Estate Agent Wont Let Me View Properties Until My Existing Home is Under Offer

TheJP

Murphybear said:

Sarahspangles said:

I knew an older couple who viewed houses as a hobby, to the point they were black listed by some estate agents!

I must admit I have viewed a few properties in the past that were just for fun.  

This is now the reason people only want to let those view who are proceedable. It was fun for you but inconvenient to the owner.

pjs493

I’m currently selling a property as the executor of an estate so the property is currently empty and the estate agent has a key. There have been quite a lot of viewings. 

A few people have expressed interest and indicated what kind of offer they would make, but the agent has made it clear that they won’t accept offers to put forward to me officially until people are proceedable. One viewer hadn’t even listed their house on the market yet. Comparatively, a first time buyer did three viewings before deciding to put an offer in elsewhere. 

I do think it’s a bit of a waste of time showing people around if they’re not in a position to put in an offer, but as I don’t need to be there it doesn’t really bother me. If I was selling a property I was residing in, I wouldn’t want a revolving door of people in my home, I’d want to ensure they were in a position to buy if they liked what they saw. 

When I viewed houses earlier this year before putting in an offer on one, some agents asked to see proof of funds before they’d let me view. 

mlz1413

RHemmings said:

mlz1413 said:

This assumes all chains have to start with a 1st time buyer and slowly add each house to the chain, in sequence. 

Some chains may start with someone who isn't a FTB. People may sell and go into rented. People may return from overseas. People might be able to afford to buy without selling their own house first. People may be buying a second property to rent out, use as a holiday home, or gift to family. 

I know and agree, I was commenting on the OPs post.

My chain was top down, agreed a sale to a family that weren't on the market.   They offered full asking for 6 weeks grace period, we discussed with the EA and decided it was genuine and worth the wait for us.

It also gave me the chance to view as I had a property with an offer, inline with what the OP is finding.

My sale went through smoothly. My purchase on the other hand was a frustrating and painfully slow process that took two months longer than the sale.

Silvertabby

We asked to view a couple of 4 bed detacheds some years ago.  When the estate agent asked if we had sold our own home we either told him that we were in RAF married quarters or were first time buyers.  Honestly can't remember which but, either way, we were ready to rock and roll.

Estate agent then said that both vendors were away on holiday, but that he would ring us to arrange viewings.  Never heard a dicky bird from him.  Did wonder if he thought that we were time wasters, because 'first time buyers don't buy 4 beds'......

MysteryMe

If a prospective purchaser had their own property on the market I would be allow viewings, even if not under offer. They only need one buyer and they might come forward the next day so why not.  I would not accept any offers unless they were proceedable though.

I guess it's slightly different if it's an open house but if someone books a viewing just to be nosey and no intention to buy, they really need to re assess their life choices. 

BonaDea

In my view it's very inconsiderate to view a property unless you genuinely think you might want to make an offer on it.  Before each viewing of mine I spent about 90 minutes cleaning and tidying and staging.  I'd have been pretty cross to discover that all that work had been done merely for frivolous viewers.

youth_leader

I agree with @BonaDea that the preparation for a viewing is time consuming.  I used to have to hide all pet stuff (cat litter tray went in the boot of my car, food bowls away, sheltie dog in the car) and light the open fires during autumn/winter.  I actually stopped cooking lunches in the end in case the house smelled of food, it got ridiculous.

Then I had the viewer who saw the electric radiator and said 'I see the heating doesn't work'  - we were a 264 sq m listed building in an exposed position with draughty single glazing and stripped floorboards.   He'd obviously not experienced jack frost inside the windows of his house for many years!

onemouseplace

We had no problems viewing when we had our place on the market but before we had an offer - I think we definitely came across as serious buyers though.

We were then interested in two properties whilst we were waiting for an offer to come in on ours - one went and then the other actually came back on the market as a previous offer had fallen through and it all fell into place.