First time buyer viewing advice please!

Moneypenny22

We have seen a property that we love but there is one big snag. The vendor is carrying out the viewings herself and there is something unusual about her - we went to see it with my parents so there was four people overall and she was very shifty when someone went in to a room without her and was getting quite offended when we were asking questions about the house.

We ignored this and have tried to arrange a second viewing with my partners parents but she has stated that only two people are allowed in the house at a time. Its a big 3 bed house so its not the size thats she issue - I am unsure if this is normal or if we should be concerned by her behaviour?

Can I have advice please?

JigglyPug

This rings huge alarm bells, my advice would be to run in the opposite direction. If this woman is being difficult now, then what will she be like if you ask for a survey? Or if you realise there's a problem with the property and ask for a reduction?

Having just lost my sale because of a difficult buyer, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to at least have faith that the person you're entering into a huge complicated, expensive deal with, isn't gonna mess you around. This woman sounds like she's going to be a nightmare to deal with, and if it was me I would find another property.

Moneypenny22

Ok then - I thought there was something amiss with her request!

She also neglected to tell us but the estate agent slipped up that she is looking at buying a property 2 doors down which seems odd!

Your right too - if shes being awkward at this stage it doesnt bode well for the future does it! Thank you x

usernameisvalid

A female doing her own viewings alone?

I too would be nervous if 4 people turned up for a preliminary viewing, talk about being out numbered


Generally it's the potential buyer/s and partner who do the first viewing, why did you need to take parents along as well?

JigglyPug

Moneypenny22 wrote: »

Ok then - I thought there was something amiss with her request!

She also neglected to tell us but the estate agent slipped up that she is looking at buying a property 2 doors down which seems odd!

Your right too - if shes being awkward at this stage it doesnt bode well for the future does it! Thank you x

No, I definitely would be put off too by that sort of behaviour! If, like 'usernameisvalid' says, she was intimidated by the large number of people and doing the viewing alone then she could easily have got the EA to do the viewings on her behalf. I would personally avoid anyone who objects to you wanting a 2nd viewing with parents (a reasonable request), doesn't let you look around the house unsupervised or is rude when you ask questions about the house. It's part and parcel of selling.

Moneypenny22

She was a female on her own but it was only me and my partner and we are first time buyers and quite young so we would literally not have a clue what to look for ourselves and really needed advice from my boyfriends parents who are only an elderly couple.

She has since told the estate agents we could wait outside while my parents were looking and then swap but its coming across like she has something to hide rather then being intimidated? But maybe thats just how im seeing it - I could be completely wrong of course im not denying that! I appreciate the advice guys - think we will leave it TBH im getting an odd vibe about the whole thing!

Surrey_EA

Some people are just odd, doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to hide something.

davidmcn

Surrey_EA wrote: »

Some people are just odd, doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to hide something.

Yes, I wouldn't assume there was actually something amiss. As above though, it suggests she might act weird in the remainder of the transaction.

3mph

It could also be that she doesn't want anyone being alone in a room if she is worried about theft.

Not being personal - this is a general comment - but a viewing without an EA accompanying means letting a complete stranger wander round, and no one knows if the story they told the EA was correct of not since no one checks. But if it is a group then you can never be in the same room so you have no idea what some of them might be doing.

paddy's_mum

Having once had a Portuguese couple and their 5 children turn up for a viewing, letting their 10 year old son run riot round the entire property, I can somewhat sympathise with this vendor.

Only after they had gone did I realise that the boy had been opening every drawer, box and receptacle in the place (including make-up holdall, trinket boxes and laundry bins!) and had had oil from Dad's leaking van on his shoes...trodden the length of the hall and up the stairs on my wool carpet.

I only forgave them when they subsequently bought the house and the oily stains then became their problem.

Not every buyer is considerate and in this woman's shoes, I too might have felt swamped.

ReadingTim

3mph wrote: »

It could also be that she doesn't want anyone being alone in a room if she is worried about theft.

Not being personal - this is a general comment - but a viewing without an EA accompanying means letting a complete stranger wander round, and no one knows if the story they told the EA was correct of not since no one checks. But if it is a group then you can never be in the same room so you have no idea what some of them might be doing.

It's not just theft you've got to worry about, as this famous case illustrates.