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Is it reasonable to refuse buyers access?

Offer accepted 7 weeks ago with another 4 or 5 to go before exchange.

On top of the viewings the buyers had we have given a morning for a private full structural, time for their bank valuation and for a heating engineer to check the boiler.

Now they have asked for access for "a couple of builders" to visit.

It is our main house that we very much still live in and are in the process of boxing up so it is upside down with lots of fragile and personal items on display ready to be packed.

Is it reasonable to allow access only once exchanged has occured?

Any suggestions of the best way to approach this?
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Comments

  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842
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    How committed do you think the buyers are?
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • Alter_ego wrote: »
    How committed do you think the buyers are?



    .......and how much do you want to sell your house?
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,262
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    crisp wrote: »
    Offer accepted 7 weeks ago with another 4 or 5 to go before exchange.
    There is no such thing as X until exchange. You cannot predict when it will happen with any certainty.
    crisp wrote: »
    Is it reasonable to allow access only once exchanged has occured?
    No. They presumably wish to make further investigation of things raised in the survey which is perfectly reasonable. If they were just measuring for curtains or something then fair to make them wait.
    crisp wrote: »
    Any suggestions of the best way to approach this?

    Give them access, perhaps with the caveat that it is "last chance saloon".
  • crisp
    crisp Posts: 435 Forumite
    anselld wrote: »
    There is no such thing as X until exchange. You cannot predict when it will happen with any certainty.


    No. They presumably wish to make further investigation of things raised in the survey which is perfectly reasonable. If they were just measuring for curtains or something then fair to make them wait.



    Give them access, perhaps with the caveat that it is "last chance saloon".

    The full survey was 4-weeks ago so I will ask the EA for more details why the builders are required.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,551
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    crisp wrote: »
    The full survey was 4-weeks ago so I will ask the EA for more details why the builders are required.

    The couple who bought my Dad’s house asked for visits with builders so that they could get estimates for work they were planning.

    It meant they could choose which firm to go with and get the work booked in.
  • Wassa123
    Wassa123 Posts: 393 Forumite
    They probably want to check things in the survey with a specialist which is what the survey recommends.

    Refusing access would suggest you have thingd to hide and if it were me, I would drop out if I wasn!!!8217;t allowed to check things.
  • csgohan4
    csgohan4 Posts: 10,587
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    Our vendor was happy to provide access, including builder's, because the lead time for them was easily 1-3 months so best to get in early so things are up and running as soon as completion takes place.


    At the end of the day, how happy would you be to lose your buyer for some extra days peace, is it really worth it? Do you have something to hide? Your not going to stay there any longer, why delay things?


    you can try and get these appointments as close to each other as possible.


    Your packing is of no concern to others, they are yours and if they break it, they should pay for it, but are you afraid people will see your toys?
    "It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"

    G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977
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    Be glad that your buyers seem commited.

    Start being negative and uncooperative and they mght change their attitude and pull out.
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
    edited 22 April 2018 at 6:57AM
    It does sound like they've taken a noticeable amount of time out of Your Life already - three visits (one of them a morning's worth).

    Personally - after the two standard viewings per viewer, then I ask myself whether I can spare extra time out of My Life for any subsequent viewings.

    My answer would probably depend to some extent on how busy I was and they'd probably get an answer back like: "I'm busy Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday, etc, etc - so I can make Friday morning 10-11 OR 11-12 available during the coming week. Otherwise we're onto the following week, where I am busy x/y/z and can make that day available from 2-3pm".

    If they want an extra viewing - they'll make sure they are available at times to suit you (now that you've given up expected time for the standard two viewings).

    That is being perfectly co-operative and telling them what spare timeslots you have available in Your Life. If they find themselves too busy to come at a time when you can make yourself available without disrupting your life - then that tells you something...
  • need_an_answer
    need_an_answer Posts: 2,812
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    I would suggest that you agree to the visits but suggest that they are done at a time specified by yourself rather than the purchaser.

    If for example they want to arrange builder quotes or someone to visit to look at anything maybe you could set aside one morning or evening in a 2 hour timeslot where you say access will be allowed for them to visit.
    A little like an open house/doors policy which will seem potentially intrusive at the time but it gets it all over with in one go.
    If you also make it clear that you would be arranging this as a one off occurrence to cover all queries the buyer has until completion that should give them the security that you are not trying to be evasive or unaccommodating and also you peace of mind that they are not going to be arranging for every builder or tradesman to visit adhoc until you complete the sale.
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