Buyer wants to measure up before exchange date - is this OK?

poorlittlefish

We are hopefully due to exchange contracts on the property I'm selling within a couple of weeks. The buyer has asked to come round, apparently to do some measuring up for work they want done.

Is this OK or should such requests be made after contracts have been exchanged? It worries me that the buyer might be having second thoughts or start trying to get more money off, but I can't afford to drop the price (and there's nothing wrong with the place). At the same time I don't want to appear unreasonable.

Thanks.

BornAtTheRightTime

There has to be a degree of trust in any sale between vendors and purchasers. Do you have a specific reason to worry? Put it this way, if you refuse, they will wonder if you are now trying to hide something and trust will break down on both sides. I expect an immediate ultimatum of a further viewing or no exchange will swiftly follow...

The simplest explanation is that they do want to measure up, so hope for the best and allow them in. If you're present you'll soon pick up on whether they're excited about their new purchase, or otherwise.

Best of luck.

phoebe1989seb

I agree - when we sold recently our buyers came round four times after their offer was accepted to 1) show their kids 2) show their parents and 3) measure up. Then again (time number 4) after the survey, but still before exchange, to discuss the finer points of the surveyor's findings.............good luck with your sale

Linus2864

This has happened to us before, and we didn't have a problem with it as it shows they are making plans for "their new house". It appears that they are serious about completing and that they are thinking about whether they need to get new furniture, curtains etc.

However, make sure you tidy up and that the house is in good condition!

poorlittlefish

I'm not worried about the overall condition of my house because there are no structural problems, I've spent a lot of money on things like a spanking new boiler and almost everything else (flooring, decoration etc) is only a couple of years old. The only difference between when the buyer first viewed and now is that I've been busy clearing the loft and packing some bits so there are a few boxes stacked up! I'm just getting pressured by the vendor of the house I'm buying so am a bag of nerves at the moment.

redped

If they had any plans to pull out before completion, they wouldn't be asking to measure up - I'd see this as a positive sign that things are going according to schedule.

racheyrooney

I asked to do this when I was buying my flat mainly to measure up for curtains. The guy I was buying from let me go around measure up and if anything it made me more excited about buying it and it completing. I really appreciated it at the time. Good luck

ruggedtoast

poorlittlefish wrote: »

We are hopefully due to exchange contracts on the property I'm selling within a couple of weeks. The buyer has asked to come round, apparently to do some measuring up for work they want done.

Is this OK or should such requests be made after contracts have been exchanged? It worries me that the buyer might be having second thoughts or start trying to get more money off, but I can't afford to drop the price (and there's nothing wrong with the place). At the same time I don't want to appear unreasonable.

Thanks.

If you arent accommodating to your buyer, your buyer may well go elsewhere.;

If they are having second thoughts and want to come and reassure themselves precisely what effect do you think denying them access to your house will have.

If you were about to spend £40k on a car and asked the dealer for a second look before you handed over your cash, and they said no, what would you do?

You are trying to sell your house. Dont make it difficult for people to want to buy it.

Sugared-frog

We've had an offer accepted on a house just last week - and we are going around tomorrow to show the kids and look again ourselves. I'm excited by going back to look around again - last time we viewed it was a house we were interested in .... now we can start planning moving in.

LandyAndy

I'd also take it as a very positive sign.

If they just wanted another viewing that is what they'd ask for.

Contrary to the impression one sometimes gets from this board most sales proceed smoothly and are between honest people who just want to get on with their lives.

zaksmum

I can't see a problem with just wanting to measure up.

Obviously keep an eye on them though, and don't let them just wander through the house at will.

You can't trust anyone these days, sadly.