Panic room

Kirkmain

Selling a house that has a hidden panic room. Fairly common in this part the country. At what stage  during the conveyancing procress do you let your potential buyers know about this room?

artyboy

"This part of the country" being Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Hampstead possibly...?

It's actually a very interesting question, but assuming this is a property with a fairly substantial valuation, are you selling it through Savills or one of the other higher end agencies - because I'd have thought this is something they would have some experience of managing...?

eddddy

Why are you asking the question? 

Is it because you think that will put some people off?

If so, tell them at them at the outset - rather than giving them a nasty surprise part way through the conveyancing process - which might cause them to walk away. (And wasting everyone's time and money.)


Alternatively, if you think it will make your house more appealing to some people - again, tell them at the outset. Then they might choose your house instead of another house without a panic room.

Martico

I presume that if you had a panic room, it's something you'd rather wasn't public knowledge. So there's a bit of a dilemma there. I get it, it's an interesting point, but I have no experience or answers

silvercar

I’d keep quiet unless asked. If a buyer considers it important they would ask. My sellers didn’t tell us about the hidden safe until the week before completion.

user1977

If they don't get shown it while viewing (I've no idea whether it's common to keep such things stumm during viewings...isn't it a potential selling point?) then I don't see any requirement to bring it up later. Unless it's an alteration which would have required consents.

Devongardener

Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

silvercar

Devongardener said:

Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

I was imagining it hidden behind a bookcase or similar.

HampshireH

Devongardener said:

Surely it would be shown on the agents floor plan and be included in the total overall property square metre measurement, and also be apparent during viewings.

Anyone could go and do a viewing to scout out the place prior to robbing it. Im not sure I'd be showing it off on a viewing or floorplan that stays online for ever.

(BUT op is it already on a previous floorplan on rightmost for example as they do hold old sale info)

Think I'd be more inclined to disclose once an offer is in or things have started moving. Then disclose if asked.

gwynlas

If the EA believes it to be a selling point they can let potential purchasers know. otherwise it can just be regarded as a storage room unless it is obviously set up with video surveillance, its own air supply etc  etc like a film set.

ProDave

Stop calling it a "panic room"  Call it a store room or safe room and all your concerns will go away.

I would be worried just what sort of neigbourhood I was moving to if the house needed a "panic room"

Or a historic Priest Hole?