Would you buy a house without meeting the seller?

TBagpuss

You can ask whether the seller would be willing to meet with you briefly as you have a few things you'd like to ask about.

However, it's quite common not to met them.

I never met the buyer either of my last house or the one before. I didn't meet any of the sellers except for the seller of my current house, who was doing a last check when I arrived with the van.

New_User

I never met the vendor for my current house. All handled via the agent.
When I sold my last house, the buyer was keen to meet me and we are still in contact.


Definitely go and knock on your neighbours' doors.
I would consider a neighbour who didn't introduce themselves to me quite rude.
If they are not keen to speak to you, what does that say..?
Immediate neighbours I mean, no need to visit the whole street...

DRP

TrixA wrote: »

I'm not talking about the sort of formal questions one could ask through a solicitor or agent, more the sort of 'gossipy' questions that you'd only tend to ask in conversation. We've had the property questionnaire and it indicates that there are no disputes with the neighbours, but I'm more interested to know what sort of people they are.

the vendor is hardly going to tell you the truth if there is a problem...

it is the neighbours themselves you need to research/visit/stalk imo

cloo

Yes, I wouldn't bat an eyelid at not meeting the seller. But for the fact that my one of my buyers couldn't make it to original viewing so I let him in to view two days later, I wouldn't have met them at all.

carefullycautious

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

On the other hand, you could find out that the vendor is apparently on cordial terms with the neighbours and you find out later that they were taken for a mug by a neighbour making like "snake in the grass" to them and they just rolled-over and accepted it.

Some people are wimp enough/or aware of "neighbourhood disputes" affecting their sale that they will appear to be friendly with someone who really doesn't deserve it and then the buyer walks into the mess the vendor left behind them and has to clear it up for them.

Your move has left a bitter taste in your mouth!

Davesnave

silvercar wrote: »

If it is a repossession or the seller is the estate of a deceased, you are unlikely to meet the seller.

....Or if they are detained at Her Majesty's pleasure, as in our case! :rotfl: