Secretive vendor - Need advice!

KWsquare

We have recently put an offer to a flat in London - It's accepted.

The flat does need some work done, but when we visited the flat again with our father in law, we found more dodgy fault (live electric wires hanging, more holes in the walls etc) in the flat.

My father in law got alarmed and he went back to the estate agent (EA) again in the same afternoon to take the EA up to the flat again to show him all the faults and caused all the fuss (which I think he has a right to do it) but without warning the vendor.

Since then, then vendor called the EA and told that they did not want us to visit for now as they have the "guests staying over".

I think they don't want us to visit and find any more faults in their flat as this may affect the final price of their flat.

Am I just speculating too much?
If you have any advice on this matter, or have similar experience, please let me know!

For now we decided that we won't make any more appointment until after the survey has been done.
Once we have the paper to show what work needs done, we are planning to bring in the builder to get a quote, then negotiate on the price.
Does this sound reasonable?

Many thanks!

sonastin

As a vendor, I'd be really hacked off with an unannounced viewing from the EA - especially if the viewer wasn't actually planning to buy the property himself.

And if I had guests staying and didn't have time/opportunity to tidy up and straighten the place out, I'd be even more p*ssed off.

SimonMrGreenWard

Why did you put an offer in on a place before having a good look round?

Don't try reneg until after survey. You don't have much choice really. Good luck.

KWsquare

sonastin: Yep, I think it was a little too much of our father in law to just go into the EA. But at the same time, I am not sure why the EA did not completely told him to go away.

I thought it was EA's responsibility to make sure of the proper viewing etc. So I was quite surprised that EA even took him to view the flat without the warning to the vendor.

KWsquare

SimonMrGreenWard wrote: »

Why did you put an offer in on a place before having a good look round?

Don't try reneg until after survey. You don't have much choice really. Good luck.

We did. Some of the holes were actually hidden behind the posters and photo frames.
Although, yes, electricc wire hanging, we missed out, but some other bits were not there before.

Yep. Thanks for the advice. We will wait until we get the survey done.

princeofpounds

The idea is not wrong, but the way you went about it was a bit weird.

In theory, there should never be unannounced viewings unless the vendor has given permission (which is unusual as most people don't like to be interrupted and don't live in a show home). When they have given continual permission, they 'know' the viewings are coming anyway.

So asking for them is a bit rude and a bit pointless as the EA never has that discretion. Of course it could be said that hiding holes behind posters and frames is even more rude, but it's one of those two wrongs don't make a right situations.

When you do a viewing, it doesn't have to be unannounced but do feel free to be somewhat invasive as long as you aren't causing damage - turn on taps and light switches, peek behind frames and so on. If the vendors are present, its polite to ask first.

Probably you will also get a surveyor who will spend time going over the property. Inform them of any misgivings you have so they can take a special look at obscured areas.

If the vendors try to totally obstruct you, then just point out to them that it's going to be either you or the surveyor investigating these things, and if access if refused the deal can't go ahead as you don't know what you are buying. It's up to you whether to risk getting to the surveyor stage if the level of trust is so low.

Also, remember there are holes and then there are holes. a hole in a structural wall is a big issue, one in a bit of plasterboard from an errant elbow is not. Loose wires are similar - if indicative of bad electrical work it's a big issue, if someone has just not bothered to wire in the appliance (like a lightbulb) then it's not such a big deal although it looks ugly and might be hazardous.

poppysarah

You need a full survey doing with specific instructions to look for stuff like this.

but tbh I'd find somewhere else.

KWsquare

Thank you so much for your detailed advice.
I think my father in law became a little too over protective and crossed the line. Unfortunately it's us who is going to deal with the rest...
You are right, two wrongs don't make the right. And you are absolutely right to carefully think before we get to the surveyer stage when the trust is broken and remain low. We will see.
Thank you for your time and sharing your valuable thought.

KWsquare

Hi poppysarah,

Thank you for your reply. Yes, as per above, we will consider very carefully if it is worth proceeding to the survey stage. We will continue to look for other options too.