House 'For Sale' but viewings not allowed?

jenni_fer

Looking for advice on how to deal with a slightly odd situation (or to just leave well alone!)
We've accepted an offer on our property and are therefore trying to find something to buy. There isn't much new coming on that meets our criteria so we started looking at things which were a compromise. In doing so we re-evaluated a property on our estate and feel that it could actually be the best option for us. I phoned the estate agent to ask to view the property but have been told that the occupiers are shielding so they aren't doing any viewings, and they'll phone me when they are.

This leaves us a bit stuck...
The Estate Agent did nothing to find out our position / how serious we are.
We have no idea how long they'll be shielding for (guessing 31st March at the earliest) and therefore waiting is not feasible.
There was no option to have a virtual viewing and the video tour on the rightmove listing doesn't work.

Is it worth phoning the estate agent back and trying to find out some more (i.e. what their chain position is etc) and hopefully speak to someone more helpful than this time?
I'm so tempted to put a note through their door, but the property is over priced and it feels wrong to be pushy and then make a lower offer
Or should we just sit and hope the estate agent does contact us at some point before we find something else / lose our buyer

It doesn't really feel like the property is actually for sale at the moment (and I totally understand why they aren't allowing viewings) but we'd really like to be front of the queue when they are ready to sell if that's likely to be in a reasonable amount of time. 

Scotbot

Never mind how serious you are  they clearly aren't that bothered about selling if they won't let people view.  No harm in you ringing their agent weekly to check but I wouldn't hold your breath.

NameUnavailable

I had a similar issue with a house I wanted to view, then the agent phoned last week to say the vendors would now take viewings (I'm assuming they had their 'jabs'). I saw the place on Saturday (vendors not present). Nice enough place but needed a fair bit of updating  so way overpriced, and they're about to have a house built on a patch of ground (used to be part of the back garden) next to it.

GDB2222

Lots of people in the more vulnerable groups have now had a jab. I had mine a week ago, but I’m waiting another two weeks to let some immunity develop. If these people are in the same situation, they may be coming out of purdah pretty soon. It is reasonable to ask what the timetable is and explain your situation.

unforeseen

Shielding (in England) finishes on 21st Feb currently. 

jenni_fer

unforeseen said:

Shielding (in England) finishes on 21st Feb currently. 

We're in Wales. The only date I could find suggested 31st March.

AdrianC

If the vendors don't want to allow viewings, then they ain't likely to sell in any kind of hurry.

How rational they may or may not be is another question entirely.
There isn't anything you can do about it. 

GDB2222

AdrianC said:

If the vendors don't want to allow viewings, then they ain't likely to sell in any kind of hurry.

How rational they may or may not be is another question entirely.
There isn't anything you can do about it. 

I’m somewhat vulnerable, but not extremely vulnerable, so I keep away from other people as much as possible. That seems rational to me, as the downside is small for me. I am not interested in some government edict saying that shielding ends later this month, as the virus has not signed up to that. I would not be happy to sell my home at the moment.

The vendor of the house that the op is interested in may be having immunosuppressive treatment that means there’s no immune system for the vaccine to stimulate. Who knows what their position is, but unless they can see some end to their isolation it seems strange to have the house on the market. 

diego_94

Why have they listed their house for sale if they cant have viewings? Surely should remove it from the market until they are able to odder the viewings. As others have said, they cant be that bothered to sell, if they are like this now imagine what they will be like during the conveyancing process! Unless it was a dream house I would steer well clear.

GixerKate

Depends on your level of interest.  You could ring the EA and see if they would like to take your details in case viewings become available and in the meantime look elsewhere.

Seems pointless to have the house for sale if the owners aren't able/want to proceed.  I would probably keep looking but keep the property on my list on Rightmove and see if anything changes.

bex2012

Hate to say it, but it sounds like the vendors aren’t interested in selling. We offered on a property recently where the vendors couldnt be gotten hold of (property needed a lot of work, but I loved the location). Agent had to go physically knock on their door to get a response from them. Turns out they’ve decided not to sell after all, but not told anyone.

We’ve now offered (and been accepted) on another property exactly the same as this one, but in far better condition.