[doganjo]

Question for home buyers in Scotland.

A friend was told by the seller's lawyer and also her own lawyer that she couldn't view a second time until the missives were signed - she has a verbal offer in place.   Perhaps she didn't ask the question correctly?

She was also told she couldn't see the Home report until after she had made an offer.  I think this is wrong but it is it now legal?  Again, did she ask the wrong question?

Or am I living in the dark ages and you now have to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on one brief visit?

I'm almost sure this must be wrong but how do you fight lawyers on this?

All she wants is to go and measure up for carpets and take a second look at a couple of areas to assess how much they'll take to change or repair. 

[pgkevet]

I just read my way through a few housebuying guides for scotland and it does seem that the 'simplified' process there is bizarre - and even slightly contradictory between guides as to when final offers are decided...which for sure can't be until the homebuyers report has been seen.

As to folk wanting to go back and forth revisiting and measuring up...frankly in england that's a PITA unless they have made an offer and it looks like it's going through. whereas a repeat visit or two before that offer just to look around is tolerable: as in you look at a bunch or properties, find one or two you shortlist and then go back for a second look.

Like any purchase..if you don't like the terms and conditions - walk away and learn from it. Perhaps next time you find a property you make the points to the vendors that you'll want further access...irrespective of 'laws'. No solicitor has to know about a private agreement between seller and you that doesn't affect the actual purchase.

[Clarebelle]

I don't know about the viewing side but when we bought our house here I viewed it and then put an offer in SUBJECT to a satisfactory home report. So I would say your friend should definitely be able to see a home report at this point. The only thing with that is that I think if a property is a certain age the sellers arnt obliged to have a home report done (anyone please correct me if I'm wrong). We also looked at the online details of several other properties and requested the home report from the estate agents, which were emailed to us each time, this was before we even arranged whether to view or not. Things might have changed but this was only 18months ago.

[Factotum]

Just checked out the HSPC website - a number of the properties have a downloadable Home Report - available after supplying a name & e-mail and address so they can contact you if the home report changes.

If HSPC can do this, why not others?


Sue

[Dan]

Sounds very odd Annie, I'm 99% sure there's nothing in law stating that you can't view a house you've made an offer on, but a seller can put any conditions on the sale they want to within reason.

As Sue say home reports are often available to download from agents sites anyway.

Unless the seller's got something to hide, why would they block a second viewing or sight of the home report? 

[AnnS]

Home report should be available on request. Sure they have to provide one with a certain amount of days. Daughter currently selling and buying and has mentioned viewing a property for the 2ndtime and no problem arranging this. We viewed here 3 times at different times of the day so could see garden area properly.
 
Thinking about it the mortgage company and our solicitor saw home report and home report had to be updated as house had been on  the market for sometime.

[Rosemary]

Damned sure I wouldn't be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on something I'd seen once.

[marka]

Sounds to me like the vendor has something to hide that the buyer missed on the original viewing and the vendor doesnt want them to spot it 2nd time around.

My advice would be to walk away if they are still insistent on no 2nd viewing - there should be no limit, within reasonable limits, to the amount of times that you view before submitting any offer.

[Roxy]

Well here in England, the seller welcomed our second visit - it should we were interested and may buy.  During the first visit you are so intent on what you see, you miss some important things, like will my furniture fit.  Seller was happy to let us measure up, even though we had not made an offer.  I am afraid I would insist on a second visit, especially if I my offer had been accepted.

[mojocafa]

I have viewed home reports and haven't viewed the property so don't know where that comes from

[doganjo]

Update is that she got the home report after putting in a verbal offer. The house is now off the market, I tried to make an appointment for myself and was told its sold. So they are assuming she will follow up with a written offer and missives. The home report was done by an established firm with a good reputation and there is only one category 2 item, which she and I both saw anyway, and it is not a major repair.
I smelt no damp and saw no signs of cover up.

I'm quite experienced at buying, selling, renovating, and building so I'm fairly certain we didn't miss anything. I just found their system rather annoying and frustrating.

The missives should be done this week then we will gain access to measure for curtains and carpets. Then it's hitting the shops time. 
Thank you all for your comments.