Renting house without proper viewing....

Paul. W · 21 Jan 2011 at 13:58

Sorry for long post

In a bit of a dilemma here. Me and the missus are looking for a new place to rent within my town. We have been looking for about 2 months now.

Every property we have seen thats been ideal and within budget have literally been taken off within 72 hours. We dont even have chance to get our viewing in, other people are literally just going to the agents and putting references down without even viewing. We have lost 3 this way already.

A new house went up on on Wednesday. I get the email alerts, and im straight on the phone. The tennents have just handed in their 30 day notice. The property is within our budget, in a perfect location for us (just where we wanted)

However the earliest we can get a viewing for is next Friday. Im fearing the worst again here and know someones just going to get in there before us if we wait until then.

Ive spoken to the agents who have completed recent inspections of the property to guage an idea of what its like. The usual seems to be in place, laminate flooring downstairs, large spacious kitchen which is average, a white suite bathroom with corner bath. All inspections have been fine. I went scouting round it yesterday evening and it looks fine from the outside. I know the layout of these houses as a couple of friends live in the same ones a few streets away. The property is also walking distance to popular schools within the area.

If we put the referencing fee down then the property is held for us. This is £130. Im seriously considering going to the agents tomorrow and doing just this. Ive asked the agency about re-decorating if we wanted to, which is just fine as long as let them know what I want to do and dont go stupid. Ill just be doing neutral colours if we need to.

Another thing I could do is probably knock round and speak to the tennents. However I dont feel right doing this, it seems quite rude and they could possibly complain to the agents.

I just dont want to loose another property which fits our needs and location right down to the tee again.

Malt_Vinegar · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:01

Just go an knock!

Be polite and ask when you might be able to get a quick un-official look-around. Don't force the issue, and say you totally understand if they would rather not. If they let you in for a quick look, you are laughing

Property is cut-throat, get in there and make a decision.

FNGsam · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:02

Imo your best bet if you are worried about losing the place is the knock around and speak to the tennants, might feel a bit silly at the time but I personally wouldn't move anywhere I hadn't seen first.

Just ask if you can take a poke around with them or failing that, have they had any problems at the place and why are they moving out etc.

Knubje · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:02

I understand your frustration with getting hoodwinked before you get a viewing. I personally wouldn't move in anywhere without checking it out first once in the flesh at least.

That is a general rule before putting down the deposit, moving in, performing checks, taking pictures, etc.

Good luck!

VoG · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:03

Paul. W said:
If we put the referencing fee down then the property is held for us. This is £130. Im seriously considering going to the agents tomorrow and doing just this

fella, if your serious about the property, & rental properties are being snapped up as quickly as you say in your area, then find a way to put the referencing fee down today, because as your leaving it to tomorrow, someone else will be putting it down today.

Lysander · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:03

Don't undercut the agents by viewing without them. It won't put them on good terms with you.

If you have to, ASK them if you can. But they probably won't like it. I wouldn't recommend you view without them. It's looked on very poorly in the industry.

Also, no matter how desperate you are do NOT take a property without viewing. Photos never tell you the whole story. I have seen dozens of properties that looked good in photos and much less good in reality.

Clipsey · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:07

Lysander said:
Don't undercut the agents by viewing without them. It won't put them on good terms with you.

I'd go, just make up a name. If it is desperate as you say it is then you have to do everything you can. The worst that can happen is they say not right now. Letting Agents are pretty awful (well the ones I've dealt with when letting a property out) so go do what you need to do then get your references in!

tom_e · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:07

Is the property listed through multiple agents? this was the case when we were looking last summer and meant I could get an earlier viewing with a different agent and then just went with the one with the lower costs.

Paul. W · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:10

Lysander said:
Don't undercut the agents by viewing without them. It won't put them on good terms with you.

If you have to, ASK them if you can. But they probably won't like it. I wouldn't recommend you view without them. It's looked on very poorly in the industry.

Also, no matter how desperate you are do NOT take a property without viewing. Photos never tell you the whole story. I have seen dozens of properties that looked good in photos and much less good in reality.

Yeah this is what im thinking. I really dont feel confortable knocking on and asking. I havent a clue what theyre like.

The agency contacted them yesterday and they specifically said the earliest they can allow viewings to happen is next Friday.

Honestly dont know wether to be cheeky and knock asking if theyve seen a missing dog or something. Get my head in through the door for a 5 second peak!

