Seller declining viewings

[borrowdale]

I wasn't really looking to move, but we spotted a house on Rightmove that really appealed. On since at least November last year, two agents' listings, premium listing and featured property, recently reduced twice by 50K each time.... i.e. all the hallmarks of a degree of urgency,

I called one of the agents to arrange a viewing, but the seller has given strict instructions that only people with a house on the market and a buyer lined up can view!

Is that a normal thing to do?

[Red9zero]

Lots of people were requesting that when we were buying a few years ago. Just filtering out time wasters I guess.

Edited by Red9zero on Monday 13th March 19:23

[Unreal]

borrowdale said:

I wasn't really looking to move, but we spotted a house on Rightmove that really appealed. On since at least November last year, two agents' listings, premium listing and featured property, recently reduced twice by 50K each time.... i.e. all the hallmarks of a degree of urgency,

I called one of the agents to arrange a viewing, but the seller has given strict instructions that only people with a house on the market and a buyer lined up can view!

Is that a normal thing to do?

Yes. More so in a seller's market but not unusual at any time.

[Mr Squarekins]

borrowdale said:

I wasn't really looking to move, but we spotted a house on Rightmove that really appealed. On since at least November last year, two agents' listings, premium listing and featured property, recently reduced twice by 50K each time.... i.e. all the hallmarks of a degree of urgency,

I called one of the agents to arrange a viewing, but the seller has given strict instructions that only people with a house on the market and a buyer lined up can view!

Is that a normal thing to do?

'I'm a no chain buyer, hello!'

[Louis Balfour]

borrowdale said:

I wasn't really looking to move, but we spotted a house on Rightmove that really appealed. On since at least November last year, two agents' listings, premium listing and featured property, recently reduced twice by 50K each time.... i.e. all the hallmarks of a degree of urgency,

I called one of the agents to arrange a viewing, but the seller has given strict instructions that only people with a house on the market and a buyer lined up can view!

Is that a normal thing to do?

Yes.

It cuts down window shoppers.

[gfreeman]

Your first sentence says it all…

[borrowdale]

gfreeman said:

Your first sentence says it all…

I can see that. But there's a difference between "I want to move house" and "I found a house that I like so I'm moving".

[Andeh1]

If your serious, get your house on the market within the next couple of weeks (entirely doable) and re-request. 4

[borrowdale]

Mr Squarekins said:

'I'm a no chain buyer, hello!'

I said we could potentially buy without selling, but the offer would be lower to cover the cost of the finance. Still a no as the number was too low.

Apparently the sellers need to move quickly as they're no longer able to afford the mortgage payments since the interest rates have gone up.

[vaud]

borrowdale said:

I said we could potentially buy without selling, but the offer would be lower to cover the cost of the finance.

Apparently the sellers need to move quickly as they're no longer able to afford the mortgage payments since the interest rates have gone up.

Then show the agent that you are serious by going to the office and explaining the situation in person?

[Unreal]

borrowdale said:

gfreeman said:

Your first sentence says it all…

I can see that. But there's a difference between "I want to move house" and "I found a house that I like so I'm moving".

Look at it from the seller's perspective. Most attractive is a true cash purchaser. You are the least attractive option and there is nothing to differentiate you from a nosey git.

[Jeremy-75qq8]

I am selling a house at present.

We have had several cash buyers. It is cash they just have a house to sell.

Some people are really quite odd

[Unreal]

vaud said:

borrowdale said:

I said we could potentially buy without selling, but the offer would be lower to cover the cost of the finance.

Apparently the sellers need to move quickly as they're no longer able to afford the mortgage payments since the interest rates have gone up.

Then show the agent that you are serious by going to the office and explaining the situation in person?

And providing the proof of funds/finance in writing.

What do you need to see that you can't see from the details or by asking the agent that would persuade you to at least put your house on the market?

[Louis Balfour]

borrowdale said:

gfreeman said:

Your first sentence says it all…

I can see that. But there's a difference between "I want to move house" and "I found a house that I like so I'm moving".

When we bought this place, we had two houses to sell and neither was on the market. But that was in 2004 and raising finance in tricky situations was very much easier, as was selling houses and being confident that the buyers would be able to raise a mortgage. We got two houses sold in three weeks and completed the purchase in about five.

In the current climate, if I were a motivated seller, I would not want to hear from anyone who hadn't got a sale agreed on their current place.

You could of course demonstrate that you don't need to sell in order to buy. For example if you've enough on deposit that you could raise temporary finance to buy. Or better still buy all cash.

[Sheepshanks]

It seemed to be pretty common, perhaps even standard, as the post-Covid bubble raged, it's a bit odd now though, particularly as they need to sell.

Having said that, we looked at a few without having our house on the market - I told estate agents we were chain free, which is not a lie, but owning two houses isn't a situation I'd be keen to get in to.

Also got quite far along negotiating for a probate sale house directly with the family but walked away as we were too far apart, and my wife wasn;t as keen on the place as I was. It eventually sold by modern auction for quite a lot less than we were dancing around.

[OutInTheShed]

borrowdale said:

I said we could potentially buy without selling, but the offer would be lower to cover the cost of the finance. Still a no as the number was too low.

Apparently the sellers need to move quickly as they're no longer able to afford the mortgage payments since the interest rates have gone up.

Maybe make them believe you are serious about buying without selling?

People don't want to get into chains which may collapse.


There are people out there who have an absolute bottom limit on what they will take for their house, because they'd rather be in negative equity on paper than stone cold bankrupt.

[pacenotes]

More than likely this is the estate agent and not the seller.

They still think they can sell a house in a week like 2 years ago.

[Dog Star]

We had this a few weeks ago - agent wouldn’t let us view, quite snotty.

A friend knows the owners and arranged us a direct viewing.

We are putting in an offer tomorrow. (Our house went up last week)

I don’t think we should involve the agency personally.

[eliot]

Dog Star said:

I don’t think we should involve the agency personally.

Vendor will still need to pay commission to the EA.

[Bluesgirl]

Not if the EA didn’t introduce the buyer.