Page 4 | Damage during viewing

helloimnew123 · 2023-03-06T14:52:01+00:00

Hi, We viewed a property last week. In the bathroom there was a sagging ceiling. My husband touched it with his fingertips to see if it was damp and some of the plaster came away. We did apologise and nothing else was said. Today the estate agents have left a voicemail wanting to talk about the incident. Obviously he shouldn't have touched it! But it was an accident and if the ceiling was in good condition it wouldn't have crumbled. What would you do? Offer to pay to fix it? Are we going to get stung for a whole new plastered ceiling? We are not interested in buying the property if that makes any difference

MyriadOfTravels · 06/03/2023 21:08

Guis23 · 06/03/2023 19:57

I didn't say you should not.
I said you should ask first. If they said no then ask if there is a problem, and assume there is if they say no.

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But how far do you go with the asking before you touch?
Are door handles included, walls? Should you check you can go in a room to be sure you aren’t going to damage the floor by walking on it?

It’s a ceiling. Yu should be able to touch the ceiling Wo asking first, just like you touch the walls etc….
Eg I would touch the walls in a bathroom that looks damp. Or has what looks like traces of mould. Wouldn’t you?

maxi2100 · 06/03/2023 21:20

Best not to appologise otherwise you have admitted it was your fault.

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 07:28

@StrawberryAnnie who cares? Not their estate agent and they don't want to buy the house.

Guis23 · 07/03/2023 09:02

MyriadOfTravels · 06/03/2023 21:08

But how far do you go with the asking before you touch?
Are door handles included, walls? Should you check you can go in a room to be sure you aren’t going to damage the floor by walking on it?

It’s a ceiling. Yu should be able to touch the ceiling Wo asking first, just like you touch the walls etc….
Eg I would touch the walls in a bathroom that looks damp. Or has what looks like traces of mould. Wouldn’t you?

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It is usual to walk into a property as you well realise. I can honestly say I have never gone around a house touching the walls.
Prodding a ceiling is not usual. It takes some effort unless you are really really tall and/or the ceiling very very low.
I asked if I could open a wardrobe to look inside. You don't seem to get the principle. It is someone else's house and home. Yes it is up for viewing hoping to sell. It doesn't allow people to go around lifting, prodding etc. You politely ask. And if you aren't sure, you ask. It isn't difficult.

WiIson · 07/03/2023 09:39

StrawberryAnnie · 06/03/2023 20:47

They could become defensive and start pointing fingers. The OP’s husband isn’t to blame, but it would be a hassle to get into a back and forward with the estate agent.

It’s rarely in a person’s best interests to be passive aggressive and sickly sweet when handling a potential conflict situation. It can escalate, rather than diffuse things.

Not worth it imho, regardless of how smug it can make a person feel when they hit send on an email ( or draft a response for someone on a forum)

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Start pointing fingers? The op didn't make the ceiling damp 😂 It was already like that. It would be a foolish move on the side of the estate agent to try and make something of this.

WiIson · 07/03/2023 09:43

Guis23 · 07/03/2023 09:02

It is usual to walk into a property as you well realise. I can honestly say I have never gone around a house touching the walls.
Prodding a ceiling is not usual. It takes some effort unless you are really really tall and/or the ceiling very very low.
I asked if I could open a wardrobe to look inside. You don't seem to get the principle. It is someone else's house and home. Yes it is up for viewing hoping to sell. It doesn't allow people to go around lifting, prodding etc. You politely ask. And if you aren't sure, you ask. It isn't difficult.

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I have touched walls if they have appeared damp. Also to check whether they are solid or stud walls. It's not unusual. If the ceiling appeared damp, and it was low enough (which it clearly was) I would touch it to check. That's the point of a viewing, to check whether I want to spend £££££ on a property, and whether it's worth going to the expense of surveyors, or whether it's obviously too much work for my liking.

Guis23 · 07/03/2023 09:51

WiIson · 07/03/2023 09:43

I have touched walls if they have appeared damp. Also to check whether they are solid or stud walls. It's not unusual. If the ceiling appeared damp, and it was low enough (which it clearly was) I would touch it to check. That's the point of a viewing, to check whether I want to spend £££££ on a property, and whether it's worth going to the expense of surveyors, or whether it's obviously too much work for my liking.

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Get your point about stud walls. But I would always ask. If someone says no then you assume there is a problem.

Tromso · 07/03/2023 10:08

It's mad how many people on this thread clearly don't have any experience buying houses, yet still think they know everything.

OP: don't let it worry you. I'd also assume that they were calling to apologise about it.

WiIson · 07/03/2023 10:59

Guis23 · 07/03/2023 09:51

Get your point about stud walls. But I would always ask. If someone says no then you assume there is a problem.

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Most people wouldn't ask. They're there to inspect the property to see whether they want to buy it or not. I would think a seller was extremely odd (and suspicious) if they then tried to stop me from doing that.

GasPanic · 07/03/2023 11:11

To me it's not unreasonable to touch stuff.

