Lay New flooring prior to exchange?

Pa_Ja

Moving into a vacant property in 5 wks time.
Would it be a good idea / or not to request permission to access the property prior to formal exchange to lay new new carpets in the bedrooms?
This would save us the hassle of moving furniture around when we are in our new house.

Is this an unusual or unreasonable request? The property is currently vacant.

Thanks

G_M

Mad. What if the vendor then refused to exchange. With nice new flooring they could sell to someone else at a higher price. Or move back in themselves.

After Exchange, perhaps.

marksoton

Pa_Ja wrote: »

This would save us the hassle of moving furniture around when we are in our new house.

As said, mad. Just leave a gap between exchange and completion and make the request.

phill99

Is this a real question?

AdrianC

Pa_Ja wrote: »

...prior to formal exchange...

Just pause and think about the implications of that for a moment.

Until you've exchanged contracts, there is no legal agreement that you will buy the house. Only a handshake. Either side can pull out for any reason - or no reason at all.

If you do it, then you run a real risk of getting a phone call or email that causes you to sit back and think "Hold on a minute - not only have I wasted money on solicitors, searches, surveys, mortgage fees, as well as all that time and stress - but I've bought those people new carpets, too?"

alumende27

If only moving furniture was the biggest hassle I'd had to deal with after moving house!

I wanted to get a cleaner to clean up a house I'd bought, the property had been empty for well over a year, so it would have been nice to get rid of some dust and cobwebs before I moved in but the owner refused to allow anything and we had to wait until completion.

Personally, i'd give it a few weeks or months before changing carpet unless it's really disgusting. What if you decide to redecorate or change your mind on the colour and type of carpet after a few nights in the house?

But as others have noted, you'd be mad to do anything before exchange.

Pa_Ja

Thanks for highlighting some obvious pitfalls. Given The circumstances of the sale and the sellers not being complete strangers then I would still feel confident that the purchase wouldn't go tits up however i'll resist temptation to do so. I will probably want to paint some walls & ceiling first.
Was just wondering if it would be strange to submit such a request to the seller.

Thanks for the comments

AdrianC

Pa_Ja wrote: »

...then I would still feel confident that the purchase wouldn't go tits up...

What if the sale falls through for other reasons? Your lender? The survey or searches revealing something?

marksoton

Pa_Ja wrote: »

Thanks for highlighting some obvious pitfalls. Given The circumstances of the sale and the sellers not being complete strangers then I would still feel confident that the purchase wouldn't go tits up however i'll resist temptation to do so. I will probably want to paint some walls & ceiling first.
Was just wondering if it would be strange to submit such a request to the seller.

Thanks for the comments

Then do so. But at your complete risk.

AnotherJoe

Pa_Ja wrote: »

Moving into a vacant property in 5 wks time. No, you are planning to.
Would it be a good idea / or not to request permission to access the property prior to formal exchange to lay new new carpets in the bedrooms? "formal" exchange? Is there an informal exchange? Or did you mean completion?
This would save us the hassle of moving furniture around when we are in our new house. But lead to a whole lot more hassle than moving furniture if the sale fell though before exchange. "thanks for the new carpets OP we'll enjoy them"

Is this an unusual or unreasonable request? The property is currently vacant. Its unreasonable and risky on the part of both buyer and seller.

Thanks

Why did you not consider asking after exchange and before completion? Even that is risky but before exchange is mad. Or are you planning a same day exchange/complete?