of a visit pre-exchange; she initially refused to open the door to my surveyor for the homebuyers report, as in her view, the bank valuation should suffice!

StarbucksSmarterSister · 26/01/2022 16:27

I've never heard of it before

Nor me but I've been in my house 15 years.
Not everybody paid the asking price either then, now a lot of people seem to pay 5 or 10% over that.

onedayoranother · 26/01/2022 20:50

It's not new at all. When I stared buying in the 80s it was standard - you did a pre exchange viewing for all the reasons mentioned above. From exchange you are insuring it and basically agreeing to buy it in the present condition bar any formal agreements in case of repair.
And 'swept clean' is open to wide interpretation- some sellers clean it some don't. You'll just have to do a proper clean once you get the keys.,
I'd insist on another viewing.

Mrbob · 26/01/2022 20:54

@AssemblySquare

I am amazed that so many people buy houses after just one viewing!!!!! I’m shocked! Even 2 isn’t many. It’s hundreds of thousands of pounds!!!! I’ve bought and sold a few times and saw all of them 3 or 4 times… and have never refused a buyer viewings either! Wouldn’t cross my mind!!
3 or 4 times? Poor vendors
Blossomtoes · 26/01/2022 22:16

I last bought in 1999 @onedayoranother. We have never done a pre exchange viewing or been asked for one in buying and selling four times, so it hasn’t always been standard. In fact I’ve only encountered it on MN.