Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

Buyers going round with builder before exchange/completion

26 replies

SingaporeSting · 13/04/2023 15:35

We live abroad and in the process of selling our house in the UK. The tenants that were in there have vacated, so the house is empty.

Our agents are asking if they can get a key to take the buyers round there with a builder. Obviously we are not in the country.

I feel uneasy about this, though can't really put my finger on why. I guess I'm wondering if they will try to find reasons to renegotiate or be difficult for whatever reason. We don't have anything to hide, it's an Edwardian house so it is old, but in good condition.

What's the general consensus on this? Arrange to give them a key or stand firm until completion?

OP posts:
winkybean · 13/04/2023 15:37

SingaporeSting · 13/04/2023 15:35

We live abroad and in the process of selling our house in the UK. The tenants that were in there have vacated, so the house is empty.

Our agents are asking if they can get a key to take the buyers round there with a builder. Obviously we are not in the country.

I feel uneasy about this, though can't really put my finger on why. I guess I'm wondering if they will try to find reasons to renegotiate or be difficult for whatever reason. We don't have anything to hide, it's an Edwardian house so it is old, but in good condition.

What's the general consensus on this? Arrange to give them a key or stand firm until completion?

Give them access. It was so helpful for us as we had renovations completed at point of completion. Early access meant we could line builders up for the work....

CasperGutman · 13/04/2023 15:40

Give them access. Either they're mentally committed to the house and want to discuss extension/remodelling with the builder, in which case that's good for you, or they are concerned about some issue and want the builder to advise them on it. If it's the latter, then refusing access will only make them more worried and more likely to pull out!

Freetodowhatiwant · 13/04/2023 15:40

I am about to do the same and would allow buyers access too. Plenty of people want to go and measure up and plan.

rampagingrobot · 13/04/2023 15:43

They're buying your house. Of course they are trying to find reasons to negotiate, that's a normal part of the process.

If you refuse it would be a big red flag to me, and I would probably pull out, thinking you were trying to hide problems.

AnyMucca · 13/04/2023 15:45

Make sure they are shadowed. Our camera picked up the Estate Agent outside playing on her phone while the builder took apart the shower and prized floorboards up.

Im99912 · 13/04/2023 16:06

Make sure someone trusted goes with them so that no damages is done
but make it clear that you won’t be reducing the price
my buyers visited the house around 6-7 times a few of those with builders & family but it was empty

SonicLego · 13/04/2023 16:08

We've had an offer accepted and are planning to go in with builder/electrician etc before completion as there are quite a lot of renovations to plan for. We'd like to start with the works as soon as possible after completion. It's a massive help to us that agents/sellers are happy for that to happen. If they refused access to us with the builder/trades, we may reconsider as it would mean longer period where we have to pay for two properties.
House is vacant and does need a fair bit of renovating though!

mynameiscalypso · 13/04/2023 16:14

We were happy for our buyers to do this - I knew they wanted to do work to the property and was more than happy to accommodate.

Lcb123 · 13/04/2023 16:15

I think I’d let them, but ensure the agent supervises. It shows they’re committed buyers and just want to plan for renovations

Newusername21 · 13/04/2023 16:21

I took a builder round with me when I was a buying a house a few years ago. The builder noticed some issues with the roof that the survey by the mortgage company had missed.

Yes of course I then used that as evidence for renegotiating the price.
If i had been refused access - I would of be very wary and I would think the seller was trying to hide something. I'd either be renegotiating anyway - or pulling out altogether.

Just give them access and ask you estate agent to be present for the viewing.

KievLoverTwo · 13/04/2023 16:29

I would agree, but ask that the agent accompany them around each room, not just let them in through the front door and leave them to it.

2bazookas · 13/04/2023 16:49

They'll need to allow the buyers surveyor access too. Perfectly normal.

Just specify that there must be an appointment, that agency staff must attend , and on no account are the potential buyers and their builder to be given the keys for a solo visit.

purplecorkheart · 13/04/2023 16:53

I would give access but with the strict condition that the estate shadows them and they or their builder is not allowed to make holes, take up floor board etc. Also, if you have oil central heating and no oil in the tank tell them that and the builder should not turn it on as it can cause issues with they system.

Tell them in no circumstances at all should the buyers be given a key to let themselves in to measure up etc (I speak from bitter experience).

CleaningOutMyCloset · 13/04/2023 16:54

I would let them have access but tell the estate agent in writing that they must attend the viewing at the same time as the buyers

Bunda · 13/04/2023 16:56

As buyers we did it. We did a full renovation and wanted to understand potential scope. They are interested in making this house their home. It's normal.

