Page 5 | Buyer has entered property pre exchange and started renovation

Iwishiwasjoking · 2024-05-08T20:30:00+00:00

We were supposed to exchnage last week, then yesterday, now the proposal is exchange and complete tomorrow, all delays on buyers side told its mortgage company releasing fund. property was vacated last week, but I removed the last items yesterday. Went back this evening to do a meter reading. Garden dug up, carpets ripped out, all windows open, lights on. I am so shocked I have no idea what to do now …technically is burglary … but if this sale falls through I have a much less saleable house … and before you ask how has he got in, there was a lockbox with keys in that the estate agents have been using … so either they’ve shared the code with him or he’s watched them and then let himself in.

user8800 · 09/05/2024 07:11

Wowsers! 😲

needsomewarmsunshine · 09/05/2024 07:11

LlynTegid · 09/05/2024 07:00

I think you would have difficulty getting the police interested, but I think if you can withhold every penny due to the estate agent, do that.

Yet another reason to have estate agents licensed.

And the award for the dafest advice goes to....... OP please don't do this, any more than chucking out someone's stuff even if it is on your property.

BirthdayRainbow · 09/05/2024 07:15

I'll be selling my house soon. Are you supposed to give the EA a key? I have a dog and I know I have to take her out when there is a viewing and I'm wondering what the point is if I have to be in to let them in, they will see the dog if they are scared of them it might be a problem. She's good and calm and quiet so nothing to be worried about but I know fear doesn't work like that.

Curiousto · 09/05/2024 07:17

My last buyers practically moved in before exchange. When I found all their stuff and blew up at the EA, the EA said the buyer removal arrangements had fallen through, so they had to move in as much as they could pre exchange or the chain would fall through.

Their beds were up in the bedrooms, fully made up with linen. Their books were out on the bookshelves. This wasn't getting loads of stuff in quickly, it was setting up home! I hadn't even moved my final bits out yet 😳

I made it clear to the EA that what they had done was illegal and they should have discussed the chain situation with me. I rang a solicitor friend who reminded me eyes on the prize...exchange in 2 days...if it isn't, call me back.

So I went back in my house to grab the final items and, oh dear, the final items just happened to be behind some very poorly stacked boxes. I accidentally knocked those boxes to the floor. Unfortunately it sounded like an item or two may have got broken inside. Those boxes just happened to fall on another stack of poorly dumped items. Which had the domino effect across my garage. Oh dear.

I also found a spare garage remote key in my glovebox a few days after completion. There are still occasions 3 years on where the button on the key seems to accidentally get triggered when I drive past the house. Leaving their garage door, and therefore access to the house, wide open.

All the EA ever did was send me a bunch of flowers as an apology. I didn't have the energy to take things further. I do now blacken his name in the town every chance I get.

I too am curious as to how yours will conclude @Iwishiwasjoking Please come back and update.

Zonder · 09/05/2024 07:17

Well done OP - you really thought on your feet, taking all the photos. Hope it gets sorted today.

Hotcuppatea · 09/05/2024 07:21

Curiousto · 09/05/2024 07:17

My last buyers practically moved in before exchange. When I found all their stuff and blew up at the EA, the EA said the buyer removal arrangements had fallen through, so they had to move in as much as they could pre exchange or the chain would fall through.

Their beds were up in the bedrooms, fully made up with linen. Their books were out on the bookshelves. This wasn't getting loads of stuff in quickly, it was setting up home! I hadn't even moved my final bits out yet 😳

I made it clear to the EA that what they had done was illegal and they should have discussed the chain situation with me. I rang a solicitor friend who reminded me eyes on the prize...exchange in 2 days...if it isn't, call me back.

So I went back in my house to grab the final items and, oh dear, the final items just happened to be behind some very poorly stacked boxes. I accidentally knocked those boxes to the floor. Unfortunately it sounded like an item or two may have got broken inside. Those boxes just happened to fall on another stack of poorly dumped items. Which had the domino effect across my garage. Oh dear.

I also found a spare garage remote key in my glovebox a few days after completion. There are still occasions 3 years on where the button on the key seems to accidentally get triggered when I drive past the house. Leaving their garage door, and therefore access to the house, wide open.

All the EA ever did was send me a bunch of flowers as an apology. I didn't have the energy to take things further. I do now blacken his name in the town every chance I get.

I too am curious as to how yours will conclude @Iwishiwasjoking Please come back and update.

Edited

I hope you're joking. If not, this is terrible behaviour. You might want to think about how you can work towards letting this go (and disposing of the garage key).

Twiglets1 · 09/05/2024 07:23

BirthdayRainbow · 09/05/2024 07:15

I'll be selling my house soon. Are you supposed to give the EA a key? I have a dog and I know I have to take her out when there is a viewing and I'm wondering what the point is if I have to be in to let them in, they will see the dog if they are scared of them it might be a problem. She's good and calm and quiet so nothing to be worried about but I know fear doesn't work like that.

Yes we have always given our EAs a key. They tell you before doing viewings though to check the time is convenient.

I also had a dog in the past & took him for a walk during viewings.

