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?

Up to you.

Or have, but still don’t understand the basics of house buying and selling

No, it's rude of them to inconvenience you instead of just waiting a few days for completion.

Honestly, the number of people on this thread who don’t understand what Exchange means!

No they cannot now negotiate and force a reduction or pull out without losing their deposit.

OP, it is completely normal to arrange measuring up visits etc before completion but it is up to you whether to oblige.

It is also normal to re-discuss price depending on what the survey throws up. Asking for a reduction doesn’t have to be a source of affront.

I have never had any difficulty giving my buyers access to measure etc before completion, and thankfully neither has anyone I have bought from.

(bought and sold 5 times)

That's what I thought, last minute reduction requests happen just before exchange but after that the price is fixed, if they renege then they lose their deposit.

We brought a builder in before we offered as unless we could add a loo on the top floor we weren't going to buy.

They were very nice and we were delightful.

You can say no obviously but what's the point, they probably want to get prices and whatever materials they need and get jobs done as soon as they get keys. At least they're not like a buyer I had that wanted to put furniture etc in my garage, good job I said no as the sale fell through. But if contracts signed I'd have no problems.

I would stick with no , as I said previously our buyers mucked iud around at the end wanting another 10 grand off for something that was nothing ( my partner is a builder and engineer and we also got independent advice ) but they wouldn’t let it go and wanted cash . They then messed around with the move date ( they had previously delayed exchange due toissues on their side ) . We had had enough and told our agents we were totally fed up of them , offered a nominal amount if we move on this day only . They agreed in the end but it left a bad taste .

I wouldn't want them coming round over the Christmas period. I think I'd have told them no, not until after New Year.
I wouldn't be bothered the rest of the year, if it wasn't going to be too much inconvenience with my work etc, but it's a nuisance over the Christmas holidays

I’m not a nasty person either but if someone tried to last minute haggle £20k off the price, I certainly wouldn’t be letting them round.

They can wait until they own it.

Selling a house is majorly stressful, I can’t stand people like who mess others around like that. They’re not entitled to it, so just say “no, that doesn’t work for us, we’re busy and trying to pack”.

It’s a very normal request. Fine to agree, fine to say no. What you absolutely shouldn’t agree to are requests for access without you being there, any work starting or exploratory stuff like making holes, removing fittings etc.

I’ve no idea why people are talking about price adjustments or similar requests made pre-exchange.

On the basis of them asking to drop the price 20k I’d say no. Otherwise it would have been a yes, as why not.

If exchange has taken place, the price is fixed - they can pull out but would lose their deposit. Been at both ends of this - the move before my last one, buyer wanted to bring a builder around before completion although it turned out to be 3 builders and wanted to start work before completion - allowed the builders but not the start of work - didn’t complete on the day so took her to small claims and won for my extra costs - £1000. My last move was with both reasonable people - my buyer was happy for me to leave stuff in the garage (I didn’t) and the person I was buying from allowed me access to the garage and garden - I was able to move my many plant pots into the garden before completion - this last move was absolute bliss as everyone was very sensible!

I’ve no idea why people are talking about price adjustments or similar requests made pre-exchange.

Because many commenting here have never bought or sold a property.

between christmas and new year? nah tell them does not suit

I wouldn’t be bothered by a handyman, he’s hardly a highest level City and Guilds tradie.

DD currently in the middle of moving and her previously agreed reduction in the price due to an appalling survey meant loads of extra work in the mortgage application and with solicitors, so after exchange I don’t think it’s an issue. Not even a teeny bit.

Just let them.

We took our electrician round after exchange but to be fair our vendor wasn’t living there and we knew we would have issues with the internet and sky so we’re trying to get ahead of the problem. If they complete on the 9th it’s hardly urgent - you decide.

Nope, they can wait until you've gone. You owe them nothing. Sorry we've just had a death in the family and we are extremely busy sorting things out!

But they aren’t being rude and they aren’t inconveniencing. They have made a request. It’s not rude to do that. If the OP can’t accommodate them then that’s the message back to the the purchasers.

The real issue seems to be that the OP is annoyed that they wanted to negotiate on the price, which is what happens in house sales. The purchasers want to bring a handyman to have a look, or, as the OP describes him, a “handyman” and the OP wants to know if that’s “normal”.

It’s neither normal nor astonishingly unusual.

That was exactly my thought!

A Buyer cannot drop the price between exchange and completion. Contracts have been exchanged as per the wording. The contract contains the details of the financial price. (They could ask to have some money knocked off and you would absolutely refuse, and they would sacrifice the deposit in your favour). In the circumstances, and over the christmas period, i would say terribly sorry, this is not convenient and wish them luck for their move. I have faced this situation from both sides on more than one occasion. No obligation exists, once they own the house, they can do what they like!

At which point if OP says no and they pull out, they would lose their deposit as well as being responsible for OP’s costs.

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It's your call. Sounds as though they've already caused you some stress. Does it suit you to let them come round? If not, decline.

Definitely not. I would put money on the fact they will try to get you to drop the price. Just say unfortunately it's not possible as you have family staying, boxing up etc. They can get them in the day or day after they move in. My builder came round with me on my 2nd viewing not so I could lower the offer, but to tell me if my ideas were viable.