Estate agent question

Archergirl

My friend has sold her house stc, the agent keeps letting the purchasers in to measure up and they have had builders in to look at the house, my friend has not given permission for this, are the agents allowed to do it?

Fosterdog

So has she actually sold her house or just accepted an offer on it? If she has sold it then it is no longer her so anything that happens there is nothing to do with her. If she has just accepted an offer then she needs to speak to the EA to find out why they are letting people in, although it is pretty standard for purchasers to have a second viewing to measure up, a surveyor to visit, possibly someone to carry out a gas and or electrical report, a valuation, and maybe builders to quote for future works. It's all part of selling a house and if you don't allow access it looks like you hav3 something to hide and could make the buyer pull out.

ETA: just realised you said STC so she hasn't actually sold it yet, she needs to speak to the agents to stop them from doing it without permission but ultimately she could lose her buyers if she doesn't make the arrangements herself.

Archergirl

It's sold STC. the agent said it would take 6 /8 weeks to completion (or exchange) not sure which, it's been about 11 weeks so far, she is really stressed. Nothing to hide but surely the agent should clear it with her or let her know what's happening?
The agent and her solicitor are being a***s she is having a bad time.

davidmcn

She can take the keys back off them if she wants to make sure nobody is getting in. At least if the buyers are measuring up then they seem confident of proceeding.

Archergirl

Yes and she really doesn't want to scupper the sale but is getting worried by the delays and no information, they are also asking her to pay to get the boiler serviced, get the chimney swept and insure the conservatory that was there before they and the previous people bought it.

davidmcn

Archergirl wrote: »

Yes and she really doesn't want to scupper the sale but is getting worried by the delays and no information, they are also asking her to pay to get the boiler serviced, get the chimney swept and insure the conservatory that was there before they and the previous people bought it.

She should be getting advice from her own solicitor about all of this. (and/or posting on the House Buying board here).

Archergirl

Her solicitor is as useless as the agent, but I will tell her about the house buying board, thanks x

Fosterdog

6/8 weeks was incredibly optimistic, it's a busy time of year with people wanting to be in their new homes by Christmas, 12/15 weeks would have been more realistic.

They may require an indemnity policy for the conservatory, this is common with house purchases if the correct permissions were never granted for work done, it protects the buyers if planning dept. ever tell them that it has to go because it should never have been built. The vendor I bought my house off had to get one of these policies for some work done several years ago.

The boiler and chimney she doesn't have to get done but it is about how much she wants to upset the buyers, some vendors are happy to get things like that done but others refuse point blank.

Archergirl

She had the chimney done last year and the fire wasn't used so I said find the receipt from the chimney sweep. Her partner is refusing to have anything to do with it (they have split) and she is getting so stressed. She is so frightened it will fall through it's a sort of blackmail really.
The conservatory was built about 3 owners ago and it wasn't mentioned to her or the previous buyers about getting an indemnity.