Vendor won't let us view the property again until we sign the contract

funkyd_2

We got the viewing!

There was (so I am told) an almightly barney between our solicitor, the estate agent and the vendor. Eventually the vendor gave in and accepted that they should allow a viewing. However, they have dictated a specific one hour window and a guarantee that we will sign on Wednesday.

I just agreed to it as I know I won't have the contract to sign until the end of the week and I told the estate agent who just asked me to do my best.

I'm going to photograph everything just in case there are any issues. I hadn't thought about things like mirrors being removed and the holes they will leave behind so thanks for that tip.

There is also an almighty pile of garden rubbish that I told the estate agent some weeks ago we will be asking to be cleared so I'm betting that will still be there when I go tonight.

Thanks for all the comments and tips!

googler

RAS wrote: »

I alway insist on viewing before exchange. They could have ripped out all the fitting and fixtures and you would not know.

A situation which would be avoided if (as happens in Scotland) the offer was made in a standard form, including a list of any extras included in the offer price, and including a standard clause such as

"FIXTURES, FITTINGS & CONTENTS

The Properly is sold with:

(a) all heritable fittings and fixtures;
(b) all items of whatever nature fixed or fitted to the Property the removal of which would materially damage the fabric or decoration of the Property;
(c) all items stated to be included in the sales particulars or advertisements made available to the Purchaser; and
(d) the following insofar as any were in the Property when viewed by the Purchaser:

garden shed or hut, greenhouse, summerhouse; all growing plants, shrubs, trees (except those in plant pots); all types of blinds, pelmets, curtain rails and runners, curtain poles and rings thereon; all carpets and floorcoverings (but excluding loose rugs), stair carpet fixings; fitted bedroom furniture; all bathroom and cloakroom mirrors, bathroom and toilet fittings; kitchen units; all cookers, hobs, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers if integral to or encased within matching units; extractor hoods, extractor tans, electric storage heaters, electric fires, electric light fittings (including all fluorescent lighting, external lighting, wall lights, dimmer switches and bulbs and bulb holders but not shades); television aerials and associated cables and sockets, satellite dishes; loft ladders; rotary clothes driers; burglar alarm, other security systems and associated equipment; secondary glazing; shelving, fireplace surround units, fire grates, fenders and associated ironmongery.

The Seller warrants that at the Date of Settlement all items included in the Price are owned by the Seller, are or will be free of all debt, and are not the subject of any litigation.

The Seller undertakes that the Property will be left in a clean and tidy condition at settlement,"

If all this is set out formally when an offer is made, and forms part of the offer, and hence the contract, there's no arguing about it later, and everyone knows where they stand.

sunshinetours

Just don;t get too hung up on small details like screw holes in walls etc. You will probbaly want to decorate/put your own mark on it within a shortish time even if you feel its nicely done already. You won't remember any of this in a few months time and certainly not in a few years time when you are enjoying your home.

Its a business transaction and not a personal issue, so needs to be treated as such. It becomes personal issue when its your home rather than a house that currently belongs to someone else

sonastin

Playing devils advocate, maybe the vendors were worried about the stamp duty deadline and what you would do if you missed it. They were maybe trying to rush you into exchange so that you couldn't suddenly drop the price to compensate for having to now pay stamp duty. Just a thought. Some people's motives for trying to control the situation are more misguided rather than malicious. As long as you keep lines of communication open from your side, play your game honestly and don't get suckered into anyone else's attempts at manipulating you, you'll usually end up on top.

franklee

funkyd wrote: »

There was (so I am told) an almightly barney between our solicitor, the estate agent and the vendor. Eventually the vendor gave in and accepted that they should allow a viewing. However, they have dictated a specific one hour window

Is that the hour when the noisy neighbour/dog/traffic/etc are out?

DVardysShadow

funkyd wrote: »

We got the viewing! .... However, they have dictated a specific one hour window and a guarantee that we will sign on Wednesday.

I would be walking away. A specific 1 hour slot and no negotiation over that is a really bad sign.

Emmzi

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I would be walking away. A specific 1 hour slot and no negotiation over that is a really bad sign.

I agree. This is not normal!!

Brallaqueen

You might want to hang around outside before and after the 'specific one hour window'. I am certain there is a large problem they do not want you to discover until it is too late.

pawlala

this sounds fishy. I would do some more investigating before committing to anything. You don't want to be exchanging contracts the day before you find out next door was burgled or a group of scallies use the end of the street for hitting up or something.

pimento

Go half an hour early and introduce yourselves to both neighbours. See what they're like and what they might have to say.