Vendor won't let viewers in unless they are on the market

jchrishall2000

We're interested in viewing a house which has been for sale for approx 3 years. Our own house is not for sale but if the right house came along, we would be interested in selling in order to slightly reduce our mortgage. The estate agent handling the house we're interested in viewing tells us that the vendors will not allow any viewers to view the property unless the viewer's own house is on the market. I can see their point to some extent but it seems an unusual position to take in a stagnant market like this. Has anyone come across this problem before? We are not keen to pay an estate agent to put our own house on the market (£250 initial, non-refundable fee seems to be the going rate) just to see this house - what if we don't like it? It may put us in a more competitive position as far as the market is concerned but, as I say, it's not exactly a buoyant market. Anyone got any thoughts?

ess0two

Sorts the window shoppers out,last time i sold it was no sale no fee to list with an agent.

marking_bad

Insane policy.

brightonman123

does this mean FTB's and investment purchasers cant view?

seems odd, but maybe has been let down in past..?

maninthestreet

brightonman123 wrote: »

does this mean FTB's and investment purchasers cant view?

seems odd, but maybe has been let down in past..?

I would hope the vendor's policy makes an exception for FTBs, given they have no property to sell, and hence can proceed immediately.
Regardless of the state of the market, potential purchases who are already marketing their property are going to be taken far more seriously than the ones who don't yet have their property for sale.

poppysarah

jchrishall2000 wrote: »

We are not keen to pay an estate agent to put our own house on the market (£250 initial, non-refundable fee seems to be the going rate)

You're just tyre-kickers until you show you're serious.

lincroft1710

Vendor is perfectly entitled to set his own conditions for viewing his property. He's also perfectly entitled to wait ages for his house to sell.

LandyAndy

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Vendor is perfectly entitled to set his own conditions for viewing his property. He's also perfectly entitled to wait ages for his house to sell.

Which he will have to do if he starts contemplating offers from people who aren't motivated enough to have even put their house on the market.

ET1976

If I had very recently put my house on the market and there was some interest, I wouldn't entertain offers from anyone who hadn't already got theirs on the market, so I might as well say there's no point in them viewing in the first place.

If I had had my house on the market for 3 years I would be interested in viewers whatever their situation!

Couldn't you just be economical with the truth anyway, just to get a viewing? Get a friend to ring up and say they have nothing to sell and take you round on the viewing for a 'second opinion'?

sunshinetours

Just tell them you are on the market to get a viewing.

You aren't actually buying it or putting in an offer at this stage, so seems a mad policy of not even letting someone view it. I could understand not accepting an offer from someone who hadn't sold but not letting them see? Everyone is a "potential" buyer at the end of the day so surely makes no sense to restrict that pool of people in a tricky market

We are in same position as you and considering downsizing slightly and we aren't on the market and won't be unless we found somewhere on paper that looked right. If people don't want to show their house they are trying to sell then that is up to them I guess

maninthestreet

sunshinetours wrote: »

Just tell them you are on the market to get a viewing.

You aren't actually buying it or putting in an offer at this stage, so seems a mad policy of not even letting someone view it. I could understand not accepting an offer from someone who hadn't sold but not letting them see? Everyone is a "potential" buyer at the end of the day so surely makes no sense to restrict that pool of people in a tricky market

We are in same position as you and considering downsizing slightly and we aren't on the market and won't be unless we found somewhere on paper that looked right. If people don't want to show their house they are trying to sell then that is up to them I guess

.....and you won't be moving anywhere unless you can sell your property, so put it on the market, and you'll be taken far more seriously by vendors.