Buyer has unusual request..HELP!

benood

Do you want to sell the house? I don't think this is an unreasonable request - just make sure you are in when they come around. Your buyer is being up front by telling you their surveyor is also their partner (business I assume), they could have just sent him around without saying and you'd have been none the wiser!

callmelinda

If it was me, I would tell the agent that I would be happy for the couple to spend the three hours at the property to conduct their survey but only under supervision. They won't be hindered by someone being in the house and you have the added benefit of feeling secure about your belongings etc.

I wouldn't expect any agent to "babysit" the property for three hours, and would go with the route suggested - that a mutually acceptable time and date be arranged when you are at the property.

In the instance no mutually acceptable time can be arranged when you yourself are home, can you not ask a good neighbour, a friend, or a family member to be at the flat on the given day the survey is being carried out? If your forthcoming absence is likely to delay the moving process for you and everyone else in your chain, then I would do everything you can to keep it moving in a timely fashion.

[Deleted User]

I would hate being in your shoes as I guarantee you that they are going to find so many 'problems' with the flat that they'll ask you to take a lower offer. Good luck!

pingu79

Well I'm a structural engineer and in the process of buying. I think it is a reasonable request, and a comprehensive survey for a flat would be in the region of 2 to 3 hours. (it's proabaly less, they just want to warn you that it could take this time).

I just took a ladder and spirit level with me on the 2nd viewing to check walls were plumb, floors were level and have a look into the loft space.

You are right if they do come back with a report stating work done, you would question the impartiality of it. How I tackled this on a previous house, was one of collegues agreed to carry out the survey on my behalf, so it came with our firms PI cover.

Tiger_greeneyes

I don't see a problem either. If I was a surveyor and buying a house, I'd want to carry out a full survey, too.

However, just make them wait until you're there. If they're genuine they will accept that you want to be there. Just get the estate agent to tell them that you're a 'nervous vendor' and I'm sure they'll be fine about waiting for you to be in attendance.

zain

Thanks for all your responses. I was convinced by reading the first few posts that i was being taken for a ride but with the latter ones perhaps it is not so unreasonable. We want the sale so we have to play ball but they are testing us.

courtjester

zain wrote:

The flat is share of freehold and the loft is owned by us ( first floor flat).

zain - are you certain of that? You don't automatically own the loft of the building merely because you are the uppermost flat.... you need to be sure that your lease states that the loft forms part of the premises demised, otherwise the loft, just like other 'communal' areas, may be jointly owned with the other freehold shares.

Tiger_greeneyes

I don't think they're testing you Zain, they're just doing what any buyer in their position would do

zain

courtjester wrote:

zain - are you certain of that? You don't automatically own the loft of the building merely because you are the uppermost flat.... you need to be sure that your lease states that the loft forms part of the premises demised, otherwise the loft, just like other 'communal' areas, may be jointly owned with the other freehold shares.

I am fairly sure that when writing up the deed of variation i asked for the loft to be included in the upper flat if ever i wanted to do a loft conversion. My neighbour didn't seem to worry about that. However, i am not certain- as all the paperwork is with the solicitor now. Also, it wasn't advertised as including the loft in the sale so if it isn't the new owner can fight it out with my neighbour.

MJMum

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