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:24

I would remove all the equipment and sell it.
He would turn up when you have exchanged and completed and find everything gone. I don’t think there would be much he could do.
I know it’s not right morally but I would be SO angry.

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:26

Hotcuppatea · 09/05/2024 07:21

I hope you're joking. If not, this is terrible behaviour. You might want to think about how you can work towards letting this go (and disposing of the garage key).

Show quote history

It’s not her behaviour that was bad!

uncomfortablydumb53 · 09/05/2024 07:27

OMG What CFs!
The EA have been really negligent here and they know it
Fingers crossed it he sale goes through today

Radon · 09/05/2024 07:28

Curiousto · 09/05/2024 07:17

My last buyers practically moved in before exchange. When I found all their stuff and blew up at the EA, the EA said the buyer removal arrangements had fallen through, so they had to move in as much as they could pre exchange or the chain would fall through.

Their beds were up in the bedrooms, fully made up with linen. Their books were out on the bookshelves. This wasn't getting loads of stuff in quickly, it was setting up home! I hadn't even moved my final bits out yet 😳

I made it clear to the EA that what they had done was illegal and they should have discussed the chain situation with me. I rang a solicitor friend who reminded me eyes on the prize...exchange in 2 days...if it isn't, call me back.

So I went back in my house to grab the final items and, oh dear, the final items just happened to be behind some very poorly stacked boxes. I accidentally knocked those boxes to the floor. Unfortunately it sounded like an item or two may have got broken inside. Those boxes just happened to fall on another stack of poorly dumped items. Which had the domino effect across my garage. Oh dear.

I also found a spare garage remote key in my glovebox a few days after completion. There are still occasions 3 years on where the button on the key seems to accidentally get triggered when I drive past the house. Leaving their garage door, and therefore access to the house, wide open.

All the EA ever did was send me a bunch of flowers as an apology. I didn't have the energy to take things further. I do now blacken his name in the town every chance I get.

I too am curious as to how yours will conclude @Iwishiwasjoking Please come back and update.

Edited

You sound awful.

Hotcuppatea · 09/05/2024 07:29

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:26

It’s not her behaviour that was bad!

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If you can't see that, then I really don't know how to help you.

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/05/2024 07:29

I am crossing my fingers for you op. I hope it all works out ok.

@Curiousto
I can see why you’re still fuming. I would worry there is a dog or a child in the house, that may get lost, injured or killed as a result of these actions.

Snugglemonkey · 09/05/2024 07:30

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:26

It’s not her behaviour that was bad!

Show quote history

Yes it is. The buyers were also behaving badly, as was the estate agent, but deliberately destroying property is bad enough, without the random door opening. That is so vindictive.

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:31

Hotcuppatea · 09/05/2024 07:29

If you can't see that, then I really don't know how to help you.

Show quote history

So if someone did that to you, you would be ok with it? Breaking into your home 🙄 and you wouldn’t have a problem.

Fraaahnces · 09/05/2024 07:31

This is intriguing. Wtf would happen if anyone were injured? This would absolutely not be covered by anyone’s insurance.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 09/05/2024 07:32

fingers crossed you exchange and complete today

chippylips · 09/05/2024 07:33

This is shocking - pay EA not a penny!!

Hotcuppatea · 09/05/2024 07:34

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 09/05/2024 07:31

So if someone did that to you, you would be ok with it? Breaking into your home 🙄 and you wouldn’t have a problem.

Show quote history

There is a world of difference between being angry in the moment and taking the vindictive actions that the poster described and then carrying it on for 3 years.

This is not behaviour to brag about.

Curiousto · 09/05/2024 07:34

Snugglemonkey · 09/05/2024 07:30

Yes it is. The buyers were also behaving badly, as was the estate agent, but deliberately destroying property is bad enough, without the random door opening. That is so vindictive.

Show quote history

Absolutely it is vindictive.

Karma is a bitch.

FeralNun · 09/05/2024 07:35

My jaw is hanging open!

Really hope you complete today - and that this soon becomes a bad memory (and an excellent story!)

Flamingos89 · 09/05/2024 07:35

I’d genuinely just leave it be! Super cheaky, but if you exhange tomorrow as planned no harm done

Sillystrumpet · 09/05/2024 07:35

chippylips · 09/05/2024 07:33

This is shocking - pay EA not a penny!!

Don’t so this op unless you want to end up with a massive debt. You still need to pay.

Triceratopsiosis · 09/05/2024 07:36

I'm sure the exchange will go through, deep breaths but how stressful!!!!! Please update the thread.

I had a family member book a removal lorry a few years ago. Got to exchange day, removals arrived and they loaded up and arrived at new house. Then the waiting game began where they sat outside for hours waiting for the ok. I can't remember what happened but they basically got bored, checked a back door and found it unlocked. So they unloaded all the stuff into the house before exchange. Family member was shitting themselves. I look back and am pretty horrified. Imagine if something had happened!

Funnywonder · 09/05/2024 07:36

I hope you're exaggerating @Curiousto. There's being upset and angry in the moment and there's being coldly vindictive. Three years is a long time to carry a grudge. Crowing on here about leaving a family's home exposed to criminality or the risk of escaped children/pets makes you sound much, much worse than the people who annoyed you in the first place.