House Viewings

Gael23 · 20-02-2021 4:55pm #1

Are we looking good to be allowed view properties on Match 5th or will it be longer now? Have any of you heard from EAs

Caranica · 20-02-2021 5:40pm

Gael23 wrote: »

Are we looking good to be allowed view properties on Match 5th or will it be longer now? Have any of you heard from EAs

If level 5 is extended by 9 weeks as is widely rumoured then add 9 weeks. The only change likely to be made is the gradual opening of schools

Gael23 · 20-02-2021 5:52pm

No viewings until May is crazy

Smiley11 · 20-02-2021 8:34pm

Can't see viewings being allowed until May, maybe a little sooner if numbers drop significantly. They seem to have formed a pattern of drip feeding information & hinting at whats coming to prepare the public I presume.

I think its going to cause chaos for the summer with buyers scrambling to get their hands on anything they can afford. I've registered interest in viewing one house & I'm hoping sellers will just say screw it & put properties on the market to generate interest in the hope of a quick sale once viewings are allowed. Government seem to be doing anything they can to cause mayhem in the property market.

Baby01032012 · 20-02-2021 10:40pm

EA here. I’ve copied below the current agreed joint protocol between psra scsi & ipav. This will only be reviewed when govt changes current level of restrictions. That said I’ve heard of some agents going against the agreed protocol.

Viewings by the public permitted of properties by appointment only where:
1. The property has gone sale agreed and contracts for sale drafted
In these circumstances:
 Viewings by one party of two people from the same
household is only permitted and;
 Properties must be unoccupied at the time of appointment.

Gael23 · 20-02-2021 10:47pm

Baby01032012 wrote: »

EA here. I’ve copied below the current agreed joint protocol between psra scsi & ipav. This will only be reviewed when govt changes current level of restrictions. That said I’ve heard of some agents going against the agreed protocol.

Viewings by the public permitted of properties by appointment only where:
1. The property has gone sale agreed and contracts for sale drafted
In these circumstances:
 Viewings by one party of two people from the same
household is only permitted and;
 Properties must be unoccupied at the time of appointment.

If someone buys a property based on a virtual tour are engineer surveys allowed?

Sweet.Science · 20-02-2021 10:47pm

Baby01032012 wrote: »

EA here. I’ve copied below the current agreed joint protocol between psra scsi & ipav. This will only be reviewed when govt changes current level of restrictions. That said I’ve heard of some agents going against the agreed protocol.

Viewings by the public permitted of properties by appointment only where:
1. The property has gone sale agreed and contracts for sale drafted
In these circumstances:
 Viewings by one party of two people from the same
household is only permitted and;
 Properties must be unoccupied at the time of appointment.

So really looking at the market being shut for the 1st half of year . Crazy

Baby01032012 · 20-02-2021 10:57pm

Gael23 wrote: »

If someone buys a property based on a virtual tour are engineer surveys allowed?

Surveyor would be coming in after sale agreed anyway so no issue there.

Busi_Girl08 · 20-02-2021 11:05pm

Baby01032012 wrote: »

EA here. I’ve copied below the current agreed joint protocol between psra scsi & ipav. This will only be reviewed when govt changes current level of restrictions. That said I’ve heard of some agents going against the agreed protocol.

Viewings by the public permitted of properties by appointment only where:
1. The property has gone sale agreed and contracts for sale drafted
In these circumstances:
 Viewings by one party of two people from the same
household is only permitted and;
 Properties must be unoccupied at the time of appointment.

The 2 people from the same household rule is freaking me out. My fiance and I (and I'm sure many other couples are in the same boat) are living in separate households. So one of us won't be able to view a house that we have both forked out thousands of euro to have the privilege of getting a closer look at a property before making the biggest purchase of our lives?

Sweet.Science · 20-02-2021 11:32pm

Busi_Girl08 wrote: »

The 2 people from the same household rule is freaking me out. My fiance and I (and I'm sure many other couples are in the same boat) are living in separate households. So one of us won't be able to view a house that we have both forked out thousands of euro to have the privilege of getting a closer look at a property before making the biggest purchase of our lives?

They won't ask for proof

Shelga · 21-02-2021 4:16am

I viewed a house this morning. Pretty sure the EA was breaking the rules, as 90% of EAs have told me viewings are banned, even for vacant properties.

I no longer care. The house I viewed today was vacant, I didn’t touch anything and I didn’t go near the EA. It’s madness forbidding viewings of vacant properties. People are going crazy with not being allowed to move forward with their lives and buy somewhere, as if it wasn’t already hard enough.

