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buying a house - re-view before completion?

Hi,

We have had an offer accepted on a house near where we are renting. Solicitors have been hired and work is underway to exchange asap. In the "fittings and contents form" sent by the vendor's solicitor to ours and then to us, we noticed a couple of issues with appliances in the kitchen that we were not made aware of during the viewings. I emailed the agents about these and he called back to say that they had already been fixed. I was pleasantly surprised. He also said that he was calling me because their email was down for sending stuff, but it was working ok for reading emails (he'd just read ours). I thought nothing of this at the time and then wondered "hang on, is this a fib because he doesn't want to put in writing that the issues have been fixed?". Am I being paranoid here? It's too late on a Friday night to call now but has anyone ever heard of being able to read emails but not send them?

At any rate, we were wondering whether it was common practice to have a final look at a property to make sure everything was ok with it before completing. Any advice would be appreciated.

Glider26

Comments

  • cte1111
    cte1111 Posts: 7,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Not sure about common practice, but if it is worrying you then why not ask for another viewing?

    Personally I wouldn't trust most estate agents as far as I could throw them (sure there are some lovely honest ones out there so apologies to them). If the fittings and contents form says there are issues, then I would expect the house to come with those issues. If you are not happy then you need to negotiate a lower price before exchange.
  • PPPingu
    PPPingu Posts: 104 Forumite
    hi there, it could be that they can read mails on phone / blackberry, but don't feel it is appropriate to reply from their phones?
    I can definitely see how you could feel a little uncomfortable in that situation.
  • cte1111
    cte1111 Posts: 7,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I would add, with any issues like this, it's best to let your solicitor contact the vendor's solicitor rather than talking to the agent. Then you know it is all being properly recorded (well hopefully) and resolved through the correct route.
  • BakerBoy
    BakerBoy Posts: 186 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Definitely ask for another viewing to inspect. You're in the process of spending the biggest fortune of you life on this property, there is no reason why you shouldn't be in there EVERY DAY inspecting, surveying, measuring up, dreaming.

    Tell the agent that you are spending £XXX,XXX with them, and regardless of thier margin on the transaction you want access!! I spent an hour at a property on Wednesday measuring, pulling up carpets and generally looking like a dweeb inspecting every inch of the boundary and frankly I didn't care.
  • glider26
    glider26 Posts: 14 Forumite
    edited 19 March 2011 at 9:17AM
    Thanks. How about this: I'll email the agent, thank him for his confirmation that all is well and I'll request a viewing before completion to make sure that all the issues have been dealt with. I don't think it will sound too awkward as the vendors are removing a lot of fittings like curtain rails, TV stand, etc and I need to check they have patched up any holes. I'll also tell the agent that I'm getting in touch with our solicitir to remove the two issues from the paperwork. How about that for a plan?
  • Blacksheep1979
    Blacksheep1979 Posts: 4,224 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    email them from another account (open a random hotmail/gmail one) about a random property and see if they reply.
  • spannerzone
    spannerzone Posts: 1,567 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    email them from another account (open a random hotmail/gmail one) about a random property and see if they reply.

    Sneeky and excellent idea!

    Never trust information given by strangers on internet forums
  • spannerzone
    spannerzone Posts: 1,567 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'd certainly go for another viewing regardless.... you never know what sneeky things sellers do like taking all the bits and bobs you'd assume any sane person would leave behind!

    Never trust information given by strangers on internet forums
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