Anyone Explain This

[johnny37]

My house is for sale and there is a board at front. We have some interest and one couple have been round three times. I did not pay much attention until today. They went round with a tape measure taking very small, i would say irrelevant, measurements. After taking some notes they would get their heads together and appear to be having having meaningful private conversations. All of this was done very quitely. Trip round the garden was the same. they then proceeded to ask us some technical questions, eg has the house been rewired, what is the condition of the roof, etc. I then stated to get irritated, saying your survey should reveal this. He then said one more thing, have you got anything to ask us? I then said that is enough, and they left quickly without comment..

We were baffled. Anyone heard of this technique? What were they playing at? All of this was done in a very quiet manner.

[Canary42]

Sounds fairly innocent to me - and why should they pay for answers (with a survey) when you could, if so inclined, provide them free if you really want to sell. But I'm afraid you've probably put off one of your best bets for a sale.

Yes, I know it can be irritating constantly showing people round and answering lots of questions, but that's the way to get a sale.

[sanmac]

When he gave you the opportunity to ask him a question, why didn't you ask what they were doing?

[ladybirder]

I don't think they were playing at anything. If they have been round three time and taking measurements it sounds as if they are interested in buying. Asking about rewiring and state of the roof are perfectly valid questions to ask. I don't understand why you were rude to them.

[pastafreak]

I'm baffled as to why you are irritated by their questions. They *are* showing an interest, after all.

[ToraToraTora]

they were most likely cash buyers not intending to have a survey so they asked you what they wanted to know. Why did you get irritated? I reckon you've probably lost a very good potential sale. Can you give us an example of the "small irrelevant" measurements?

[Maydup]

maybe the quietness was simply their nature, as was the level of detail they wanted before they make an offer.

[Peter Pedant]

when I bought in plymouth 1980
I asked about rates as they then were and heating and light bills
and got the same eye rolling treatment and humphing and I thought he was gonna say - 'why you want to know dat den?'
and I thought - 'well it is obvious I want to know how much roughly it costs to run the house'
I mean you know he could have cut the eye-rolling and just said £50 a monf

and bought -

another time, I asked the agent where the garden ended and the common ground began and she gaily answered,
'oh we dont do anything like that sort of thing!'
and went on "You make an offer yeah? and den you discuss it wivda lawyer doing da conveyance...." wivva a tinkly laugh as tho no one asked questions like dat.

and I said - I make an offer not knowing what I am buying?
and she tinkled a bit more
and I didnt buy

it is a big deal for a lot of people

[Peter Pedant]

I suppose - have you got anything to ask
and you were meant to say - yeah are you gonna make an offer?

I have been asked to take it off the market and then sell privately a bit later .... I said no

[tonyav]

How old is the house that your selling, jonny ?

Our present house which we bought has cash buyers 10 years ago is 140 years old, although the house had had a major refurb 2 years before we bought it we still had a survey done on it.

[EDDIE51]

I don't see a problem. Buying a house is the most important purchase most of us ever make. You can hardly blame them for wanting to get all the information possible.