Unusual Estate Agent Email Re House Viewing

FlippyDip90

Hi all

Just wanted a bit of advice. I've requested a viewing on a property, the estate agent is online and not based locally. I received this email today:


A viewing is confirmed at the above property for *******. Please knock on the door when you arrive.

Misunderstandings in the past which have caused sales to fall through, mean that the following terms must be adhered to by all buyers ("buyers" includes any party linked to any of the buyers) when considering a purchase of a property advertised by abode. Buyers must not discuss the price with the seller, ask why they are selling, when they want to move (or when the buyer does) or talk about previous offers or viewings or anything else regarding the sale. Please ask questions about the property itself only.

In addition, and also to ensure the safety of buyers and sellers, buyers must not contact the seller directly at any time (this can often be tempting if buyers find they know the seller), and must not attend the property other than at the precise time we confirm. Polite sellers or their representatives may often appear accommodating as they want to sell, however buyers must not enter the property without our agent.

All aspects of the sale must be conducted through abode central office, so if buyers wish to cancel or change the time of a viewing, or make an offer at any point, or if the agent has not met a buyer outside the property at the time agreed etc then please immediately contact central office by telephone ******* or email on ******** and buyers must not approach the property even if invited by someone purporting to be the seller or their representative until the agent locates them.

If all buyers are happy with these terms then please reply with a range of dates and times you would like us to try to arrange for you to view and we will confirm by return email.

I just wondered if anyone had experienced this before and what the outcome was? It is putting me off seeing the house a bit!!

Thanks in advance!

Person_one

I'd feel free to just ignore that and ask what you want at the viewing.

I'd have to really love the house to want to spend months dealing with that agent though!

phill99

Its because they want total control over what is said, what you discuss etc.


There is no way that this can be enforced. Go ahead and ask the vendors why they are moving etc. What will adobe do/ Arrest you?

davidmcn

Never encountered it before. Feel free to ignore everything they say! You're not in a contract with the agent.

FlippyDip90

Thanks,

Its the bit about not entering the property alone that rings alarm bells also.

When you google the address, its the correspondence address for a company.

f2f

When did you get this email, April 1st?

So you find out you already know the seller and you "must not contact them directly at any time"? Good one.

FlippyDip90

It all just seems a bit strange! My plan is to call the estate agent and see if they will give me any sort of idea what has happened here and then go from there.

kinger101

I'd drop a note through the door;

Dear vendor,

I'm interested in viewing you property. However, I am not interested in being escorted round by a member of the Gestapo (see attached e-mail). Would it be possible to arrange a viewing in the absence of your control-freak agents? If they must be present, may I recommend you remove all sharp objects from the property prior to the visit.

frugalsmurf

Personally I'd want to know if my agent was sending dodgy emails like this so I'd show the vendor.
As for not asking why they're moving etc....My goodness controlling?!!!

Id ignore it all. Go see the property and go from there.

Bossypants

Maybe I'm being overly charitable to the EA, but this reads to me like they've had problems with an overzealous buyer harrassing one of their sellers in the past and (understandably) are trying to avoid a repeat.

Either way, as others have said, I wouldn't pay it any mind. Just be polite and avoid stalking your seller, you'll be fine...

Derboy

They're acting in their buyers best interests. If you're a better negotiator than their client then you might end up getting them to verbally agree to a deal that they as the EA could have bettered. The higher the sales price the more money the EA makes. Simple stuff.

Ignore it and proceed as normal.