Buyer wants to collect the keys from us on completion date

[Upset12345]

Hi, we've exchanged today and are completing tomorrow.

I have posted about our buyer on mumsnet before, he's a CF, who's asked for discounts along the way and who insisted on exchange as close as possible to completion.

He now said to our estate agent he wants to collect the keys from us personally tomrrow (instead of picking them up from the estate agent).

He said he wants us to explain to him how the alarm and the boiler work.

We already explained in previous paperwork that we never used the previous neighbour's alarm system and that we don't know how it works.

Of course we can explain to him how the boiler works, but is his demand reasonable to come and collect the keys personally?

We would prefer never having to see him again.

Thanks xx

He can use the Internet or read the manual if one is available.

No I wouldn't be doing this. He can collect them from the estate agent. Leave him written instructions about the boiler. Last thing you want on moving day is to get stuck talking him through everything for ages.

If you don’t feel comfortable then say no and hand the keys over the the EA. If the boiler is particularly complicated then you could first show the EA who could show the buyer.

Totally reasonable to say 'no '. Also totally reasonable, if you're worried it would prolong the messing about, to agree, fix a time, and then an hour earlier than that find it was inconvenient and drop the keys with the estate agent instead.

No, needs to go through the estate agent, end of conversation 😊

Is it a particularly obscure boiler and alarm make?

otherwise he can find YouTube tutorials for it.

Tell him no.

You’re moving and will have lots to do - he def needs to go to the estate agents in this case and it ensures that completion has been confirmed by your solicitor.

Absolutely not.

Suppose that you're all packed and ready to leave your old house and then, for whatever reason, he doesn't turn up or is delayed. Are you wanting to hang around waiting for him?

The key handover is part of the service from the EA so make sure that you use it.

If you're still wavering just remind yourself of all the CFery that he's tried in the run up to the sale - that should cement your decision..

It's a Worcester Bosch boiler.

The alarm system we're not sure, it didn't work when we moved in (the previous owner installed it) and we never bothered to figure out if it was broken or how to use it. We stated in the paperwork though that the house doesn't have a functioning alarm system.

No absolutely not, more CFery on his part. He collects the keys from the EA like everyone else does. You will be busy moving into your new place.

Your estate agent should have a set of keys from viewings, if not pop one down now or first thing in the morning, he can collect it from there.

we were advised from our solicitor not to hand over the keys personally, it shouldn’t be done until the monies are exchanged and the estate agents are responsible for the keys. Tbh we sold our house to another person in the village and we allowed him access to the garden/garage a couple of days before, then the bedrooms as after the removal men had cleared. It worked quite well, but then we knew each other and could work as a team.

but no, the last thing you need is him holding you back, he can’t have access to your house until monies are exchanged and the solicitor gives the go ahead, you will be to busy getting to your new property at that point to hang around for him

With house sales/purchases, our emotions seem to take over but they don't have to. The estate agent can tell him no, that won't be possible. It's that simple really.

If you have the boiler paperwork and instructions, leave them for him, that would be a reasonable thing to do. If not, you could always leave a note of the model so he can look it up online himself. You can't help him with the alarm, so that's easy.

I really wouldn't give it any more headspace, there's no need.

The answer is no.

Otherwise you risk him calling asking for how x or y works or holding you somehow responsible for it.

Its sold as seen, and its his fucking problem.

I wouldn't deal with the new owner personally at all. Too much of a chance for issues.

He can’t have the keys til your solicitor has his money. You will already be packed up and on your way by then. I can’t see how this would work anyway.

I wouldn’t be doing this. Selling a house can be emotional and stressful it’s what the estate agents role is. I’d just say no that doesn’t work for you.

Your answer is No and he has to pick up the keys from the EA like everyone else does.

This.

Saves any other bullshit

I’ve always handed over the keys in person but you absolutely don’t have to if you don’t want to.

We picked up our keys in person (We weren't moving in straight away so didn't have any stuff with us and they'd already moved out) so it can be helpful but if you don't feel comfortable just say no :)

Some buyers! There's another thread on AIBU where the poor OP is being hassled to death by the buyers after exchange practically wanting to live there! Funnily enough, I remember some move where my buyers seemed OK and I said to the EA it'd be nice to meet them to get the reply they were too busy. Felt a bit peeved for a minute or two but of course that's nothing compared with these situations.

It is a reasonable request. I would show the person I was selling my house to how a part of it worked without any issues.

We had nightmare buyers who turned up on our doorstep demanding the keys at 10am before the monies had passed through the chain. He actually threatened my husband while I was holding our 4mo, it was actually a bit scary!

We told him to go away and speak to the estate agent and refused to engage so he went and harangued our EA in the office for half an hour. After he left the office the EA came down to the house, told us that this was part of what we paid him for and told us to bring the keys to the office when we were done and he’d deal with nasty buyer. EA was a gem, said he’d been like this through the process but until then we hadn’t had a clue!

Basically, yes - go through the EA. Do not engage. There are some very odd people in the world. (I’m still in touch with our old NDNs and it sounds like this wasn’t out of character for him, they’re now on the market 9 months later…)

Definitely not, I would think it is a ploy to keep you on the property while he goes through everything trying to find something to moan about, you could be there hours ....

Tell your estate agent they’re not to pester you with any further drivel from the man. They can refer him to the documents he already has with those details in, and also to google. Don’t give it a moments thought.