Buyer wants to bring round handyman between exchange and completion

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Just this really. We exchanged Thurs before Christmas with completion to take place on 9th Jan. Buyer wants to bring round a "handyman" to see what work they want to do after they move in. Is this normal?

I'm not feeling very generous towards them as they had a late survey and then tried to force us to drop the price by another 20 grand. Can I say that they should wait until after completion?

Yes that’s normal. Lots of people get workmen or builders in to quote.

Yea it’s not unusual to bring a builder ir trades at some point - I usually do before I put in an offer.
I’d let them come. If they suddenly ask further questions a price reduction, well all you say is no and there goes their deposit.it is extremely unlikely that they will do this, and they also risk having to pay your costs on top if they pull out. An exchange is legally binding. Even if the buyer died the estate would have to complete the sale (though it might be delayed).
A handyman is not a structural engineer and if they’ve already had a survey there should t be an issue.

I’d refuse. You’re going to be busy packing up and making the house clean and tidy ready to go. A handyman popping in and out isn’t convenient. Your buyer has signed a legally binding contract to purchase your house. It doesn’t become their house until you complete. What if the sale falls through and the handyman has done work you do not want, you’re stuck with it. Your buyer would lose their deposit if they pull out now so it’s unlikely they will even if you refuse the handyman entry. They might ask for a further reduction whether you allow the handyman entry or not at which point you say no. They’ve verbally and contractually agreed the price now.

We are in England and never had to pay a deposit and I never have on all the purchases over the years. In Spain Ive had to pay 10% but not England?

It's one of those things that is fine to ask but equally fine to say no to.
Nothing to do with being a 'nasty person' or not if it's convenient say yes, if not say no. It's not as though they'll have to wait weeks given completion is set for 9 Jan anyway.

That’s what I was thinking. Just say no doesn’t work for us, we have a lot on.

you have clearly stated you wish to be vindictive so what anyone else thinks is "normal" is utterly irrelevant.

If it's 'handyman' type work I'd be saying no, tbh. What's the rush? Better to live in a place for a bit and get the feel of it before crashing around rearranging things. Where does the light land? What is the coldest room in the house? What is the kitchen flow like? Which shower has the best/worst water pressure?

These things you can only discern when you've lived somewhere for a little while. You'll be doing them a favour if you say no - it will be very magnanimous of you 😉

The last house I sold, the buyers did exactly this, but before exchange. Several tradespeople came round, "so they could get quotes and get work started quickly ".
Then I got a letter (sent to me, not the agent or solicitor) saying x y z needed doing, and asking for a £20k reduction in the price.
I got straight on the phone to the agent, told them I wanted it relisted with new photos immediately.
The agent spoke to the buyer, who then proceeded with the purchase at the agreed price (I was sorely tempted to say the price had gone up by £10k!).

As your buyers have already tried to beat you down i would not allow them any access at all before completion.

Good luck!

Fine to look but no work can start of course. Xx

Absolutely not. If they cause accidents or damage to the property, you are liable. They will have to wait. Tough.

It's a handyman, not a surveyor. And you've exchanged. If you're around I'd say yes so he can measure up.

Of course you can. They have no rights in or over or about your property whatsoever until completion. Just say it's inconvenient.

So you've always paid cash in full, or had 100% mortgages?

They are legally bound to buy it now at the price you exchanged at. The only thing they could do is pull out but as a previous poster advised they would lose their deposit.

No harm in letting them but you have no obligation to either

Tried to stiff you for 20k and now want a bit of goodwill? Tell them you're away those days.

Personally I would be wary if they messed around up to exchange. Until completion it’s not theirs so no. They will have the keys soon enough and then they can do as they like. I speak from bad experience!

The funds need to be with solicitors before unless all the money are coming from selling property, but one is still liable for the deposit sum if it falls through. (disregarding mortgage funds here).
So you had to. But it may have felt different to Spain.
In many other countries the deposit is paid well in advance to usual E&W timeline because exchange in various types happens way earlier.

Personally, from what you've written about them already trying to reduce the price, it would be a sharp "no" from me.
We encountered a very similar situation, buyer kept trying last minute tactics to further reduce the price etc. We finally said everything needed to wait until after completion and we wouldn't be granting them, or any of their endless tradespeople, access to the property until it was no longer our property.
If they'd been nice buyers and not tried to constantly screw us over, then we'd have been far more accommodating.
Good luck with your move.

Edited due to accidental duplicate post

Yes this. It's not appropriate really and I think cheeky to ask. You're packing up your home the last thing you need is someone in inspecting the place. Just say it's not suitable, you don't need to explain.

Can’t do this they’re contracted at the price and lose their deposit if they don’t complete.

But they can’t start negotiating to reduce the price again if contracts have been exchanged.

I'd be inclined to say no based on their behaviour to date.

You've exchanged so they cant yry to know anything off now no matter what they find