Allowing Buyer Access To Your Home Before Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

I don’t understand who benefits from this “scam.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We actually moved boxes in before closing. Of course if it is lawyers the good will won't be there.

I would NEVER allow this. Ever. There are many reasons to not let someone begin to move in before closing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to close the door and keep it shut until the deal closes. They are bullying you and far over the line. I have said this before, but once we sold a house that we did not live in, and came over to check it. The buyers were standing on the roof. They said it was "their" house. I said , not your house, vacate the property, I would call the police if they came again (our liability, their stupidity) It was a hot market like this one. I did not care if they walked. It was too late by then anyway. I was advised by a very competent agent. DO NOT let buyers into your home until the closing, except by the rights they have in the contract. They have plenty of time after the purchase.

I agree. My buyers took the key out of the lockbox and made a copy of it after their first visit. We had moved out but only lived a few miles away. We came to our house twice to find them in our house before they had submitted an offer. The electronic lock box records who enters and they by passed it. Our agent just wanted to sell the house asap and did nothing. We found ways to barricade the doors so they couldn't get in after that. Their agent was slimy. We refused to give anything from the inspection etc. There are a lot of asshats out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

I don’t understand who benefits from this “scam.”

The buyers. How are you understanding this?
It’s a hot market and they know they need to come in strong to win the house. Part of their offer is “no contingencies”. Then they try and come back and renegotiate after the fact.
It’s bad faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the big deal? We just sold our house and let the new buyers come in a number of times to measure for drapes, etc. who cares?

Imagine if someone trips and falls? Cuts themselves? Etc. Lawsuit comes to mind.

The "me me me" attitude of the responses here tell me what I already knew - people in this area are very self-centered. Once you close and get the key, THEN you go about measuring for drapes, etc. Until that point? It's till SOMEONE ELSE'S home.

Best post in this thread. There are too many crazy entitled people around. We put cameras in our house when we were selling. The people who bought it turned off the gas to the stove top on their first visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

I don’t understand who benefits from this “scam.”

The buyers. How are you understanding this?
It’s a hot market and they know they need to come in strong to win the house. Part of their offer is “no contingencies”. Then they try and come back and renegotiate after the fact.
It’s bad faith.

I agree. "Information only" inspections are never that. We allowed one in a hot market where our house had 6 offers the first day. They came back at us as if it was a regular inspection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the big deal? We just sold our house and let the new buyers come in a number of times to measure for drapes, etc. who cares?

Imagine if someone trips and falls? Cuts themselves? Etc. Lawsuit comes to mind.

The "me me me" attitude of the responses here tell me what I already knew - people in this area are very self-centered. Once you close and get the key, THEN you go about measuring for drapes, etc. Until that point? It's till SOMEONE ELSE'S home.

Best post in this thread. There are too many crazy entitled people around. We put cameras in our house when we were selling. The people who bought it turned off the gas to the stove top on their first visit.

What would that accomplish?

[Anonymous]

There is liability issue and securaty issues. I will not allow anyone into my house without certified or licenced professional. The house is under contract and the inspection is done. See you at the closing day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fwiw I don't think you're being petty.

The buyers are ridiculous to think they have rights to your wifi or the contents of your drawers. I wouldn't let them in again until after closing. They should have been more respectful and less obnoxious if they wanted "good will."

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP. I was thinking you shouldn't give them access, but I guess most people think you should. I agree with the advice that your agent needs to be there any time they are there. It's reasonable to limit the number of times they come back in before closing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

I don’t understand who benefits from this “scam.”

They can't back out unless there is a legit contingency in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

I don’t understand who benefits from this “scam.”

They can't back out unless there is a legit contingency in place.

Sure they can. Inspection for information only - doesn’t mean they can’t back out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you own an older home there is new scam some of the buyers agents in Arlington are now pulling.
Put a strong offer in with no contingency- inspection for information only.
Then they ask to have an additional inspection of the fire place.
The fire place guy is in on the scam and scares the crap out of the buyer ( often a younger family). He’ll tell them that the chimney isn’t up to code and must be replaced. It will sound like that home could burn at any moment, and they send the agent back to the seller asking for money back... often to the tune of 20- 30k
Of course the chimney won’t be up to current code. The house was built fifty years ago. Most buyers are ignorant to homes and the maintenance involved.
It’s a scheme to give the buyer some leverage after the fact and bargaining in bad faith.
Do not let a buyer back in after inspection.
It’s a liability to the seller and no good can come of it.

THIS. And real estate is an ugly high stakes game.

[Anonymous]

^^ this happened to us. The agent saw some hair line cracks in the basement paint and started a whole new negotiation. It was a good house in a hot neighborhood. I said walk. Just walk. (The contract had a 24 hour time) miss the time and you are out. They made the time and dropped the demand.

[Anonymous]

This happened to us. It was after the contingency period ended and they wanted to bring a designer but we still said no. You never what could happen with the sale, the property, your anxiety. It’s not worth it. They just need to wait.