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I find this quite thought provoking. Taking the matter of the bulbs, the buyer viewed the property less than a week ago and probably saw the snowdrops in flower in the garden border. I've already taken a large clump of the plants for my own garden, but my sister-in-law now regrets that she didn't take some too. If we have free access to the property until the completion date though, I'm failing to understand why I have to ask permission of the buyer to remove some of the snowdrops. How does paying 10% of the selling price allow him to grant or deny me permission to do so?
The house belonged to my father-in-law so obviously we have detailed knowledge of it. We called on him daily and towards the end of his life, he lived with us. We provided meter reading to the gas and electricity company this morning, so I can now understand why they thought this unconventional. Still, there'll be no further consumption there.
Should the new buyers wish to go in to measure up for curtains, blinds etc we have no objection. However until completion, I assume they'd have to accompanied. Obviously we wouldn't want them to have a free-hand between now and that date - I don't want to go up there to find they've demolished the kitchen or something similar before the completion date!