Is this normal practice for buyer

[tottielottie]

I have had an offer from FTB who has managed to negotiate me down and had multiple viewings about 5 so far to show every one of her family members. I am not practised in buying and selling and feel a bit alone with what is best to do. This delay or multiple visits means my flat has been in for a while.

She also said to the estate agent that me putting the money down means my place isn't worth that much!

A man put a smart meter in put a sign up saying the consumer unit could be changed not urgent and it would cost about £150.

Her level 3 surveyor (who upsells his services) came round and said that the whole place needs rewiring because he didn't notice the pre payment meter had run out of money and saw the sign the smart meter man left.
He also put in the report he tried to rip up my flooring. He also left all my blinds up and cupboard doors open and ripped my wallpaper.

My solicitor has said that her solicitor is being a naughty asking me to pay for things like gas safety tests and more etc and that I should refuse.

Now the estate agent said that she wants another visit this week and getting in a builder, plumber and electrician for quotes. He said this is a good sign.

Is this normal to do before exchange? Also should I be there to supervise this time.

Please help!

[tottielottie]

It is on Rightmove for the original price.

Why is he deterring viewings? So that I keep with this buyer.

I'm not clear whether my flat had much interest or not as I don't really get a straight answer.

This buyer was a client of my estate agent already as she had missed out on 2 previous places before mine for not offering enough. Then he showed her mine when I signed up with their agency and she really liked it and put an offer in.

I'm going to call the agent again tomorrow and tell ask him what buyer said regarding not even thinking of making a lower offer! He said previously buyer said she wouldn't but he can't guarantee she won't be cheeky even though she's saying she won't.

[Hummingbird33]

It doesn't sound like the agent is working in your best interests. It might be best to go with a different one if you go back to the market.

[tottielottie]

He did say he would advise me not to take any more lower offers from her.

[naomi81]

Omg no way would I entertain this. Get it back on the market before she wastes anymore of your time and money 🤞

[naomi81]

@tottielottie

But I already lowered the price after the survey. So do you all think she wanted to lower again?

The solo seems to think I should let her and the estate agent says it's a good sign.

And yes I did take it off the market for her.

So now if I have to put it back on the market will that mean it looks like I have a place that no one wants?

I put mine back on the market at a higher price and still received several offers, just crack on with it. Tell your buyer it is sold as seen and you will not reduce further, if she can't agree to that, get the estate agents to put it back on. I would also get the estate agent to carry out all viewings you don't want to be meeting all your buyers family , estate agent are not working very hard for you allowing all this messing around.

[ImAvingOops]

I'd resist it with a higher price at another agency unless she completes in a couple of weeks. No more viewings, no one coming round to quote and I'd put in a claim for the damage caused by the surveyor.
You could find that you sell it at a higher price to someone else.

[tottielottie]

Oh that's good to know Naomi.

Yeah it was the estate agent that did all of those viewings- I don't live there.

I am going on Friday when she has all these work men round. No way am I letting them roam free.
I don't particularly want to meet her and so never have before, but there's no way I'm not going to supervise this.

Last straw though!

[Wonnle]

@tottielottie

Oh that's good to know Naomi.

Yeah it was the estate agent that did all of those viewings- I don't live there.

I am going on Friday when she has all these work men round. No way am I letting them roam free.
I don't particularly want to meet her and so never have before, but there's no way I'm not going to supervise this.

Last straw though!

I'd refuse them permission to enter your flat if i were you

She sounds like a proper messer , pull out and relist the property

[Solina]

You could just allow the trades in and not her if you dont want her there. We had to organise for some quotes and were not allowed access due to property being empty (apparently because it posed a risk of us squatting and refusing to leave or something) so we spoke with the trades about what we wanted the quote for and they then went alone to the property and then got in touch with us. Worked fine for us.

[tottielottie]

I spoke to the estate agent today and told him I want the names and companies and reg numbers of all the tradesmen going in. I also said any damage and I will hold the buyer liable.

