House buying today.

Never heard of that before.
Perhaps the EA are conducting some research on the saleability of properties, on their books.

Perhaps the seller is someone who loves their house and wants to find a couple who will love it too!

The owner has gone into residential care and her D is selling on her behalf.
The house has been beautifully maintained and well loved, it is still fully furnished and even her clothes are still in the wardrobes.
Loved but quite old fashioned with knickknacks and dried flower arrangements on every surface.

It might be that the lady selling the house, or her mother, want to make sure the house goes to somebody who will love it too, rather than to a landlord, which all sellers have the right to do? I don’t think your granddaughter and fiancé have anything to fear, they just need to explain it will be their first home, and they will be living there, and why they love it?

I've never heard of that, but there are houses around me that are advertised as being for sale only to people who are going to live in them (ie not Air B&Bs or holiday homes). Maybe it's something on those lines?

Good grief! Never! DD currently buying her first home, nothing of this nature in their buying experience. Is it a listed building or in a conservation area or a building of historical significance? If no, I’d ask why this is needed!

DS purchased his first house two years ago, opposite end of the country to DD and was not asked for this either!

I can understand the question being asked (possibly) but to submit something in writing?? No way would I do that!

I have never heard of this either, we have bought in the last 8 years , but I would answer won't the lines
"That they are a young couple starting out and a looking for a home that they can put their love into by making it somewhere they can update together"
That is keeping it general as I am sure the seller's don't expect the buyers to keep exactly the same but would also like them to appreciate the home it can be.

Having bought and sold a lot of properties this is the red flag moment.
From experience it will only get worse.
The couple need a clear and honest answer as to why the vendor wants this explanation.

It does happen, it is usually because the vendor would rather it be a family home for a deserving couple rather than a buy to let or a builder making a big profit.

I think your GD and partner are perfect buyers.

They should tell the vendor how much they love the home, how happy it feels and how they can see their future there.

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

petra

Having bought and sold a lot of properties this is the red flag moment.
From experience it will only get worse.
The couple need a clear and honest answer as to why the vendor wants this explanation.

I think I agree.

And I have just been through the whole process with someone.

I would be a bit wary that clothes etc are still in the house.
I would have thought it normal that they would already be gone.

There's nothing unusual about clothes in wardrobes surely?
My clothes were in the wardrobes when I recently sold my property.. As were the clothes of the owners of the property which I viewed and ultimately purchased.
Prior to buying my current house I viewed the property of a deceased lady. Her daughter was selling the house. The mother's possessions, including clothes were in the property at the time I viewed it.
I'm sure the clothes and personal effects would have been removed prior to the sale.

I understand that in the US it’s fairly common, with the sellers liking to know who the property goes to.
Personally, the less I knew about the buyers, the happier I was.

It is perfectly normal not to be able to view without a mortgage in principle. Some EEs won't show people around until their house is sold, or under offer.

There are a lot of time wasters out there. My sister's house was for sale a while ago, and she had a lot of people looking around as part of a day out, as she lives in an area of natural beauty. some even knocked on the door without an appointment and asked to look around 'while we're in the area'.

Sago

It does happen, it is usually because the vendor would rather it be a family home for a deserving couple rather than a buy to let or a builder making a big profit.

I think your GD and partner are perfect buyers.

They should tell the vendor how much they love the home, how happy it feels and how they can see their future there.

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

I agree. I've heard it happen .... sometimes when several prospective purchasers are involved, and make close offers. The vendor wants to reach a decision based on feel for the buyers.

Re the house still being furnished and full of personal effects, I have friends who bought just such a house and it was months and months before the seller moved all his mother’s stuff out and they could move in. I would stipulate that they want it completely cleared either by the date of completion or at an agreed date of their choice. Otherwise, it can just drag on and on.

“They have just texted me to say they have been asked to submit a summary of why they would like to buy that house”…………….Because we want somewhere to live would be my first comment!

I purchased a house recently and didn’t have to answer anything like that…….just needed to prove that I had the capital for a cash purchase and origin of the money.

I know exactly why this uestion has been asked. As others have said, the current owners would rather sell it for a slightly lower price to a couple who will be doing what they did, building a home there where they will stay for some time. The house is obviously much loved.

However I am not sure that any house seller can rely on what a potential house buyer says. When selling a family house I didn't ask the buyers anything, but the estate agent said it was two sisters in their 50s looking to live together in retirement.

When the sale went through we discoveed they were actually small time property investors and had no intention of moving into the property, but wanted to divide it into 2 seperate dwellings (which they did) and sell the garden off as a building plot - that didn't work as the application was turned down on grounds of over development. Next door bought it to extend their garden

So seller beware.

Never heard of such a thing being needed in writing, when we sold my Dads house (which we'd completely cleared before putting it on the market) the estate agent had some idea about most of the people who viewed and offered on it. First time buyers or buy to let etc.
My son bought a house last year and was not asked to write anything like this.
I would be wary too, they could be waiting around for things to happen.

I’ve never heard of it either, but could it be something to do with the very low offer your GD has made?