Vendor present at the viewing

RoisinDubh_2

fiveacre said:

RoisinDubh_2 said:

And now I understand why we have 20,000+ covid cases a day and a new variant which has spread everywhere. Expecting a vendor to leave a property so there aren't 3-4 people in a tiny cramped flat, or at least to wear a bloody mask, is 'having demands'.

Of course, it was the pesky property viewings all along!

What isn't quite clear, is did you actually ask them to leave or have a quiet word with the agent about this at any point during this excruciating viewing?

Well that really does put me in an awkward position, doesn't it? Then I look mean by kicking the vendor out of their flat, or waste my own time by not getting to view. Would it not be easier if people just did what they're supposed to do?

RoisinDubh_2

Pok3mon said:

RoisinDubh_2 said:

elsien said:

Just wait till after the 19th then it’ll probably all be academic anyway. What will you be doing then? 

Why academic?

All restrictions are ending including masks!

LOL.......that's all I can say. You're in for a nasty shock.

landsbeyondthesea

RoisinDubh_2 said:

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if I'm being unreasonable here. I went to a viewing today and to my surprise, the vendor was there, working from home during it. This really annoyed me immediately and I felt SO uncomfortable, especially given the Delta variant being on the rise! I think even there weren't a pandemic, it would have still been weird and uncomfortable because who wants the vendor sitting there looking at you when you're trying to look for damp and ask questions to the EA and whatever else? I considered just leaving and then decided to stay and look in case the place was nice, but my discomfort and anxiety meant I really just wanted to get out ASAP. 

The agent has asked me what I thought and I told her I have no interest because of the above. I felt awkward and uncomfortable and I felt I was put at risk. She said I could have asked the vendor to leave....really?? Was it really on me to ask someone to their face to leave their own home? I shouldn't have been put in that position, IMO.

Am I being unreasonable here or am I right?

For what it's worth I don't think you're being unreasonable, or at least not completely. I've viewed 20 properties in the last two months. For eight of those, the vendor was at home. I didn't encounter a single vendor who made me feel as if I was anything less than entirely unwelcome in their house, despite the appointments having been booked several days in advance.

I made a second viewing of the house I am on track to purchase and spent the first five minutes listening to the estate agent being shouted at by the vendor because she was "working nights this week and don't want any f*****g buyers". Considering I'm about to give her several hundred thousand pounds, I'm of the opinion that she might have been a bit more polite, not least because I was in view at the time and could obviously hear everything.

Having said all that, it's probably best to keep a sense of perspective. Yes, there is a dangerous virus out there, but vaccinated people are at little risk. Plus, the vendor is probably as stressed about this all as you are. If you fancy the flat, why not book another viewing on the condition the vendor is out at the time?

fiveacre

RoisinDubh_2 said:

Well that really does put me in an awkward position, doesn't it? Then I look mean by kicking the vendor out of their flat, or waste my own time by not getting to view. Would it not be easier if people just did what they're supposed to do?

How are people meant to know what they're supposed to do if you don't communicate your expectations? I didn't think my proposed wording, if you scroll up, was that awkward.

jazzyja

Its a sellers market. Can sit there in his Y fronts if he wants. I think you need to get a grip....in the nicest possible way. 
Next time just say is it at all possible vendor not be present. Problem solved. I personally prefer vendor showing me around 

nimbo

I’ve also viewed a lot of properties. It’s hell. But I’m also accepting of people being there. It’s unreasonable to have people leave their own homes. In my role were virtually banned from the office and I couldn’t keep taking time off for viewers. 

It’s also unreasonable to ask people to open their windows and then vacate their address in areas that you call possibly hell hole / questionable. Although you’d maybe get a good idea of crime rates…

Yes we are living in a pandemic. Yes it’s hard. But if your so anxious about seeing others - either consider moving to a less densely populated area. Such as the Scottish isles - or even ask your dr for some support. (That’s not even meant to be mean - there is all sorts of support available). 

House hunting is hellish. But you’re focusing on something beyond your control and something that is coming across as unreasonable. Is this really the right time for you to be looking???? 

I’m getting the sense in this instance the sausage is more then just a sausage and you need to reflect on your next steps and how deeply affected you are by this and how much you want to buy a house vs the impact on your emotional well being. 

jimbog

RoisinDubh_2 said:

Well, I now understand why Covid cases are so high. In the middle of a pandemic and people think there's nothing wrong with people from 3 different households crammed into a one-bed flat with the windows closed....Christ almighty!

Then why did you choose to stay? As a result how many in your own household did you choose to put at risk ?

RoisinDubh_2

jimbog said:

RoisinDubh_2 said:

Well, I now understand why Covid cases are so high. In the middle of a pandemic and people think there's nothing wrong with people from 3 different households crammed into a one-bed flat with the windows closed....Christ almighty!

Then why did you choose to stay? As a result how many in your own household did you choose to put at risk ?

I live on my own but do continue to make me laugh with your presumptions.

I decided that the risk was already taken by the time I'd already gone in and realised the vendor was there, and obviously I had just walked an hour to get there and taken time off work, so wasn't thrilled about wasting my time, so decided to try to view quickly in case it was nice.

That OK with you?

Thrugelmir

Why create mountains created out of molehills. The matter could have been easily with dealt with at the time. Ranting afterwards achieves nothing as the moment has past. 

RoisinDubh_2

landsbeyondthesea said:

RoisinDubh_2 said:

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if I'm being unreasonable here. I went to a viewing today and to my surprise, the vendor was there, working from home during it. This really annoyed me immediately and I felt SO uncomfortable, especially given the Delta variant being on the rise! I think even there weren't a pandemic, it would have still been weird and uncomfortable because who wants the vendor sitting there looking at you when you're trying to look for damp and ask questions to the EA and whatever else? I considered just leaving and then decided to stay and look in case the place was nice, but my discomfort and anxiety meant I really just wanted to get out ASAP. 

The agent has asked me what I thought and I told her I have no interest because of the above. I felt awkward and uncomfortable and I felt I was put at risk. She said I could have asked the vendor to leave....really?? Was it really on me to ask someone to their face to leave their own home? I shouldn't have been put in that position, IMO.

Am I being unreasonable here or am I right?

For what it's worth I don't think you're being unreasonable, or at least not completely. I've viewed 20 properties in the last two months. For eight of those, the vendor was at home. I didn't encounter a single vendor who made me feel as if I was anything less than entirely unwelcome in their house, despite the appointments having been booked several days in advance.

I made a second viewing of the house I am on track to purchase and spent the first five minutes listening to the estate agent being shouted at by the vendor because she was "working nights this week and don't want any f*****g buyers". Considering I'm about to give her several hundred thousand pounds, I'm of the opinion that she might have been a bit more polite, not least because I was in view at the time and could obviously hear everything.

Having said all that, it's probably best to keep a sense of perspective. Yes, there is a dangerous virus out there, but vaccinated people are at little risk. Plus, the vendor is probably as stressed about this all as you are. If you fancy the flat, why not book another viewing on the condition the vendor is out at the time?

Exactly. The attitude of some vendors is just shocking. I don't think those who disagree with me quite grasp just how awkward it is to be tip toeing around someone acting like you're in their way when they have chosen to put their flat on the market! If they don't want people in their flat, then they shouldn't be selling it! How rude of the vendor to say that when you were right there!