Agree that you can’t force tenants to facilitate viewings during a pandemic, nor should you, but this blanket ban on all viewings is just needlessly cruel, at this stage.

People need to feel like they are being given the opportunity somehow to make some progress with their lives. A year this sh*t has been going on now.

Gael23 · 21-02-2021 8:58am

Would any of you be prepared to buy based on a virtual tour?

21-02-2021 9:42am

Gael23 wrote: »

Would any of you be prepared to buy based on a virtual tour?

No and anyone that does is crazy.
Even people going sale agreed on houses they have never stepped foot inside is madness!
There's a lot of hysteria in the market at the moment, I wouldn't be buying into it. It's only a few more weeks.............

Gael23 · 21-02-2021 9:44am

bubblypop wrote: »

No and anyone that does is crazy.
Even people going sale agreed on houses they have never stepped foot inside is madness!
There's a lot of hysteria in the market at the moment, I wouldn't be buying into it. It's only a few more weeks.............

It’s at least another 2 months to see it, then price negotiations and the particular house needs a little bit of work done so if we wait until may your potentially looking at September to move in. Assuming 10/12 weeks for the legal stuff

Sweet.Science · 21-02-2021 12:49pm

Gael23 wrote: »

It’s at least another 2 months to see it, then price negotiations and the particular house needs a little bit of work done so if we wait until may your potentially looking at September to move in. Assuming 10/12 weeks for the legal stuff

Let's not forget the house you try buy the vendors may not have their place yet . And could eventually go sale agreed to a vendor who hasn't gone sale agreed on their own property

Gael23 · 21-02-2021 12:55pm

Sweet.Science wrote: »

Let's not forget the house you try buy the vendors may not have their place yet . And could eventually go sale agreed to a vendor who hasn't gone sale agreed on their own property

We’re not waiting on a house to sell on our side though

Sweet.Science · 21-02-2021 12:57pm

Gael23 wrote: »

We’re not waiting on a house to sell on our side though

Neither am I . But the vendor of the house I'm buying needs to find somewhere . And when she does it might be from a vendor who also needs to find somewhere before selling to her

21-02-2021 12:59pm

Gael23 wrote: »

It’s at least another 2 months to see it, then price negotiations and the particular house needs a little bit of work done so if we wait until may your potentially looking at September to move in. Assuming 10/12 weeks for the legal stuff

September is only 6 or 7 months away. That's not long in the whole buying houses timeframes!
To be honest I wouldn't expect to be moving in anywhere sooner than that, unless it's a new build ready to go soon.

Sam Hain · 21-02-2021 1:06pm

Shelga wrote: »

I viewed a house this morning. Pretty sure the EA was breaking the rules, as 90% of EAs have told me viewings are banned, even for vacant properties.

I no longer care. The house I viewed today was vacant, I didn’t touch anything and I didn’t go near the EA. It’s madness forbidding viewings of vacant properties. People are going crazy with not being allowed to move forward with their lives and buy somewhere, as if it wasn’t already hard enough.

Agree that you can’t force tenants to facilitate viewings during a pandemic, nor should you, but this blanket ban on all viewings is just needlessly cruel, at this stage.

People need to feel like they are being given the opportunity somehow to make some progress with their lives. A year this sh*t has been going on now.

You have it so tough,, I don't know how you can face each day. You're so brave.

Gael23 · 21-02-2021 1:29pm

bubblypop wrote: »

September is only 6 or 7 months away. That's not long in the whole buying houses timeframes!
To be honest I wouldn't expect to be moving in anywhere sooner than that, unless it's a new build ready to go soon.

No it’s about 30 years old. Just would be good to move in during the long summer days

Smiley11 · 21-02-2021 3:18pm

September seems like an eternity to me as we've been looking fot 14 months so far. Not a whole pile we can do about it though! I think September is a best case scenario. I've resigned myself to the fact that we probably won't have moved into the house we haven't found yet until next year. I'm taking a prepare for the worst & anything better is a bonus approach!

Gael23 · 21-02-2021 5:12pm

I have one in mind but I need to make some changes for someone with reduced mobility, things like changing a bath to a shower and raising up a split level room so there’s no step before I move in. So I reckon between the legal bits and those renovations were looking at September

Shelga · 21-02-2021 7:44pm

Sam Hain wrote: »

You have it so tough,, I don't know how you can face each day. You're so brave.

Does it make you proud to be such a dickhead?

ted1 · 21-02-2021 8:56pm

Gael23 wrote: »

Would any of you be prepared to buy based on a virtual tour?

Yes I’m bidding on a house at the moment. I’ve lived in the estate. I know the houses built in mid 80s. Straight forward.

