Estate agency declining viewing

Chicane1992

My partner and I wanted to view a property, however I noticed the agency have set up a open morning. I rang up to try and see if i could book a viewing before that (day didn't suit) or if i had to, book a place on the open morning. The EA said a viewing was not possible on either as the open day was fully booked and no viewings were allowed outside of this. This was until I mentioned we had zero chain and an AIP in place ( can borrow considerably more than the asking price, obviously didnt tell them this). He then said I would be able to get onto the open morning as he could 'move things about'. I said I would confirm the following morning. Rang up the next morning to be told by someone else that I couldn't book onto it.
Now can agencies reject a viewing before? Surely they would need to enquire with the vendor as I could offer well over the asking price. Now I can't offer anything. Is this standard practice? I know they obviously want a bidding war as the price is OIEO, but why couldn't I view before the open day? Then my offer if I liked the place could be given as well as any received from the open day.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks.

m0bov

Pop a note into the vendor to tell them u want to view and your ready to move but ea wont let you view.

Lucky_Duck_2

I have wanted to view properties in the past but only been 'allowed' to view on an open day, as I was proposing to relocating quite some distance and the date of the open day wouldn't have worked for me so I decided to continue my search elsewhere.

hazyjo

If local, I'd just turn up anyway.

G_M

EAs do whattever their clients are payiing them to do.

If the owner has decided they don't want endless people going round their home they might well instruct their agent that all viewings must be on the open day. After all, that's part of point of holding an open day!

As for who gets booked in on the OD - that's usually up to te EA. Usually there's a maximum number (so everyone gets a chance to look round wthout being either rushed or crowded) and so the EA can keep track of them all. But they might well do some 'filtering' if the OD is over-subscribed, and try to get the better prospects in as opposed to the inevitable 'just curious' who use it as part of a weekend day out!

saajan_12

Chicane1992 wrote: »

My partner and I wanted to view a property, however I noticed the agency have set up a open morning. I rang up to try and see if i could book a viewing before that (day didn't suit) or if i had to, book a place on the open morning. The EA said a viewing was not possible on either as the open day was fully booked - possible, there would be a limit to how many people can comfortably fit in the property and view over a few hours, even less if you want the entire floor not to be covered by viewers and want the EA to have time to speak to everyone / answer any questions! and no viewings were allowed outside of this. - fair enough, the point of an open morning is to get all viewers in one go. Perhaps the current occupants don't want to have people dribble in over weeks, or want to create a buzz and bidding war. Either way, their choice. This was until I mentioned we had zero chain and an AIP in place ( can borrow considerably more than the asking price, obviously didnt tell them this). He then said I would be able to get onto the open morning as he could 'move things about'. - well yes, if you're a better than avg prospect, they might favour you over others / stretch the limit a bit. I said I would confirm the following morning. Rang up the next morning to be told by someone else that I couldn't book onto it. - they may now have a couple more viewers so can't possibly fit you in, or the new EA staff member may not think you're quite as attractive.. its subjective.
Now can agencies reject a viewing before? - yes, as long as they're working within the vendor's wishes e.g. hold viewings on x date means reject any that dont fit on that day. Surely they would need to enquire with the vendor as I could offer well over the asking price. - but you haven't yet. There's an obligation to pass on actual offers, not a vague interest to view, which could turn out to be nothing. Now I can't offer anything. Is this standard practice? - yes I know they obviously want a bidding war as the price is OIEO, - the EA's job is to act in the best interest of the vendor, which often means highest price achieved through a bidding war. Nothing wrong there. but why couldn't I view before the open day? Then my offer if I liked the place could be given as well as any received from the open day. - as mentioned above, the EA/vendor apparently is holding an open day for a reason. Viewings outside that come at considerable extra inconvenience, which they may not be willing to suffer for someone who seemingly isn't keen enough to make themselves available on the viewing day.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks.

Don't take it personally, it's a simple fact that neither the EA nor the vendor owe you an opportunity to view. Viewings outside the open day cause extra work / inconvenience, which may not be worthwhile to the vendor/EA. If they don't wan't you to view, then there's nothing you can do about it. Keep the EA updated on your eagerness and keep an eye on this property, but carry on looking elsewhere!

Chicane1992

Thank for the replies! The house is near a housing estate that historically had problems. Its been on the market longer than most houses of a similar build. Think they know interest is limited so have done an open day in the hope offers will be higher than they would have been without one.

Marvel1

m0bov wrote: »

Pop a note into the vendor to tell them u want to view and your ready to move but ea wont let you view.

Adding on saying, the open day was full and I wanted to view the day before (as could be the vendor's choice for 1 day viewing only).

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd also put a note through door of house saying I was interested and EA had said "open day" is full and that I "would appreciate a chance to view at some other time at your convenience". Give them a list of times/days you are available and cross your fingers.

If I were a vendor having an "open day" part of my reason for this would be to ensure I only spent a couple of hours taking viewings in total - and I would need persuading as to why I should allocate a bit extra time/effort to viewers looking around. They are trying to minimise selling effort for themselves/maybe they're very busy people/etc - and hence a bit of gentle persuasion/keep fingers crossed they will be prepared to make an extra bit of time available.