Unable to view new apartment without my current property being sold?

Jlawson118

Deleted_User said:

More than half the agents around my area are only doing face to face viewings for proceedable viewers.  People not in a position to make an offer on the property are offered a video or virtual viewing.    

Seems fair enough in this climate.

Now some will bend the rules a bit as they know that if a local person hasnt got their home on the market then they have a chance at winning the business and listing their home as well.   

They should perhaps offer a virtual viewing but otherwise its just the way some businesses are choosing to operate and remain 'covid secure' or whatever the government phrase is

Nothing has been mentioned over COVID and everything else with the current pandemic. It’s simply just been a case of my house isn’t on the market, I can’t have any sort of viewing.
I stated in my initial email to them if there’s safety issues then I have full PPE (Hi-Vis, Steel Toe Caps etc) as I know sometimes this can be the case with new builds.

I can understand if they’re sceptical about me buying the property, but rejecting me for even a viewing just seems a tad odd. If I was offered at least a viewing (even with a face mask or virtual) it would help me decide whether I wanted to put the wheels in motion to purchasing. Rather than jumping the gun and then selling to find it was too late

Jlawson118

eddddy said:

I think you're misunderstanding a little bit.

• Realistically, as a first step, you need to get your current flat on the market. (And get mortgage quotes etc, so you know how much you can afford to pay for a new flat.) Maybe you can then tentatively start viewing new flats.
• Once you have accepted an offer on your current flat, you can start viewing new flats more seriously, and make offers.

At the moment, the EA and developer think that it's not worth their time and effort to show you the new flat, because your current flat isn't even on the market yet.

My original query was just with regards to a viewing and to see if they offered part exchange. Both of these was a no. Once I knew about the part exchange I knew then different wheels would be have to put in motion as such. Such as putting my property on the market, but I’d at least like to see the new property first before deciding.

But even with my property on the market, this would still be rejected. They stated my property had to be fully sold in order to be taken into consideration. 

Slithery

It's always been the case that you need to have a buyer lined up for your current property before being taken seriously. Nothing has changed.

elsien

You are aware that this is the developer's decision, not the agent's?
If the developer has told the agent proceedable buyers only for viewings, then they have no flexibility in that. No use blaming the agent, blame the developer. 

AdrianC

Jlawson118 said:

The estate agent hasn’t even asked me a single question in regards to my current situation.

Just to say that they don't offer PX.

I’m not sure how long the property would take to sell. Most other apartments in the building are rented out. When these go up for let, there seems to be somebody in within a week or two. The odd one or two I’ve seen up for sale tend to have taken a fair few months. One of my neighbours told me people in this particular area don’t see any benefits in buying apartments. 

So there y'go. You have a flat to sell in order to get the chain complete. You admit it's not going to be an easy sell.

Thrugelmir

Jlawson118 said:

Deleted_User said:

More than half the agents around my area are only doing face to face viewings for proceedable viewers.  People not in a position to make an offer on the property are offered a video or virtual viewing.    

Seems fair enough in this climate.

Now some will bend the rules a bit as they know that if a local person hasnt got their home on the market then they have a chance at winning the business and listing their home as well.   

They should perhaps offer a virtual viewing but otherwise its just the way some businesses are choosing to operate and remain 'covid secure' or whatever the government phrase is

Nothing has been mentioned over COVID and everything else with the current pandemic. 

By now everyone should be aware of the risks. Minimising them requires no comment to be made. 

HampshireH

My parents were also refused a viewing because they didnt have their house on the market.

They won't put it on the market till they know what they can get for their money. 

They want to downsize to a bungalow from 3 double bed 2 reception house with driveway for 4 cars big garage and a view which could sell the house without an internal viewing.

1 agent locally wont show them around whereas all the others have. They viewed 2 places but both already had offers on at the time of viewing and it would have been a case of highest bidder (property wasnt worth it)

Definitely down the the agent. Others will do viewings .

eddddy

Jlawson118 said:

But even with my property on the market, this would still be rejected. They stated my property had to be fully sold in order to be taken into consideration. 

Sounds like there's been a misunderstanding.

What they almost certainly mean is that you must have accepted an offer on your current flat, before they would consider an offer from you. (That's the normal process.)

I realise that you want to do things differently (view the new flat first to see if you like it, then put your current property on the market). But the Estate Agent probably knows from experience that approach is unlikely to work out well.

GDB2222

For months, the agents could do nothing but make fruitless phone calls from home. Then lockdown ended, and all the people who would normally have looked earlier in the year want viewings. The agents must be rushed off their feet, poor dears! Have a heart!

GixerKate

There must be a misunderstanding, there is no way that they expect you to have fully sold and completed on your current property before allowing a viewing.

Many estate agents and developments are not scheduling viewings until you are proceedable, ie, have an offer accepted on your current property.