He doesn't seem keen to have me there and asked if he could supervise the buyer and the workmen. Um I hope he was going to anyway! I'm going to sit outside as I don't want to meet this buyer.

I told them this is the last viewing I will permit. I've got this far and now have finally shown that I've lost patience and am willing to re-list.

She has been told by the manager of the agency that there will be no more negotiating.

Love hearing your opinions and I am taking it all on board.

[ApolloknewZeus]

Just had EXACTLY same situation an£ they have now backed out… biggest mistake made was taking my property off the market without deposit… market your property now unless she’s prepared to give a deposit

[tottielottie]

Oh no Apollo how bloody frustrating.

What point did they back out?

[tottielottie]

I didn't know you could ask for a deposit to take it off the market.

[Twiglets1]

@tottielottie

I didn't know you could ask for a deposit to take it off the market.

You can’t normally.
Our estate agent did actually get a deposit out of our buyer when we took the flat off the market but he said it was very unusual. And I had never heard of it before with previous properties I’ve bought & sold.

[ApolloknewZeus]

Buyer Didn’t want a survey nor searches but then solicitor sent 3 pages of questions… answered all questions then it went quiet for 9 days then sent further list of questions like which way does the drains fall? Can the buyer have the kitchen table in the sale, buyer doesn’t trust the flat roof is fit for purpose… roof rubber 10 year builders guarantee 50 year Firestone rubber manufacturer guarantee fitted in 2019! Then backed out… she was in her 70s & think her family got involved didn’t want her to spend the £400k… doubts all along should have listened to my gut. Have now missed that golden moment of when 1st listed… so peed off. Yes you can request a deposit if the buyer wants you to take it off the market on offer negotiate this request to check out seriousness of offer

[WinterMusings]

@Twiglets1

The work can’t be done before she moves in anyway. Just tell the agent your answer is No. Also remember who he works for - her- so he is on her side not yours

Of course it can. She's not under any obligation to live in the house she nuts.

[WinterMusings]

BUYS

[WinterMusings]

@tottielottie

And the thing is it is fully refurbished so there's nothing really to do in there.

In YOUR opinion. She might want to knock a wall through, or put one up. Any number of things. she might be trying to find out if it's possible.

id allow her to bring the builder etc, but I'd tell the EA, to tell her, no matter what, you're not taking a penny less, than the price you agreed to.

[Twiglets1]

@WinterMusings

Of course it can. She's not under any obligation to live in the house she nuts.

I thought she was talking about getting work done on the house between Exchange & Completion. There was another Mumsnet thread about that a few days ago where the OP thought she could do work in the house before she moves in to make removals day easier

[tottielottie]

I think most got what you meant Twiglets.

[tottielottie]

So tomorrow is when buyer and all these workmen builder, plumber and electrician are due to go to my property.

I can sense the estate agent doesn't really want me there and said he will supervise and I don't particularly want to be there as I am already irritated with the whole thing but am willing to grant this last request.
Will they be trying touch my stuff and move furniture?

What would you do?

[Ilovefishcakes201]

I personally think you’re wasting your time with this buyer.
From my experience the quicker you move on from them the better for you.

[Paranoidandroidmarvin]

I really hope tomorrow goes well!!!

[GettingItOutThere]

from your update OP - i would be there - they will be moving things and there will be damage.

I would take photos before they go in, and afterwards too - every little details

i guarantee this buyer will pull out, she is a timewaster and id have told her to fuck off after viewing 3 to be honest! I usually view a house once to offer, second to measure and that is it!!

If anything - i would cancel tomorrow and tell her she can measure when shes exchanged and stop pissing about - i would also get some viewings back in on your flat because she will pull out. mark my words

[tottielottie]

Thank you Paranoidandroid Marvin!

Gettingoutthere and Ilivefishcakes - urgh lots of people have been saying this. Why would someone mess me around like this for months. I'm so mad that I entertained this. The estate agent didn't say anything. I wish they had advised me to carry on with viewings. I'm not as bothered about having to start again more that I will lose my fresh listing.

I will update