Final viewing before exchange

[Doingestateagentsjobforthem]

Can I get some opinions on what is normal please?

My buyer has asked to do a viewing prior to exchange, which is absolutely fine by me. However, the agent has asked me to handle it, as in they won’t be present.

I’ve never spoken a word directly to the buyer - everything has been through the agent or solicitor. There is nothing acrimonious about it - we just haven’t needed to meet or speak.

Is this normal that the agent doesn’t manage this particular viewing?

I think this is weird because surely they’ll want to have a good nosey and they’ll not feel like they’ll be able to do that if I’m around?

thoughts?

It’s completely normal. Make them a cup of tea, answer their questions, and let them have a little wander about.

Yes your agent should do this. I've never done any showings bar one which was a very late request snd the agents were all booked (not a before exchange viewing). This is what you are paying them for. If for some reason they cannot coordinate their schedules then ok fair enough if you don't mind, but otherwise they should do it (I've bought and sold over 20 properties in the past 15 years in very different parts of the UK).

Hmmm. A one all draw! 😂

I’ve only done this once before from the buyers side and the agent handled the pre exchange booking, not the vendor.

Its completely normal. They probably want a quick look-see to plan where furniture will go; maybe measure to see if any of their curtains will fit the windows; they won't be opening cupboards or even spending very long there.

Agent should absolutely handle it

If its the final before exchange then it will be to check the ceiling hasn't fallen in, the patio isn't too new, to measure for curtains, to ask about any quirks to house, garden or neighbours and maybe ask for your experience of schools, parks or buses. An estate agent cant help with those.

We did this to help with planning what should be done and in what order.
why your agent can’t do this viewing? Is it about particular time?

My solicitor advised me to do this when I last bought a property. But in my case, there was a long delay between my offer being accepted and completion (over a year).

The sellers clearly hadn’t done much maintenance in the intervening months. However TBF, their initial onward purchase fell through, which left them out of pocket.

I’m glad I viewed the house again to check that no major issues had arisen in the meantime. It was also useful to look inside again, as it was a bit different from how I remembered it, and the photos didn’t tell me everything I wanted to know.

I don't see why they'd need to view it again at all tbh. They'll have photos and a floor plan.

As for agents, this varies across the country. All viewings where I am are done by the owner unless you request otherwise.

If you don't want to do the viewing, tell your agent.

my query isn’t on whether the buyer wanting to view again is normal - of course they can, and in my opinion, they should - it’s whether the agent should handle this viewing or not.

I don’t mind being about to answer questions or whatever - there have been remarkably few thus far via the agent and solicitor, and I’m fairly confident I’d be able to answer anything they ask anyway, I think it’s just that it’s weird the agent isn’t planning on being here to “run” things, make introductions etc.

I don’t know why @pizzaHeart It seems like they just don’t want to be bothered with it

You would think it would be in the agents best interests to do it - they don't get paid until the sale goes through. You could say something which puts the buyer off and they pull out.

I’m not sure how it all works but personally I would want the agent to do this.

this is part of their job, surely?

Thanks for the opinions. I’ll think I’ll ask the agent to facilitate.

Technically agent should probably do this, but it would be nice for the buyers to hear about the quirks of the house/heating/neighbors etc. from you. If that's not how you roll, then say no.

My agent was happy to conduct a viewing in my absence but the buyers were unreasonable with their availability and I couldn't work around their busy schedule so it never happened. The sale still went through.
If you want the agent to do it put your foot down.

Every bit of legal advice I have read has always said 'view again just before exchange.' If the vendors have ripped out all the light sockets, dug the turf up and a ceiling has caved in, that becomes your financial responsibility and there is nothing you can do about it, which is why it's the proper thing to do.

Also, measuring up for curtains and furniture.

Our agent did the final viewing before Exchange - no reason they shouldn't. If they are busy on the day requested they should ask a colleague in the office to do it or negotiate a different date with the Buyer, not expect you to do it.

Normal to view before exchange, solicitors always recommend it, personally if you don’t feel comfortable ask the EA to do it.

Estate agent should do it
We had one offer for our house, the lady came for second viewing which we showed her around, next day she pulled out😳
Sexond time we made sure every viewing was done by EA (different agent this time) every single time and they were very good, they had a separate team for Saturdays ND evenings, and successfully sold the house, our buyer came around three times in all ND we never met them

We did ours with the owners. It was nice to talk to them.

We did this. We visited our new house and the owner showed us around, explaining everything in detail. We were actually there 2 hours! Then we invited our buyers round, made them a cup of tea, had a nice chat. I think it's a friendly and helpful thing to do.

I can see only 2 reasons for this :

• your buyer asked for a viewing outside EA’s working hours (but I would still expect EA to find a solution)
• your contract with EA covers only certain amount of viewings

Even if your buyer asked for you to be present I would still expect that EA would be doing the viewing. I agree with PPs that it’s much easier when EA is doing the viewing and less emotional.

Just don’t be like the seller who did a viewing for us yesterday who told us his entire bloody life story.

I didn’t need to hear about his hobbies or his divorce or the fact he’s got both children and grandchildren (we have fertility issues and this really upset me and made the whole thing massively awkward). Didn’t like the house anyway but this didn’t help.

I much prefer doing them with EAs and this reminded me of why.

My buyer wanted to bring her mum and gran round, no problem. The agent 100% arranged and managed it, thats what I was paying them for.

Im also surprised the agent doesn't want to handle it themselves, some sellers might accidentally put their foot in it and mess up the sale.