Time wasting househunters

Depends how quickly you want to sell. Myself we didn’t allow any viewings unless our agent could confirm the
viewers had a definite offer on their property.
Also first time buyers are not always ideal - ours turned out to be the buyers from hell.

There was a thread on mumsnet recently about someone being annoyed by the estate agents vigorous quizzing to them as prospective buyers. But obviously a good tactic by the sellers to avoid timewasters x

I saw that Penelopebee, it seems the vendors had too many viewers who hadn't read the particulars and making the same old same old comments.

I sold my railway station last year and so many people asked 'what times are the trains' I got some timetables to hand them I was so used to the trains I had no idea of 'times' and the question really irritated me in the end. The house was a railway station and very clearly advertised as being on a live line. So very glad it sold!

A bit off topic - fairly recently (pre-covid) when we were looking to buy a property we encountered the vendor from hell. The estate agent accompanied us to the viewing as the vendor was away that weekend. We liked it enough to put in a very decent offer but unfortunately the agent was unable to get hold of the vendor to inform them. Several days passed before our offer was accepted by the vendor - however the agent suggested we should meet up with the vendor to " have a chat". It quickly became clear that the vendor didn't really want to sell when she informed us that on the day we viewed the house she saw that the agent was trying to contact her on her mobile but that she "couldn't be bothered to answer her phone". Several weeks passed with the vendor making more and more conditions of sale until we felt unable to continue and withdrew from the purchase. We had no regrets as shortly afterwards we found a house we love in an area we much prefer. The reluctant vendor still hasn't moved.

We came across a very awkward vendor when we were house hunting. We made an offer and got a phone call from the EA to say that the vendor hadn’t even started a property search. He was intending to move to Cornwall and told the EA he was leaving the following day for a 2 week visit to view properties and make sure he could afford to buy in the area. He refused to accept our offer until he had secured his own purchase and refused to even consider to move into rented accommodation to allow the sale to proceed. We pulled out. Interested to note that his property was still on the market months later while others were selling fast. Not just buyers who are time wasters.

I could write a book on awkward vendors. Still not moved in, probate granted, house empty and vendors still don't want to sell, not returning calls or emails. Various swear words .... .... .... ....

Shandy57

I saw that Penelopebee, it seems the vendors had too many viewers who hadn't read the particulars and making the same old same old comments.

I sold my railway station last year and so many people asked 'what times are the trains' I got some timetables to hand them I was so used to the trains I had no idea of 'times' and the question really irritated me in the end. The house was a railway station and very clearly advertised as being on a live line. So very glad it sold!

Shandy - do tell. How did you get to live in a 'live' railway station? I've seen old stations converted into houses but that's usually where the railway line is no longer used. I'm intrigued!

Sorry NotTooOld, I've given the wrong impression. The station was closed in 1958 to passengers, 1962 to cattle and goods. The house was left derelict for ten years and then sold as private residential, but the East Coast Main line was still serviced by the Alnmouth station up the road.

Hang on in there @kissngate, I'm sure the price has risen yet again now the BofE haven't increased the interest rate. Fingers crossed for you.