Buyer wants to come over

simon_or

As long as the EA lets the buyer in, I don't really see the issue here given that the house is vacant.

Refusing access before exchange will simply raise the question of whether there's anything you're trying to hide.

But of course if you are willing to risk the buyer walking away then you can do as you wish.

AskAsk

nicknameless said:

tbh if I was your buyer I would suspect you were hiding something insisting this happen after exchange.  Understand concern about just handing over keys but perhaps arrange to be there, or EA to be there for duration if you can't be?

edited to add - I didn't read your post carefully enough.  If only new kitchen and bathroom that is different.  I would still try to accommodate if at all possible though.

my concern is that the buyer is already demonstrating he is not honest.  If he asked for access because there are problems highlighted in the survey, it is quite normal to list what these are, but he has not done so and still hasn't disclosed what they are, why the secret?

I don't ask for builders to come round to people's properties to give me quotes for updating the property before purchase as the whole thing may fall through anyway but it is not yet my property to get free run and go in to measure things that can be done after purchase but was interested in other people's views.

boxer234

I visited twice before exchange once with my step dad (owner was there) next just with estate agent.  I think as long as the estate agent is there it shouldn’t be a problem.  

caprikid1

For me the buyer is investing time and effort in the property and making strong buying signals. So I would support in line with the recommendations already suggested.

Being difficult might give the impression you are worried they will spot / identify something not seen already.

aoleks

AskAsk said:

nicknameless said:

tbh if I was your buyer I would suspect you were hiding something insisting this happen after exchange.  Understand concern about just handing over keys but perhaps arrange to be there, or EA to be there for duration if you can't be?

edited to add - I didn't read your post carefully enough.  If only new kitchen and bathroom that is different.  I would still try to accommodate if at all possible though.

my concern is that the buyer is already demonstrating he is not honest.  If he asked for access because there are problems highlighted in the survey, it is quite normal to list what these are, but he has not done so and still hasn't disclosed what they are, why the secret?

I don't ask for builders to come round to people's properties to give me quotes for updating the property before purchase as the whole thing may fall through anyway but it is not yet my property to get free run and go in to measure things that can be done after purchase but was interested in other people's views.

it doesn't work like this. you are selling a house and someone is interested. they are interested enough to have spent hundreds of pounds on a survey, which found a few issues (this is normal). some people are ok with cracked walls as a result of subsidence, others are scared at the sight of some dirt patches on the wall, that's not your business, but the buyer's.

while I agree that the buyer can't have the key to let himself in, I would offer to accommodate a builder/surveyor visit myself or through the agent, that's how it works. the content of the survey doesn't have to be shared, though if the buyer finds something serious, he/she might want to negotiate, at which point they can reveal the problems (but not the survey).

in other words, it's perfectly normal for a buyer to visit the house with a builder, in the presence of the owner or the agent, but not to get a copy of the key themselves.

SavingPennies_2

I don't see the big deal it sounds perfectly normal, it shows they are serious about buying so why not be accommodating. When I bought my current place (after sale agreed but before completion) the EA gave me the keys - with sellers permission - to let myself in with a glazier and electrician to do some pricing / measuring up etc. When I sold my previous property I allowed the buyer the same, he came twice after we agreed the sale, one with family and once with builders. If I was a buyer and the vendor said no or started asking loads of questions it would ring alarm bells tbh, just say you want the EA to be there if you are concerned.

Shaztastic3000

Just let him go round and do what he wants to do. You’re the vendor, you need to provide good service to your customer.

m0bov

The EA should not even be asking to hand keys to the buyer, you'd need a "key agreement" drafted up by the solicitor, sounds like the EA is very lazy and unprofessional. How do we know the buyer want fabricate faults? Are they insured? Why is the EA not dealing with this?

warwick2001

Purely in regards the survey, I'm fairly sure in the survey I had commissioned recently there was a statement from the surveying company saying that I was not allowed to share any part of the survey without their written permission.

Maybe the potential buyer had something similar in his survey, and isn't allowed to share the findings (or hasn't asked to do so)? He may be more motivated to share the findings if there is to be a request to renegotiate the buying price.


If the visit is purely to measure up for a kitchen and bathroom, then I personally wouldn't have a problem with that, its shows they are serious enough to start planning what they are going to do when they move in. But agree with others, no way they get the keys, must be accompanied by the EA.

diystarter7

OP
Sounds like the buyer is serious, let them in, I would.