Can you view a vacant house during lock down?

Wkmg

I know you can move into a vacant house during lock down but what about viewing one? I’m assuming the answer is no as it isn’t essential if you are in safe accommodation (which I am). Also the estate agent would have to let you in and keep an eye on you even if you social distance. 

davidmcn

Technically it might be legally permissible, but I'm not aware of anyone offering it as an option.

Comms69

You can move into an occupied house also. The pragmatics are your biggest hurdle. If someone is willing to let you in, it's unlikely to draw much attention from the 5-0.

Wkmg

The estate agent offered the option to me. I’m game but I doubt my other half will be. Going to discuss it with her after work. Know it won’t speed up the whole process as we need to sell our house and get surveys etc... but the house has been on the market for a year, one offer fell through just as Covid happened and I thought we might be able to get them to accept an offer if we show we’re serious and offer an amount that is reasonable i.e. somewhere between 900,000 and 925,000 as an opening gambit depending on how much we like it once we look round (guide 950,000). It’s a very desirables house on a a very desirable street so I think it will sell once lockdown ends. The reason it sat on the market for a year is because they had it on for oieo £1,000,000. Once they dropped it to guide £950,000 they got an offer almost straight away. 

Comms69

Not a chance that is accurate at all. Something the agent said im sure.
House on the market for £1mil will get offers of 950k easy. 

And a guide price of 950, i'd be offering 875 as a starting point anyway. 

Wkmg

Comms69 said:

Not a chance that is accurate at all. Something the agent said im sure.
House on the market for £1mil will get offers of 950k easy. 

And a guide price of 950, i'd be offering 875 as a starting point anyway. 

Well, I’ve looked at the sold prices on the street and similar properties go for about 950. I haven’t seen it yet so maybe there’s is some terrible problem but 950 pre Covid seemed fair. Obviously Covid changes things but we’ll have to see. I’m just mulling it over at the moment. From my point of view, say I pay 5% over but get my dream home on my dream street that I will be in for 25 years, that won’t be the end of the world. Say I pay 15% over that’s a different proposition. 

Rural_Puppy

How can you be seen as a serious buyer if you have to sell your house and it isn't on the market yet?

Wkmg

It was on the market 6 months ago. All the marketing materials is done. We had several asking price offers within a few days last time but had to come off the market because we were out bid on the place we wanted and there was nothing else suitable. If we were going to offer we’d get our estate agent to put it straight back on the market first. Who knows, someone who offered before might still be interested.