Buyer wants to use our garage before exchange/completion ??

Missus_Hyde

bikingbarney wrote: »

Back on topic... Does it seem like a reasonable request to use the garage and what should I tell them ??

No, it doesn't seem like a reasonable request and your answer to them should be "Absolutely not, under any circumstances!"

Let them fill up the garage after you've completed, not before. At this early stage, anything could put a spanner in the works of your potential sale, leaving you with the problem of disposing of a garage full of someone else's rubbish.

pinkshoes

We let our buyers use the garage (in a block) AFTER exchange to move some stuff into. They were moving a few streets away and hiring a van themselves on the day.

We would not have agreed to this before exchange though, even though we knew them!

Atomix

Last time we moved, (one end of town to the other) one thing we did ask for was to move all our pot plants - a garden roller and some other outside worthless stuff... and we put them at the back... Outside stuff is ok.... It basically saved us a trip or 2 on the day -

Storing stuff in the garage is different - especially at the stage your at - not worth the risk imo - they probably thought it was worth an ask...?

Kynthia

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Personally my first thought would have been to wonder if they were after free storage place for their goods - rather than really meaning to buy my house. Hence - I wouldnt have dreamt of letting them have use before Exchange - in order to make very sure and certain they really were going to buy my house and couldnt get free storage out of me for nothing.

After Exchange then they would have insurance cover on your house anyway - so any insurance claim that came up for stolen or apparently stolen goods would presumably be covered by their insurance company anyway and not yours.

So - I might actually agree - after Exchange. It would give them an added incentive not to delay Exchange.

Only if they have contents cover and have been completely up front about not living there yet. Most people only get buildings insurance from exchange which wouldn't cover their items being damaged or stolen.

robatwork

I say let them use your garage.

Also it's only reasonable that you cook 3 meals a day for them until you complete.

To show you are willing, let them also use your car, and one or two credit cards.

Don't go scaring them off now.

teamgb

We sold our first house to a 1st time buyer, they ask if they could arrange delivery of furniture ( bed,cabinets, suit and other oddments bought in the sales) and store them in the garage before exchange. We agreed on condition that we were not responsable for the items.

I saw this as commitment by them and aggreed.

Everything went well and my brothers and I even helped them to move the furniture into the house on moving day.

SailorSam

I look at all these No No No, and many years ago when i was selling my first house, i let the buyers move in before completion. People told me then i was an idiot and if anything goes wrong i may be left in the mire, but i still did it.
The couple were getting married on the Saturday which was Completion day, so i moved out a few days earlier and gave them the key. Lucky enough everything was ok.
Would i do the same again ? Probably not, but when you're young you can be foolish.