House buying today.

But when?

Why has it not been done already?

And the biggest issue of all, and especially in light of the request of a reason to buy as well, does the daughter really want to sell. In her heart of hearts.

4th I suppose - why has she dragged her heels thus far in emptying the house/getting it ready for sale. Properly ready.
Though there may be excellent reasons for doing that,

fancythat so what is the problem with the owner being in a home?
The person responsible for selling the house will empty the property as required by law.

butterandjam

fancythat

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.

whenever I've sold houses they were still full of our stuff becaise we lived in it. Every house I've bought , the same, including the present one whose owner had died. Her executor hoped we might buy some of the furniture to simplify clearance.

I employ a competent solicitor to hand the buy or sell conveyance and the missives invariably include conditions about vacant possession etc and the consequences/penalties for failure. This is standard procedure.

The owner has gone into a home.

As petra said earlier on, red flag.

The op's GD may be ok. She may not.

My DD had to do this when they were househunting ten years ago, so it isn't new.

They didn't get the house but found one soon after just up the road. They didn't have to write a letter for that one and are still living there.

They live in the south west of England where the property market is very different to how it is here.

fancythat

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.

whenever I've sold houses they were still full of our stuff becaise we lived in it. Every house I've bought , the same, including the present one whose owner had died. Her executor hoped we might buy some of the furniture to simplify clearance.

I employ a competent solicitor to hand the buy or sell conveyance and the missives invariably include conditions about vacant possession etc and the consequences/penalties for failure. This is standard procedure.

In Scotland, some property sales are bound by terms and conditions which prospective buyers must match.

Bottom line is, the seller calls the tune. Keen buyers do as asked.

Is this maybe in Scotland or Ireland?

Moth62

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.

Yes!

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 agree

'I need a house and I'm willing to buy yours'.

😁 That's all that needs to be said!

Astitchintime

“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.

Agreed, perhaps 'I need a house and I'm willing to buy yours'.

Ludicrous question.

Moth62

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.

Vacant possession means just that. If the sale has been completed, the buyers can move in on that day. They can then issue a written notice giving the vendors a deadline by which to collect their items. If they do not, you can charge them storage or otherwise dispose of them.

There have been several instances of people on the Antiques Road Show who found fairly valuable items in the attics of houses they bought!

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

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 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.

“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.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

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.