OTOH when you touch something "with your fingertips" it has to be in a pretty bad state to fall apart.

Original poster

helloimnew123 · 07/03/2023 11:25

They haven't called me back yet. But I'm expecting a call today.

I'm not sure what their approach will be.
If it was just to see if we were okay I wouldnt expect a voicemail mentioning 'the incident' but maybe I'm wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:

Original poster

helloimnew123 · 07/03/2023 11:27

I don't think we'l view any other properties with them as we don't want to buy in their area.

I'm tempted to just ignore their calls, but I also don't want to burn bridges just incase

OP posts:

Vegrocks · 07/03/2023 11:34

helloimnew123 · 07/03/2023 11:27

I don't think we'l view any other properties with them as we don't want to buy in their area.

I'm tempted to just ignore their calls, but I also don't want to burn bridges just incase

Not a bloody chance an estate agent would pass up commission because of a past grudge.

ignore.
and if you do ever see a property that’s exclusively with that EA, trust me when I say they won’t exclude or disadvantage you!

IndyAgent · 08/03/2023 13:51

Bloody hell, they've got a nerve! If there is any "claim" involved it's a householders insurance claim, not a viewer! As an ex agent we have had all sorts of situations like this and discussed with clients before instruction, eg if they had an obviously damp ceiling we would get a contractor in to look so we already knew the cause and would give info to the viewers so didn't go poking around. (Also useful to already have the info for negotiating purposes). I wouldn't ever leave a viewer out of my sight in an occupied property, only in certain empty new builds. This is on the agent to supervise viewers not only for potential damage to the property but to the viewers eg don't open that velux and lean out so far like that for fucks sake

A good agent will know this stuff. The agents themselves have professional indemnity insurance for stuff they fuck up themselves (I speak from experience as I accidentally broke something very expensive at a property (luckily not sentimental thank god) but a big and expensive job to fix. Our insurance paid and I didn't get sacked

IndyAgent · 08/03/2023 13:54

They definitely wouldn't disadvantage you for other listings (and would watch you ) as like PP said they want their commission, and have a legal obligation to pass on all offers/interest to the client. Anyone who has any trouble with agents like that should contact the owners, note through the door if occupied, or get the info from land registry.

In the coming market, agents will have to get used to actually marketing properly and soliciting viewings, not putting them off as they have too much work to handle and OIEO already!

Bamboux · 08/03/2023 14:08

Passerillage · 06/03/2023 15:30

Put it straight back on them, and don’t imply for a moment that there is anything you could be responsible for here.

Hi Estate Agent,

Got a message about the ceiling and the plaster that fell down. No need for concern - only a small piece of plaster fell and DH was not hurt, although he easily could have been if more had come down. I am surprised that you did not warn us that the ceiling was unstable and dangerous before the viewing, or at least before going into that room.

We’ll be in touch if we are interested in making an offer. Do let us know if anything else come up etc etc.

Send this, but I'd change the last paragraph to:

For obvious reasons, we are not interested in offering on this property. Do let us know if anything else come up etc etc.

StrawberryAnnie · 08/03/2023 14:47

WiIson · 07/03/2023 09:39

Start pointing fingers? The op didn't make the ceiling damp 😂 It was already like that. It would be a foolish move on the side of the estate agent to try and make something of this.

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As I had said, it’s clear the OP’s husband isn’t to blame and I agree with you it would be a foolish move for the estate agent to make something of it.

But they had contacted the OP and indicated that they want to talk about an ‘incident’ at the viewing.

Passive aggressive communication could just create unnecessary drama.

It’s best to stick to the facts. That’s all I meant.

Original poster

helloimnew123 · 08/03/2023 17:55

So they haven't actually tried to contact me since. I'm not going to reach out to them, but I wasn't planning on ignoring them if they tried.

When I wrote this post I wasn't sure about our liability or our moral obligation. We obviously didn't want to damage anything but if it was in good repair then it wouldn't of happened.

Thanks for putting my mind to rest so I'm not stressing about what the agents might try sting us for 🙈

OP posts:

Anotheradventureforme · 08/03/2023 18:42

Crikey OP, what a kerfuffle for you.
As an ex-insurance person, don't admit to anything or accept any responsibility.
Definitely leave it alone unless they contact you.
If the estate agent starts getting aggressive, go on the offensive (they put your safety at risk).

Personally I think it will all be okay. 🙂

heyyouitsme · 09/03/2023 09:53

Which is why the surveyors are the ones that touch the ceilings with their insurance. When they check for damp.

GoodChat · 09/03/2023 10:20

heyyouitsme · 09/03/2023 09:53

Which is why the surveyors are the ones that touch the ceilings with their insurance. When they check for damp.

No point paying for a surveyor if you can find out for yourself

heyyouitsme · 09/03/2023 12:13

Haha well until this happens 😁

Englishash · 09/03/2023 14:09

Absolute not your husbands fault. He's perfectly entitled to touch something he's considering buying. The agents will be insured if the owners aren't. Say nothing. Admit nothing. Not your fault.