House being used as a show home without my knowledge

leeb1977

Hi, I’m after some advice.

I reserved a new build house last week, it’s build complete, ready to move in. Just need to finish the sale of ours and exchange contracts etc..

We live local to the house so went for a walk up there last night to have a look, and it’s been fully furnished.

Can they do this? I’m now concerned they’ve done this to show people around like a show home, so we’ll have people going through our place constantly before we move in, potentially ruining carpets, etc.

Also, any furniture will obviously leave impressions in the carpets, marks on walls.

Overall, I’m just surprised they’d do this, I’ve dropped the sales office a line, but interested in everyone’s thoughts.

Thanks,

Lee

prowla

I would check things thoroughly for damage/wear before final acceptance.

But I guess it's not yours til it's paid for.

AdrianC

Can't read your reservation from here...

But it's not your house yet. You haven't even promised legally to buy it yet. All you've done is pay them to not sell it to anybody else until <certain date>

Alter_ego

Did you choose the carpets? pay extra for them?

leeb1977

Thanks, that’s exactly what I expect them to come back with, and I get it. Just thinking, I’ve reserved based on seeing the house in x condition, mortgage gets sorted, I go to exchange and it’s in a different condition, I’m stuck with it, as I’ll have sold my house, so it’s a case of accept it, or walk away without a house, (or cancel my house sale as well).

leeb1977

Alter_ego said:

Did you choose the carpets? pay extra for them?

They were included as “an incentive”, to the house price.

davidmcn

I doubt under current circumstances it's going to have people going through it "constantly", or that the wear and tear will be anything like somebody actually living in it. In any event, the condition they'll be obliged to hand it over in will be that (if any) stated in your contract.

gwilson30019

How many properties are left to sell on the site?
I would imagine they are just using your house to store the furniture from the show home (which has presumably been sold)?
Out if interest Lee, where in the country have you bought?

AdrianC

leeb1977 said:

I’ve reserved based on seeing the house in x condition, mortgage gets sorted, I go to exchange and it’s in a different condition, I’m stuck with it

What does the reservation say about condition?

Generally, you exchange based on the condition at the date of exchange.

leeb1977

gwilson30019 said:

How many properties are left to sell on the site?
I would imagine they are just using your house to store the furniture from the show home (which has presumably been sold)?
Out if interest Lee, where in the country have you bought?

There’s quite a few left to build, there is already a showhome, but it’s a different property type, and not sold yet.

I’m buying in Swindon.

leeb1977

davidmcn said:

I doubt under current circumstances it's going to have people going through it "constantly", or that the wear and tear will be anything like somebody actually living in it. In any event, the condition they'll be obliged to hand it over in will be that (if any) stated in your contract.

It’s really popular at the moment here, can take days to get an appointment to view, but yeah, more controlled than pre-covid

I’ve been through all the documents provided, and our reservation form, and there’s nothing about what condition they’ll provide it in, or saying what they can, (or can’t) do to the house after I’ve reserved.