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Original poster

Buyer wants to collect the keys from us on completion date

49 replies

Upset12345 · 24/08/2023 17:19

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

OP posts:

vestedinterests · 24/08/2023 18:17

You are under no obligation to explain anything. Just tell your sols you will drop the keys off at the estate agents as soon as you have heard from them.

Tinkerbyebye · 24/08/2023 18:18

No. Collect from the estate agent and you leave the manual for the boiler

Merapi · 24/08/2023 18:20

Nope. Give the keys to the estate agent, and let them deal with him. That is one of the things you are paying the agent for.

SheilaFentiman · 24/08/2023 18:31

I would say no even if he had been lovely in the process. You will be running round chucking the last bits in/doing one final tip run etc and you won’t want to be waiting about for anyone.

If he had been lovely, I might offer a phone call the day after completion. As he is an arse, I wouldn’t!

Inkpotlover · 24/08/2023 18:32

Are you moving tomorrow as well? I certainly wouldn't be waiting around when I'm meant to be moving into a new place to pander to a buyer who's caused me so much stress. And if you're not moving, you should still say no and that you won't have time. It's his property now, he can figure it out.

BeaLola · 24/08/2023 18:40

Twiglets1 · 24/08/2023 17:44

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

This and only this
He can look up the manuals himself - remind the EA that you did not install and have never used alarm system

ShanghaiDiva · 24/08/2023 18:44

I would say:
sorry, no time for this. Keys will be with EA, alarm doesn’t function as already stated and will leave the boiler manual and other manuals on kitchen worktop.

blotchyredanditichy · 24/08/2023 19:00

We had this. Buyer even came round the day before when we were packing with his daughter who wanted to see the garden. Err no, wait till you have moved in love ! Wanted the keys off us the next day. Complete CF who had made my life a misery trying to renegotiate. So a no to handing over keys in person- went by estate agent. Felt like agent earned every penny of his commission for having to deal with CFs like that.

calmcoco · 24/08/2023 19:03

Absolutely not.

This person is very strange. I'd actually be worried by this request - he's a bully.

caerdydd12 · 24/08/2023 19:08

Absolutely not. The estate agent can sort it, surely at the point you've completed you'd have also completed on your onward purchase and will be collecting your own keys.

Ohmylovejune · 24/08/2023 19:11

No. He will probably turn up at 6! He has to wait and do.it in normal way.

sarahc336 · 24/08/2023 19:15

No just take them to the estate agent op, getting a bad vibe from your post. You can just leave a note for him about the alarm etc. our buyers asked to come straight to the house on completion to get the keys but we were advised to say no by our estate agent as often the buyers will turn up early as their keen and pressure you to leave etc, just take them the office 😄

pilates · 24/08/2023 19:18

No, you have been advised by your solicitor he should collect the keys from the agents in the usual way. Leave the boiler manual out or if you haven’t got it he can Google.

mindbogglingmaths · 24/08/2023 19:21

You're not there, you're busy moving into your new house. Absolutely not. The EA can do it with the help of Youtube if necessary.

WallaceinAnderland · 24/08/2023 19:29

Just ignore and give keys to EA. This really does not have to be a problem.

dodobookends · 24/08/2023 19:36

You really don't want him turning up an hour before the completion payment goes through. He'll find fault with the boiler and the alarm system, and all of a sudden he will say he's not satisfied and things are not as described, so he's knocking ten grand off what he's paying...

Get the estate agent to deal with it. Our buyer's solicitor asked us the same, about whether the buyer could come round on the morning of completion just to check everything over, and we were advised by our solicitor to say no as it was asking for trouble.

Roselilly36 · 24/08/2023 19:47

YANBU, he collects one key from the EA, and you leave the spares at the property, lock the door as you leave and put key through letterbox. You need to get to your new home, not hang about to hand keys over personally. We have collected the key from the EA every single time we have moved/purchased a property.

Honee · 24/08/2023 20:12

Nope. That doesn't work for you, thank you.

blahblahhhh · 24/08/2023 20:15

Does he have your mobile number?

If he asks for your new address to forward mail don't give it!!!

mauveiscurious · 24/08/2023 20:42

Nope

LadyLapsang · 24/08/2023 21:00

No, for two reasons, if his money doesn’t go through on time then you haven’t completed and the solicitors will need to sort things out (when he gets access and a possible fine) and he may turn up early and pressure you.

okthenwhat · 24/08/2023 21:13

Argh, why are people like this?

C0NNIE · 24/08/2023 21:26

LadyLapsang · 24/08/2023 21:00

This.

Last house I sold the new owners turned up outside with two removal vans and several mates with car loads of stuff. But the money hadn’t come through so the solicitors said not to give then keys or let them in the house.

They gave me a lot of trouble, hassling me and saying the removal vans were only booked until whatever time, the removal men were threatening to go back to the depot and unload all their things into storage as they had another job booked for later that day . Etc etc

I understand they were angry and upset but it wasn’t my fault, yet I had half a dozen people hassling me at my front door and demanding to be let in. At one point I thought I’d have to call the police as they were so aggressive.

so make sure EVERYTHING is done through your agent. They have the insurance and liability if anything goes wrong.

Newestname002 · 24/08/2023 22:23

blahblahhhh · 24/08/2023 20:15

Does he have your mobile number?

If he asks for your new address to forward mail don't give it!!!

Hopefully you've already done a mail redirect online OP? It takes about seven working days to kick in.

Also, tomorrow morning first thing remember to do meter readings and submit them online before you go, or take dates/timed photos of your readings and submit them online a day or so after you've moved home.

Ensure you've changed your details online with your employer, bank or other financial institution, DWP, other utility or similar - incl Water and Council Tax ASAP.

Good luck for tomorrow and keep Mr CF at a distance. 🌹

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