Paul. W · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:11

tom_e said:
Is the property listed through multiple agents? this was the case when we were looking last summer and meant I could get an earlier viewing with a different agent and then just went with the one with the lower costs.

No just the one agency im afraid. The landlord seems to be sticking with this one as they have managed to get tennents in every time with minimal perods of un-occupancy.

Adam · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:12

So what is stopping you from making a viewing? If it's the agents then that's not good enough. If it's yourself, you need to be more flexible. How can you not view a place you'll be living in over the next 6-12 months minimum? There may be a funny smell or something personal to you that you hate.

Lysander · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:13

Clipsey said:
I'd go, just make up a name. If it is desperate as you say it is then you have to do everything you can. The worst that can happen is they say not right now. Letting Agents are pretty awful (well the ones I've dealt with when letting a property out) so go do what you need to do then get your references in!

This is terrible advice. If the agents find out you lied they'll tell the landlord who'll then drop the deal like hot ****.

I know how difficult it is to find a place at the moment, I've had two experiences in the last year but you must play by the agent's rules. They are the ones who control the landlord and the deal.

I would also be cautious about putting the fee down anyway in spite of not seeing it. This makes most landlords think that you don't care about their property and you'll take anything. I've seen landlords back away from such deals in the past because it shows the prospective tenant is too desperate and indifferent. Landlord like tenants who'll care for their place rather then rush in blindly whatever the costs.

Morba · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:16

We were in a similar situation except the distance was further.
We were moving from south wales to west sussex / surrey, spent a few days driving around looking at everything we could but nothing suited, then a few properties popped up but we were back in south wales.

Thankfully we had driven around as much as we could so knew which areas we liked the look of and which we didnt, then just had to take a property based on the pictures alone before it was snapped up.

Go for a drive and see the property, maybe even knock on the door and politely ask to look around very quickly.

Ivan Drago · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:18

Lysander said:
Don't undercut the agents by viewing without them. It won't put them on good terms with you.

Who cares? It's not like the agents will stop dealing with him because he showed some initiative. The grubby little parasites just have their eye on that commission. They will deal with anybody, no matter what they have done.

cm1179 · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:23

never buy or rent without viewing, it will happen when the time is right. the other properties were obviously not meant to be!

Morba · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:28

cm1179 said:
never buy or rent without viewing, it will happen when the time is right. the other properties were obviously not meant to be!

That's as rubbish as the saying 'All good things come to those that wait'. Wrong!
You go out and get what you want, you make it happen otherwise what you get when everything has been taken is the dregs.
This is a world where you need to make things happen and in an environment like property rentals, where they are being snapped up very quickly, you need to act faster than the rest.

Duff-Man · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:36

I'd just go and put the deposit down.

You've seen it from the outside, you've seen pictures of the inside, and you have an idea what the layout is. Apart from unforseen problems (damp / disrepair inside, bad plumbing etc) then you can be fairly sure it's what you want. Unless you're incredibly picky, then I'd say it's not worth the risk of losing the property by waiting for a viewing.

If the worst comes to the worst and there is some random thing inside that puts you off, then you lose £130. Not ideal, but not the end of the world when you weight it against the hassle you're going through trying to find a new place.

Paul. W · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:38

Morba said:
That's as rubbish as the saying 'All good things come to those that wait'. Wrong!
You go out and get what you want, you make it happen otherwise what you get when everything has been taken is the dregs.
This is a world where you need to make things happen and in an environment like property rentals, where they are being snapped up very quickly, you need to act faster than the rest.

Quoted for truth.

Ive just rang the estate agents again and pretty much begged for a viewing either today or tomorrow. Theyre going to give the tennents a call now. Ive said all I want is a 2 minute visual, and ill be in and out with minimal fuss!

Turs out theres now 8 viewings for Friday. There was 4 yesterday

This property is going to go very soon.....

Mr-White · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:43

Lysander said:
Don't undercut the agents by viewing without them. It won't put them on good terms with you. .

Screw the agency, they wouldn't think twice about letting the property to someone else before their viewing. They're probably hoping someone comes in and lets without viewing, as it saves them time not having to take potential tenants out to houses.

MW

VeNT · 21 Jan 2011 at 14:48

just get in there asap
with or without agent,
we spent a year trying to get a place and ended up missing out on 10+ places because we where not the first in.
this place we have now we viewed it the day it came into our price bracket (was +£100) and put in an offer that day. but we DID manage to get another £50 off the rent

Renting house without proper viewing....

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