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?

Buyer may have asked to meet you, but agent ought to say so if that's the case. Otherwise the agent ought to do it, unless you want to.

I'm sure he didn't mean to upset you. He probably felt a bit awkward himself and waffled on. I'm sorry you have fertility issues, but you surely can't expect to go through life without people mentioning their children/grandchildren?

OP, the agent should definitely do it. They probably can't be arsed as know the property is all but sold. Put your foot down!

In my experience rhe final before exchange is handled by rhe owner. Generally it’s hi, quick chat, get out their way. When we bought this house, they went into the garage and stayed there 😂

We did it ourselves. The agents will be interested in selling new houses, not bothering with a sale that's about to go through.

I’m really sorry about your fertility issues, but I think there was no way for him to know that knowing he had kids or grandkids would massively upset you , it’s a really common general conversation topic and not something people think to hide .

Sorry you had to hear all of that.

We went for a viewing with a dumbarse who saw us there with our two children and told us he was selling the house because it's too small for his family - him, his wife, and... their two children

If the agent just can’t do it , I would take it on, rather than lose the sale because the buyer thinks you have something to hide or are ‘awkward’ . Have a look at your contract with the agent, if it specifies accompanied viewing, you can knock fifty quid off his bill. ( partly joking).

It seems to vary by region but in the NE lost viewings are without the estate agent so this would be perfectly usual. They might have questions around things like utility providers , council tax etc so might be a good time to pull together a little bundle of info for them and it will save a job on completion , things like bin days , any burglar alarm codes , stopcock locations - shows goodwill too

Perfectly normal if EA is booked to ask the vendor to do the final viewing before exchange. They probably want to measure for curtains and check the house as it was when they put in an offer. They might ask you which day is bin day or about recycling etc. The EA would not know.

This is what the EA is employed for, it's definitely their responsibility.

Go back to the EA and explain that you're completely happy with the viewing but they need to be present; it's their job!

Would your agent be able to answer questions such as how the central heating timer works, or the code for the alarm or how many keys you will be handing over or whether they will leave all the instruction booklets for built in appliances?

I don’t see any issue, as a buyer I would prefer to meet the seller before exchange to get answers rather than move in and find I couldn’t work out how to put the oven on.

Update: I asked my extremely professional agent to be present. He said he would, then did not turn up and is now radio silent. Unbelievable that I have to pay this service provider thousands of pounds, but that’s another post.

Buyer was fine. Didn’t measure, didn’t ask any questions, just said the units I had installed were a good idea. Took loads of photos though.

All in all a bit weird. Let’s see if exchange happens.

I find it really odd the agent didn't want to be there.

I came round and met the owner of the house I was buying before exchange,
It was helpful to see what white goods and curtains that she was planning on leaving and if I wanted them or not. We had a cup of tea and a chat and it was fine.

Me too @EmmaEmerald perhaps he’s convinced the sale is in the bag so can’t be bothered.

He wasn’t the agent I met with when I listed the house. As soon as the sale was agreed, the original guy handed it off to another guy, then the second guy handed it off to this, a third guy. If it had been this guy from the start, I probably wouldn’t have used them. I don’t like him, I find him a bit patronising.

I probably should complain, but it’s such a faff and it’s not going to change anything.

I’ve already done the what curtains and white goods I’m leaving through the solicitors so maybe that’s why there wasn’t much to say. Just a formality to check I’ve not stripped it out or whatever.

We did a second viewing just before exchange and the estate agent didn't attend. It was fine and our seller filled us in about the neighbours, bin days and area. Sale went through fine.

I would definitely get the agent to handle it. Firstly, you pay them plenty of money so the agent should do it. Secondly, you may overhear the new buyers discussing what they want to do with your home, which can be upsetting. I took a 'final viewing' on my last house before I signed it off and found it quite upsetting to hear what they were going to rip out, modernise etc. Silly I know but true. Also, nobody needs to ask the vendor about bin days etc or how the boiler works - anything like this is easily found on the internet. This is simply a case of bone idle estate agent.