Viewing houses without own on market?

Julieg

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Person_one

My parents have never put their houses on the market before seeing a house they want. They've always followed through when they've found the right one though, so it is possible that they're genuine buyers.

I wouldn't automatically assume the phone call is even related.

TrickyDicky101

Hi Julie

My wife and I weren't selling our house but spotted an ideal place (for us) a couple of weeks ago. We looked at the place, decided we wanted it and for the last week we have had our place on the market, so this situation is maybe not so unusual and your potential viewer could well be genuine.

Of course, given the circumstances, you are in a slightly different position, but only you can really decide if you want the viewing to go ahead.

firstaspect

I'd allow them to view, but wouldn't contemplate negotiating any sort of offer until they were in a better position.

giddypenguin

This happened to us (although we were not aware of it) some one viewed and made an offer, on our house, we turned them down as someone else had also made the same offer, but had a bigger deposit (our house needs a lot of work doing to it and we thought they'd be better able to afford it and therefore less likely to pull out) The people we turned down then banged on our door that evening, asking us why we'd turned them down, said that they put their house on the market after seeing ours, had now sold and were stuck.

Just a side note thought - any chance this woman is your ex's girlfriend and not aware of his living situation?

Person_one

firstaspect wrote: »

I'd allow them to view, but wouldn't contemplate negotiating any sort of offer until they were in a better position.

Good point.

If they offered I'd accept 'conditionally' and wouldn't take my house off the market until they had a mortgage offer and at least a for sale sign up.

lindos90

Im guessing nothing came up on 1471?

Could the EA have disclosed your divorce to someone interested to view? Are you happy about them disclosing this personal information to anyone popping into their office?

Odd that she would make an elaborate pretence of having a problem with her modem....what would she have said if your husband had been free to talk to her?

Why a potential viewer would call up all 'smoke and mirrors' to try and find out if you were really divorcing or not is wierd, and maybe totally unrelated to the potential viewer you have.

When we were selling our house, we let anyone have a look round, whether they were on the market or not, anyone is a potential buyer, and all the viewings taught us something in terms of presentation, what to say/not to say and feedback via the EA.

Some EAs have a policy that you have to be on the market in order to view a property, (or have nothing to sell) some sellers are of the same opinion, that these are just 'timewasters'.

Some maybe, but as others have said here, if someone is quite particular and only wants to move to the right house, they may wait for one to be up for sale, and if they like it, then take the plunge and put theirs up.

Hope you get it sorted.

Jowo_2

I consider viewers who haven't got their own property on the market as utter timewasters with a very low chance of being proceedable in the near future.

Sure they can put their own property on the market straight after where there is a chance that it will languish unsold or they are only browsing upfront to try to firm up their preferences on types of properties and locations.

As for it being a nosey stalker, simply explain to the estate agent about your worries, asking for a bit of care around screening the viewers for suitability or instruct them that you only want proceedable viewers because of the circumstances of the sale.

TrickyDicky101

firstaspect wrote: »

I'd allow them to view, but wouldn't contemplate negotiating any sort of offer until they were in a better position.

Good advice - although we want the place we saw, until ours is sold, we won't be making any offers (as we have a piddle-poor bargaining position until we're proceedable).

Niv

TBH just because someone tells an EA that their house is on teh market or that they have sold and have funds available, it does not make it true. IF I were to want to view houses before putting my place on the market I would not tell the EA I was not on the market simple.

Julieg

Thanks for all your replies. I dont think it could be someone who wants to move to this area and is waiting for a house to come up for sale as in the village there's only 3 for sale and all of them (mine included) have been on the market for quite a while.

The woman who phoned withheld her number. She sounded older than who I'd imagine my ex would go for. (But then you never know!). He's been seeing someone for about a year (I think) but she never phones the house phone just his mobile. I'm wondering if it's someone connected with her who's checking up on him.

I think I will phone the EA and see what info they have on the person who wants to view. Presumably they will have taken their address.