SorePaw · 13/04/2023 17:05

I would. But as per most other posters I'd put the conditions in writing and get their agreement in writing.

agent accompanies any visits, by anyone. Shadowing, not just generally being there.

anything they'd like to remove, drill into, whatever, needs your specific permission each time.

Locking up/security is the Agents responsibility.

whatever else you can think of.

rwalker · 13/04/2023 17:14

I’d arrange for key sounds like they want to have work done so they can get quotes and sorted before they buy ready to go ahead when u exchange

LibertyLily · 13/04/2023 17:20

Blimey, a lot of bad experiences/lack of trust (not saying it isn't justified) going on here.

When we bought our current house and the previous one (both empty - one a repo, the other the vendor had already upsized massively to a mansion so was beyond caring it seemed), the EAs let us take the keys from their office and do our own second viewing after our offer had been accepted. Guess we must give off honest vibes!

The house before that, again it was vacant as the vendors had moved into her parents' farm to care for them, and they actually offered for us to move our stuff in between exchange and completion....crazy, I know.

All these were long distance moves (200+ miles) so we couldn't keep popping back for additional views etc.

When we've sold, a few times we've accommodated the buyer's requests, ie, for carpet fitters to measure up and once for the Aga installer to visit. Our EA let them in. Nothing damaged or nicked, although the EA did let out our house cat on one occasion. Fortunately she didn't come to any harm.

In your case @SingaporeSting I'd definitely not refuse, but as you are out of the country I think requesting EA accompanied viewing(s) for buyers plus their builder(s) would be the best bet. Following them round does seem like overkill to me.

Viviennemary · 13/04/2023 17:29

That's not an unreasonable request.,if I was a buyer and it was refused I might pull out. Thinking what have they got to hide. The estate agent shoild be there too.

Whiteroomjoy · 13/04/2023 17:33

I had builders in as survey threw up significant issues. I needed to understand costs and then negotiated a deduction.
unfortunately finding a builder once I moved was a nightmare I didn’t know I’d have and everyone else had. By time work started I was needing to pay 3 times the price of original quote. Plus by then I’d found out things my vendors had outright lied about. Bloody money sink house

I’d walk away form any purchase here vendors didn’t let me or builder enter

Original poster
SingaporeSting · 13/04/2023 19:10

DH will be back in a few weeks so perhaps they can arrange it for then and he can be there.

i think we’re still emotionally attached to the house, it’s quite hard to let it go, despite the fact that we’ve not lived in it for years.

OP posts:
Greenfairydust · 13/04/2023 19:23

Have they done a survey? then maybe they just want to start planning the works needed and get a better idea of what it would cost.

Good tradesmen are booked in advance these days.

If your house needs a lot of work that turns out to be expensive then of course they will want to renegotiate but if you prevent them from having a builder around they might pull out full stop.

''DH will be back in a few weeks so perhaps they can arrange it for then and he can be there. ''

That is not the way to go, your buyer is going to be massively annoyed if they have to wait ''a few weeks'' for this simple request that the agent could accommodate and wonders whether you are hiding something/are wasting their time on purpose.

NicLondon1 · 14/04/2023 00:19

Yes as above, they would feel weird to be followed around by your husband! What exactly are you worried about?
presumably they are expecting to move in soon so they need to make plans for the works… the builder will need to see how much time and what resources he needs to allocate to the job.
I am not sure how having yourselves there would help..? Even if they do identify an issue, and want to renegotiate , being there at the time would not stop that happening.

QueenCamilla · 14/04/2023 03:07

I'm doing my own complete renovation at the moment and going by what I know of builders, I'd allow a visit but flat out refuse to negotiate based on "findings".

According to some builders my house needs a new roof (no it didn't, just the gutters ) and my Victorian kitchen extension needs to be torn down and rebuilt (no it doesn't, a comprehensive refurb is needed),
and the jungle of a garden and the packed with junk shed clearance will be 2.3k minimum (no, it was done for £800 including the demolishing of said concrete shed).

Also builders: didn't notice that the radiators are hung "for looks" in some of the rooms, with no actual pipes connecting them anywhere.

Obviously, you might not know your house well OP (after it being tennanted) so I'd probably send a maintenance company/builder via the agents around first for a walk-through.
I'd be feeling very exposed to scammy behaviour otherwise!

EyesOnThePies · 14/04/2023 10:46

Just let the EA do it!

It shows they are being pro active and want to get moving. And it’s normal to allow them access to measure up etc. They are about to pay you hundreds of thousands of pounds! I would be a bit fed up if I had to wait ‘a few weeks’.