When is it acceptable to ask to go back to a property to ‘measure up’?

[soundsys]

I understand the general rule was after missives had been concluded but before completion, but does that still stand with missives being concluded later?

It feels like we might not conclude missives until a few days before we complete and I’d ideally like to check a few things ahead of moving (measurements for curtains and space for the dining table in the kitchen), but obviously don’t want to annoy/offend the seller!

Surely it shows you’re interested and committed to the property if you’re measuring up? Obviously if you’re asking to go frequently that’s annoying but a second viewing or maybe second viewing + opportunity to measure is reasonable? I hope it’s reasonable anyway 😳

Thanks @holigogoDo you mind me asking if you’re in Scotland? As where I am (down south) it’s a totally normal/reasonable thing to do but friends in Scotland have told me it’s not the done thing

We're in Scotland and we went twice before the missives were concluded, including with a kitchen person! Didn't know it wasn't the "done thing"... you may as well ask, if they say no, nothing is lost.

Oh that’s reassuring, thanks!

I’m in Scotland. I have bought 7 houses in my time and would never dream of doing this. I would find it rude.

Why would they care? They've sold you the house, guessed you'll be in for less half an hour or so?! Depends on the person. Just ask, it's not a rude thing to do, they can only say no.

Just ask. They may say yes they may say no.

(am Scottish)

@soundsyslike you I’m English and moving to Scotland so would probs also end up being rude. Thanks for asking this as it wouldn’t have occurred to me!

My partners buyers asked for us to measure the hall as they wanted to rip up brand new flooring to put down the same flooring as in the kitchen, bit weird but up to them I guess, flooring is same in downstairs and up to kitchen so we just measured for them, they wanted in even sooner but solicitor said no to that as there wasn’t time.

House was empty prior to sale but you can only ask, (Scotland) our buyers were buying their very first home and were very excited and enthusiastic 🤩 perhaps a bit ott but we were happy of them and over the moon to get shot of the house

In my last house our buyers asked to view again for measuring up before the missives were signed my solicitor told me that you should avoid letting buyers in again at all costs so I said no. My buyers threatened to pull out of the sale if we didn’t let them in. Luckily they agreed to sign the missives early which was a big weight of my mind. My solicitor said the more that you let people in the more chance you have of them picking up on silly things and trying to demand money off. Obviously not everyone is like this but I guess they see it all so they strongly advise against it. Editing to say I’m in scotland

The standard advice is to wait until missives are signed.

People make up their minds too quickly on buying a property and then have a massive dose of buyer’s remorse.

Letting them in just gives them a reason to pull out.

Having said that I let my last buyers in, the way I look at it is if they are going to pull out then they’ll do so anyway and if they are the kind of people who will ask for money off because of a loose floorboard then I’d rather know now.