House buyers family and friends

I really did not think this happened any more. About 35 years ago, the house next door was up for sale and the estate agents released keys out to viewers. The keys got copied and the house was emptied by people posing as a removal company.
I am amazed that estate agents release keys still.

I would have been absolutely furious and asked everyone to leave.
Taking over your home with family members when it was a strictly time allotted appointment for measuring only is a definite no no.
The agent should have been there, a very strong letter I think is in order to the agent with consideration of reducing the agents fee.
Unbelievable.

When we were buying this house, i arranged a visit to measure up via the estate agent, who accompanied me to the property, but the owner said he needn’t to stay. She actually helped me with the measuring and we had a friendly chat.
There is no way potential buyers should be given a key before completion.
In a previous property we were selling, we had moved out into temporary rented property in a new area. Our former neighbours rang us to let us know that our buyers had been given a key and had actually started decorating! Totally out of order. We gave the agents a rocket, and our solicitor ordered the buyers to keep out until completion. At least that house was empty, but yours is full of your possessions, Vintagejazz.

Do hope your sale goes through without problems. Surely, measuring up really only takes place right towards end of selling process, when idea of moving date is in sight.

Bad practice by EA. When I moved to this flat three years back, I asked to have a quick visit to measure up three weeks prior to what actually became the moving date. I also needed to be able to make a 'map' for my daughter who was going to be the person who got the keys and let in the removal firm whilst I was still driving down here.

The flat was virtually empty, just last few bits of furniture as the previous owners had died, yet the EA came and sat in the flat whilst daughter and myself did all that measuring/mapping, etc. as I expected.

Recently, as Secretary to the Management Company, I let someone doing a quote for carpet cleaning into an empty flat soon going on the market. (The current probate owner live a long way away). Would not have dreamt of just giving this company the key - I opened up, sat in there whilst they measured, etc. and locked up when they left.

Yes it's off the market. We're just hoping the sale will go through smoothly.

Has your house been taken off the market following the offer from this cheeky couple?
I’m afraid, for me, warning bells would be ringing after their recent behaviour.
If they had the cheek to bring their extended family to poke around your home unaccompanied, then what other dodgy tricks could they pull in the months ahead before completion?
Unfortunately experience over the years has taught us how unreliable buyers can be.

Oh that is most definitely out of order, I would be making a hell of a fuss about it.

How in anyones world can that in any way be acceptable?

Yes everything's still here. Talk about give an inch....
Anyhow they will not be crossing the door again until the sale is final.

I don’t think I would be happy with strangers wandering around my home unaccompanied by the estate agent. It’s still your home, they could have been up to all sorts. I hope everything is still there…

The woman who bought our last house wanted the key before completion. Her solicitor was very pushy.
We refused.

AIBU to do this next time?

No you are not being at all unreasonable.
They are really pushing the boundaries.

If they ask again, insist that only the buyers are allowed access accompanied by the Estate Agent and don't allow them in until after contracts have been exchanged. If at all.

All your possessions are still in the house, it is still your home until completion when their money is in your account.

I can't believe that they had access to your property unaccompanied. Suppose something went missing? The agents are laying themselves wide open. I would never have agreed, but as others have said lessons learnt.

This is totally unacceptable that anyone at all was given your key and allowed to let themselves into your house unaccompanied, whether that's buyer or family/friends.

They could have got your key copied or stolen your property.

Absolute cheek and what a risk as others have said. The agent needs to know this was not acceptable although on rereading your post it looks like you agreed it.
Another lesson learned and hopefully noted by others.

TerriT

The agent should not have given your key out. Unbelievable. I used to run an estate agency and cannot believe the casual attitude this agent has to their clients property. I advise an e mail to head office telling them what has taken place. All very well for this office person to say sorry thought only mum was going along, obviously doesn’t understand the law. She needs to have it explained that they could have taken over your house and refused to leave. For any doubters I suggest you look it up.

those were my thoughts exactly... quite a risk

The agent should not have given your key out. Unbelievable. I used to run an estate agency and cannot believe the casual attitude this agent has to their clients property. I advise an e mail to head office telling them what has taken place. All very well for this office person to say sorry thought only mum was going along, obviously doesn’t understand the law. She needs to have it explained that they could have taken over your house and refused to leave. For any doubters I suggest you look it up.

Blimey, what a cheek.

The Estate Agent should definitely have accompanied your prospective buyers.

I have called the agent to complain. She sounded shocked and said the wife had asked if her mother could come to help measure up. She had okayed that but didn't agree to anyone else coming along.
I said I'd rather they didn't come again until the sale has gone through and she has agreed.

No you are definitely not unreasonable. I am shocked the agent wasn’t with them and am pretty sure that’s against their code. Ridiculous though it sounds these people could have moved in as you invited them in and refused to go! That is why they should not have been in your home without you or the agent present. Go back to the manager of that agent and complain loudly.

I would have said something directly to them! House purchasers can be an arraogant bunch.

Many years ago when I was renting and the landlord decided to sell I was foolish enough to allow prospective purchasers to view the house in the last few weeks. I wont go into detail but one man was rude and disrespectful and I ended up ordering them out of the house. I heard the estate agent apologise to THEM rather than to me.

Next day I rang and complained and said I wanted a 30% rent reduction to allow any more viewings. The agent refused so there were no more viewings. I had already got another property to move into so did not need a reference. There were no smart phones back then but whenever I saw their number on the phone I didnt answer.

They really shouldn’t have been allowed in to measure up until you had exchanged. I also wouldn’t let them back in.

Thanks. I wasn't sure if I was overreacting. Hopefully they've done their measuring now and won't ask for access again. But I'm going to complain to the estate agent.

When I sold the agent accompanied the buyers when they came to measure up even though I was at home (I stayed out of the way in the conservatory!) This was a failure by the agent.

I would not let them in again. And I would be letting the estate agent know.

No you are not being unreasonable, what a cheek!