Dear David,

I bought a house a few months ago. The agreement provided me two “walk through” visits prior to closing. I tried to book one of them a few days ago. The seller denied my request and suggested I come the following week instead. This makes me nervous. Do you think the seller is hiding something? Should I get my lawyer involved? – ON EDGE

DEAR EDGE: I’ve booked over a thousand walk-throughs in my career, and have found it rare for a seller to deny a request. If I happen to get pushback from the seller’s agent, it’s usually because the seller is packing up to move, and they’re concerned about the mess in the house.

Sellers sometimes think that buyers will be put off if the house is not in showing condition. When that happens, it’s up to the seller’s agent to let their client know that the transitional state of the house is very much expected. When a move is underway, a house is bound to look different than it did when the property was for sale. A gentle reminder of this fact will help ensure that buyers are not surprised when they come to visit.

Fortunately, most buyers can easily look past a couple of boxes, since they already know the house well. Today’s digital information is so complete that buyers have access to photos, floorplans and virtual tours, and can keep this information at their fingertips. Many buyers check out the Google street views and go back to the listing photos multiple times after making a purchase. They often scrutinize the floorplans, and probably already know how they’ll place the sectional couch and assign the bedrooms. Some industrious buyers will even dig up previous listings, so they can see how the house has evolved through several owners. 

With so much information available online, these walk through visits prior to closing are often just a formality. I like to refer to this part of the process as “giving the house a hug”. Seeing the space one or two more times will give the buyer a sense of familiarity, and help them solidify their plans for moving day.

Any concerns you have about gaining access to the property should be an agent-to-agent conversation. This is not the time to involve your lawyer. The seller still owns the house, and you can’t force them to let you in at a time when they’re not ready. Personally, I would not jump to the conclusion that the seller is trying to hide something. It’s much more likely they have guests for the weekend, or are embarrassed that the house is messy and need reassurance from their agent that the property is not expected to be in showing condition.

PRO TIP: One thing sellers need to keep in mind is how off-putting it can be when a buyer’s walk-through request is denied. Happy buyers and happy sellers make for smooth transitions. When deposits are late or appointments are declined, people tend to imagine the worst and may start to get suspicious. When everyone feels heard and happy, the process always runs more smoothly. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator

David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Call or text today for your free home evaluation! 519-577-1212.