Buyer has unusual request..HELP!

zain

Our Buyer has had his mortage survey done but would like to come with his partner who is a surveyor and do a full report and wants three hours at our 2 bedroom flat.

I wouldn't mind if it was someone independent, although 3 hours seems very long but feel uncomfortable about our future buyers probing around our flat doing god knows what. There is also the issue about personal v professional conflict.

Our estate agents have said that they cannot release 3 hours and ( we are going to be away) are we happy to let them do their stuff with nobody else there. I am not sure what do to

We have had an offer acceted on a property with no chain and don't want to lose the buyer.

Any idea?

redballoon_2

I personally wouldnt let any one in my house for three hours without me being there, wether they where buying the house or not!

Have you asked them why they want to spend this time in your house?

What if you let them and they took your possesions or changed the locks or worse?

prutter

Has he had a survey done from the lender, or just their valuation?

Also, as it's a flat I presume it's leasehold? If so, why does he need to do a 3 hour survey, as ultimately if he proceeds to buy he'll just own the lease - not the property.

In my (limited) experience, it's unusal for people to have surveys done on leasehold properties.

clutton_2

if you want to sell the house to him, you may want to offer him a 2 hour slot when you are there all the time. if he Really wants the property he will wait for your convenience.

BlondeHeadOn

I'd say no, no, and thrice NO - what might they get up to in 3 hours..?....?...?...:eek: :eek: :eek:

I think it is entirely reasonable to refuse this request.

zain

The flat is share of freehold and the loft is owned by us ( first floor flat). I haven't met the buyers and i kind of didn't want to really. So i am trying to get the estate agents to supervise them but they can't get a 3hour block free. So i am suggesting they do it in stages?
I think it is just the valuation done by the lender.

olly300

Personally I would use the professional vs personal conflict reason to say no.

If their partner finds a fault in the property which means you should give them some money to fix it, are you going to believe them?

To put it another way if I am getting a legal form witnessed or signed I can't use a member of my family or someone I'm living with as they may have an interest in the form being witnessed/signed. While I can use a suitably qualified friend, the friend will be acting in a professional capacity and therefore can be opened to claims of negligence or professional misconduct. Therefore if the buyer wants to do a full survey then they need to get someone who is not related to them, living with them or their partner to do it.

zain

Thanks thats what my solicitor says. However, he still thinks we have little choice - its a bit like having the mother-in-law over to stay you can't really say no. However, he does say that if they bring up any issueswe can refuse based on the fact that it is not an independent survey.
Still waiting to hear from the estate agents about this one....

paula.paula13

Sorry chaps, I have to disagree with you! This is a perfectly normal request from a "professional buyer". My husband is an architect and my best friend is a chartered surveyor. I'm in the process of moving at the moment. I paid for the cheapest mortgage survey as I will rely entirely on the judgement of my husband and my friend. When I asked the vendor of the house I'm buying to allow them both in for the afternoon she didn't bat an eyelid. They did a far more comprehensive survey than I could ever have paid for. In total it took them about 2 hours for a 4 bed detached bungalow, so I think 3 hours for one person to survey a flat seems reasonable. I certainly think you should be there, so perhaps arrange it for when you get back from your hols. If I were your buyer and you wouldn't let me conduct my own survey I would withdraw my offer.
Good luck, Paula

Biggles

olly300 wrote:

Personally I would use the professional vs personal conflict reason to say no.

If their partner finds a fault in the property which means you should give them some money to fix it, are you going to believe them?

To put it another way if I am getting a legal form witnessed or signed I can't use a member of my family or someone I'm living with as they may have an interest in the form being witnessed/signed. While I can use a suitably qualified friend, the friend will be acting in a professional capacity and therefore can be opened to claims of negligence or professional misconduct. Therefore if the buyer wants to do a full survey then they need to get someone who is not related to them, living with them or their partner to do it.

I really can't see the problem. A full structural survey takes some time, whether 3hrs is a bit longer than normal I can't say. You aren't bound by anything their surveyor says in any event, it just forms advice to the buyer, which he may or may not share with you, and which may form the basis for further negotiation.

I certainly can't see the relationship problem: no surveyor's independent, they act for and advise the buyer. If he turns up with an 'independent' surveyor, what will you do, ask for his/her birth certificate and evidence of home address so you can see they aren't related? Let me put it another way, if he hadn't mentioned the surveyor was his partner, would you even have thought about it?

You don't want to alienate a buyer, you need to negotiate the time at which they come; if the estate agent can't be there, they'll have to do it when you're back?

Mrs_Optimist

I too don't see a problem, they are spending a huge amount of money and I do not think it unreasonable that they want to doublecheck everything is ok. However your Estate Agent (in my opinion) should be the ones to attend when the survey is being undertaken, they will after all be wanting their commission if the sale goes through and if you are away the sale will be delayed. My guess is that they have found you a buyer and therefore are mentally moving on to other properties on their books - don't let them - the sale isn't a sale until you have completed!