Vendor insisting I perform pre-exchange viewing alone and cannot bring builders or trades

climbthatwallseegar

Hello All,

I've been on this board for the best part of a year now after selling my property last year and am now finally in the home stretch of my purchase after a tortuous few months.

The house I am buying does not have buildings insurance in place. The vendor allowed it to expire last year, she didn't see the point in renewing as she was selling up. My solicitor advised that we could not proceed to exchange with an uninsured property (I know I have to take out insurance myself from the point of exchange itself). After a bit of back and forth we reached an agreement that on the day of exchange I will visit the property and if all is in order I will give permission to go ahead. Vendor was amenable to all of this.

The EA contacted me today to say vendor has agreed to exchange next week but I cannot visit with any builders/trades. I had no intention of bringing a builder but this has certainly raised a red flag for me.  As it happens I am visiting with my partner as he hasn't seen the property before and he worked in building/DIY in a former life but again, there was no intention on my part to ask him to carry out any checks as I've already had a survey done. I just need to ensure the roof hasn't blown off or anything major.

I'm thinking there must be some kind of damage somewhere to property that she doesn't want anyone to inspect?

Doozergirl

Maybe she's nervous about Covid.  

You had a survey, that's enough, surely? 

theartfullodger

Vendor may require such conditions as they wish.

Buyer may require such conditions as they wish.

So, in your shoes, I'd  get my solicitors to 'phone his solicitors & explain the deal is off unless builder and specific list of trades (or none) can view with you. 

If not the answer you need, walk away (unless you wish to gamble**)

** I bought a house, at auction, without even going inside, just drove past it. Children do not do this at home.  But I could afford the gamble, bought Jan 2000 still own it, still generating rents...

warby68

I find the no insurance more of a red flag tbh

No trades might simply be to avoid a last minute request to drop the price because such and such will cost £x

climbthatwallseegar

Doozergirl said:

Maybe she's nervous about Covid.  

You had a survey, that's enough, surely? 

Yes the survey is enough as I wanted information about structural issues, the roof etc and all came back fine.

So to be clear, I had no intention of bringing a builder - just my partner (who coincidentally used to be a builder but that is not why he is coming).

My concern is her insistence that she doesn't want one to visit. If she hadn't mentioned this requirement there wouldn't be problem.

I doubt Covid is an issue. When I viewed I was fully masked up. She followed myself and the EA around without a mask (this is not a judgement, just explaining).

I have asked the EA why she is insisting on this. He said he doesn't know. My thoughts are that something major has happened since the start of storm Eunice and as the house is uninsured at this point that is obviously a concern.

TheJP

theartfullodger said:

Vendor may require such conditions as they wish.

Buyer may require such conditions as they wish.

So, in your shoes, I'd  get my solicitors to 'phone his solicitors & explain the deal is off unless builder and specific list of trades (or none) can view with you. 

If not the answer you need, walk away (unless you wish to gamble**)

I bought a house, at auction, without even going inside, just drove past it. Children do not do this at home.  But I could afford the gamble, bought Jan 2000 still own it, still generating rents...

That's a silly approach isn't it. The vendor likely states this so that the buyer doesn't try a 11th hour renegotiation by having a trade kick the tyres and say that needs replacing. Totally reasonable to state that they don't want other people other than the buyer in the house.

The OP wasn't even bringing a builder/trades person with them anyway so your point is redundant.

OP you could ask them why not? There could be a genuine reason. Assuming something bad before determining the facts can muddy the water.

Brie

Surely if your partner is knowledgeable then anything serious will be spotted.  I was going to suggest you take a tame builder/handy person with you and introduce only as "my best friend Lee, here with me for moral support" or similar. 

climbthatwallseegar

TheJP said:

theartfullodger said:

Vendor may require such conditions as they wish.

Buyer may require such conditions as they wish.

So, in your shoes, I'd  get my solicitors to 'phone his solicitors & explain the deal is off unless builder and specific list of trades (or none) can view with you. 

If not the answer you need, walk away (unless you wish to gamble**)

I bought a house, at auction, without even going inside, just drove past it. Children do not do this at home.  But I could afford the gamble, bought Jan 2000 still own it, still generating rents...

That's a silly approach isn't it. The vendor likely states this so that the buyer doesn't try a 11th hour renegotiation by having a trade kick the tyres and say that needs replacing. Totally reasonable to state that they don't want other people other than the buyer in the house.

The OP wasn't even bringing a builder/trades person with them anyway so your point is redundant.

OP you could ask them why not? There could be a genuine reason. Assuming something bad before determining the facts can muddy the water.

Cross-post with my answer above, I have asked.

thegreenone

climbthatwallseegar said

My thoughts are that something major has happened since the start of storm Eunice and as the house is uninsured at this point that is obviously a concern.

That was my first thought when I read that the EA had contacted you today.

Doozergirl

climbthatwallseegar said:

Doozergirl said:

Maybe she's nervous about Covid.  

You had a survey, that's enough, surely? 

Yes the survey is enough as I wanted information about structural issues, the roof etc and all came back fine.

So to be clear, I had no intention of bringing a builder - just my partner (who coincidentally used to be a builder but that is not why he is coming).

My concern is her insistence that she doesn't want one to visit. If she hadn't mentioned this requirement there wouldn't be problem.

I doubt Covid is an issue. When I viewed I was fully masked up. She followed myself and the EA around without a mask (this is not a judgement, just explaining).

I have asked the EA why she is insisting on this. He said he doesn't know. My thoughts are that something major has happened since the start of storm Eunice and as the house is uninsured at this point that is obviously a concern.

If something major had happened that she noticed, then you'd notice it too.   Anything major isn't just going to be spotted by a builder. Particularly storm damage.    

It's never a good idea to wonder why people do anything, because you'll rarely be right. 

There's as many reasons for saying or doing something as there are people.  

TheJP

climbthatwallseegar said:

Doozergirl said:

Maybe she's nervous about Covid.  

You had a survey, that's enough, surely? 

Yes the survey is enough as I wanted information about structural issues, the roof etc and all came back fine.

So to be clear, I had no intention of bringing a builder - just my partner (who coincidentally used to be a builder but that is not why he is coming).

My concern is her insistence that she doesn't want one to visit. If she hadn't mentioned this requirement there wouldn't be problem.

I doubt Covid is an issue. When I viewed I was fully masked up. She followed myself and the EA around without a mask (this is not a judgement, just explaining).

I have asked the EA why she is insisting on this. He said he doesn't know. My thoughts are that something major has happened since the start of storm Eunice and as the house is uninsured at this point that is obviously a concern.

Sorry OP i missed this post.

For me my thoughts would be that the seller may think your pulling a fast one. As doozergirl said if there is something that they are concern about you'll spot it. Youll also struggle to get a builder/trade to come out with you as they are extremely hard to get hold off and doubt they will fancy a walkabout over a committed job.