Dealing with Timewasters

Anatidaephobia

Just something you have to put up with. Dealing with nine time wasters would surely be worthwhile if it meant that the tenth person was your buyer. Personally I wouldn't be chasing buyers though by texting them; they'll call back if they're interested.

When I was buying a house, we dealt with time wasters the other way around, we tried to buy a house; two offers rejected because they said it wasn't enough money, then we increased our offer to the amount they told us they wanted (waaay more than it was worth) at which point they said they'd changed their minds, didn't want to sell and took it off the market! We also viewed another house where the vendor showed us around and kept making odd references about IF she sells and moves, not when, as though she may not be moving. We noticed that house was taken off the market unsold a few months later too.

Thrugelmir

Beancounter wrote: »

The canniest buyer will be the one who seems to show little interest. I know you have to treat them all like the same but when they say early on that their house isn't even on the market yet your heart does sink.

Just because a viewer has "sold" their property. Doesn't mean that the transaction will complete either.

My house is the only 3 bed detached on the market in our village so we are hoping for a quick sale.

Perhaps the viewer has a property that will sell within 24 hours of going on the market.

To achieve a quick sale I would opt for maximum viewings to generate plenty of interest.

Beancounter

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

Just something you have to put up with. Dealing with nine time wasters would surely be worthwhile if it meant that the tenth person was your buyer. Personally I wouldn't be chasing buyers though by texting them; they'll call back if they're interested.

When I was buying a house, we dealt with time wasters the other way around, we tried to buy a house; two offers rejected because they said it wasn't enough money, then we increased our offer to the amount they told us they wanted (waaay more than it was worth) at which point they said they'd changed their minds, didn't want to sell and took it off the market! We also viewed another house where the vendor showed us around and kept making odd references about IF she sells and moves, not when, as though she may not be moving. We noticed that house was taken off the market unsold a few months later too.

We have a home report with a valuation so the bottom line is that the first buyer to offer valuation will get the house.

I only texted to satisfy myself they were time wasters. The conversation we had on the phone made me think they were desperate and were coming to view but I later thought they were fishing for gossip with the questions they were asking.Not something I would do as a matter of course.

samba

Beancounter wrote: »

Then we got a viewer this morning who hadn't even put their house on the market?

We were in that position last summer - we hadn't put our house on the market because we wanted to move to a specific location and were just interested in seeing what was available.

We made an offer on one house, but were turned down immediately. Three months later the sellers got in touch asking if we were still interested, which we were, so we agreed to buy it.

We had our house on the market within 2 weeks of that conversation, and had accepted an offer less than a month later. We are still waiting to exchange, but the hold-ups have been caused by our buyers mostly (ftbs), who despite having proof of their deposit and an AIP, have struggled to get their mortgage offer, although they now have. The latest hold-up is due to our sellers not doing everything they promised when we offered, and the fact that despite wanting to complete by the end of January, they themselves have only just vacated the property (they had already bought their new house when we viewed back in July).

So don't call your potential buyers timewasters just because they don't go about it the same way you would - when it comes to it they may be ready to exchange weeks before you are.

moneyistooshorttomention

MadelinesMum wrote: »

I keep getting the "can I rent for 3 years, then I will buy at the price you are asking". About 10 people asked that so far.

What planet do they live on?

I've never heard of that. Must be something that gets tried on in a particular part of the country? Wondering whereabouts that is now....

MisterB1959

the fact they gave their telephone number might be an indication they aren't time wasters! you need to treat each viewing the same and follow up on each one, as an estate agent would on your behalf. you need feedback both positive and negative and not be upset by how others see your home, its a business transaction that is always ruled by the heart !!

Better_Days

Things can move very quickly with house buying and selling.

Someone who you see as a timewaster may like your property so much they put theirs on the maket at a competitive AP, accept and offer and are ready to proceed in a few days.

You just don't know. It is not necessarily helpful to label some viewers as timewasters when you find out about their position. I remember one EA being really snotty with us when we were viewing a repo when I told her we didn't have an offer on our property (even though I'd mentioned this when I rang to arrange the viewing). In the end we sold ours before the repo sold

Plus viewers aren't always honest about their position, maybe saying they don't need a mortgage when they do, or that they have and AIP when they don't....etc

J_i_m

I think there's time wasting potential by all parties in involved in house sale.

For my part, I don't intend to begin viewing properties until I've satisfied myself that I'm in a good position to proceed.

My plan:
[STRIKE]Be secure in permanent full time employment[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Reach my target deposit[/STRIKE]
Reach my target for fees
Visit a broker for advice on the mortgage market and get a better idea of my budget
Secure a mortgage agreement in principle
Start viewing properties with a view to buy.

I don't expect to want to offer on every property I view, but I will be fulfilling my above criteria. If disgruntled vendors still think I'd wasted their time by not offering then so be it, I've set my plan out to be as reasonable as possible.

gazter

Beancounter wrote: »

Our house just went on the market yesterday, we are dealing with the viewings ourselves. Had a call right after it went live which I suspect was a fishing trip for someone, they asked if we could move fast as they moved out their place last year. I said yes we could and she would phone back after speaking to her hubby. No call so I texted asking if they wanted to make an appointment and got a reply saying "not at the moment". Then we got a viewer this morning who hadn't even put their house on the market?

Short of vetting all callers, how do you deal with timewasters? Is it just a case of having to put up with them incase they are "the one"?

We hadnt put our house on the market. We went to see a property that we thought looked amazing. We both fell in love with it. We put our own on the market next day. We got asking price within ten days.

Everything completed within thirteen weeks.

You never know who is going to be the one that buys.

MadelinesMum

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

What planet do they live on?

I've never heard of that. Must be something that gets tried on in a particular part of the country? Wondering whereabouts that is now....

I'm in Sussex. It only seems to be from my Gumtree add that I get this reply.