If we go sale agreed. It’ll be subject to survey.

Milena009 · 21-02-2021 9:32pm

ted1 wrote: »

Yes I’m bidding on a house at the moment. I’ve lived in the estate. I know the houses built in mid 80s. Straight forward.

If we go sale agreed. It’ll be subject to survey.

Similar. We are bidding on house my partner s cousin lives so we have good idea of estate however any further would be surveyor etc

aperture_nuig · 21-02-2021 10:16pm

bubblypop wrote: »

No and anyone that does is crazy.
Even people going sale agreed on houses they have never stepped foot inside is madness!
There's a lot of hysteria in the market at the moment, I wouldn't be buying into it. It's only a few more weeks.............

Not trying to be snippy, but is that really any different than buying off plans for a new build, based on a 3d render in a glossy brochure? I mean, at least when buying a second hand home based off a virtual tour you are looking at the finished physical building.

You also would not be buying solely off the virtual tour, e.g. you can at least try and figure out what the neighbourhood you're buying in to is like, if there is a history of any structural or social issues in the estate etc.

Obviously, being able to actually see the house before going sale agreed would be ideal, but as discussed that's not going to happen until (at least) May. If you can afford to wait, or have not been looking very long, I would wait. However I do have sympathy for those who have already been looking for some time or for those whose dream home has now come on the market. You cannot be certain that that home will still be there come May / June / whenever.

Lastly, as has been mentioned on other threads here, you are not actually locked in to anything at the sale agreed stage. If the engineer or the solicitor find anything amiss you can still pull out and have your booking deposit returned to you, although I would regard doing that without a very strong intent to actually buy the home as (at best) poor form.

Sam Hain · 22-02-2021 4:57pm

Shelga wrote: »

Does it make you proud to be such a dickhead?

And a personaility to match your capricious nature. You're a real joy. God forbid you ever have any real hardship, you'd implode.

Baby01032012 · 22-02-2021 4:59pm

Sam Hain wrote: »

And a personaility to match your capricious nature. You're a real joy. God forbid you ever have any real hardship, you'd implode.

I’ve already reported your previous post. No doubt people are experiencing worse hardships than some one trying to buy a house but this is a property forum. I don’t think your comments have any value to ad.

Baby01032012 · 22-02-2021 5:01pm

I’m looking to buy, I have difficulty even thinking of bidding without viewing in person. One property I’m interested in they put up photos few days ago. I’ve just emailed them proof of funds and they respond immediately to say current bid is 15% over asking. Crazy.

Sam Hain · 22-02-2021 5:24pm

Baby01032012 wrote: »

I’ve already reported your previous post. No doubt people are experiencing worse hardships than some one trying to buy a house but this is a property forum. I don’t think your comments have any value to ad.

Report away, I was just trying to give some perspective on the matter but you go make it your business.

cb123 · 22-02-2021 5:24pm

Shelga wrote: »

I viewed a house this morning. Pretty sure the EA was breaking the rules, as 90% of EAs have told me viewings are banned, even for vacant properties.

I no longer care. The house I viewed today was vacant, I didn’t touch anything and I didn’t go near the EA. It’s madness forbidding viewings of vacant properties. People are going crazy with not being allowed to move forward with their lives and buy somewhere, as if it wasn’t already hard enough.

Agree that you can’t force tenants to facilitate viewings during a pandemic, nor should you, but this blanket ban on all viewings is just needlessly cruel, at this stage.

People need to feel like they are being given the opportunity somehow to make some progress with their lives. A year this sh*t has been going on now.

Wish I could get a viewing. There are 3 vacant houses that I would love to go see. I do understand the ban, but when it comes to vacant properties it seems a shame not to continue viewings and to let them sit there.

Completely agree, it feels cruel, I know we're in a really fortunate position to be able to buy a house but to get here we've put our lives on hold to save and get to this position, then COVID and now we're stuck saving and paying high rents to ensure when we reapply for approval there is no issue.

I just want to be given the chance to buy a home and hopefully start a family. Just feels like there's no light at the end of the tunnel and all the hard work was for nothing.

leahyl · 22-02-2021 5:28pm

I posted this in the buying and selling thread and then saw this thread:

I emailed an agent about viewing a house and they have come back to me and said they have a video they can send on but first I would have to provide proof of mortgage approval or proof of funds - so I don't get to see the property in person and to even see the video of the house, i have to give them proof of funds? Is this the way things are now?

Baby01032012 · 22-02-2021 5:51pm

leahyl wrote: »

I posted this in the buying and selling thread and then saw this thread:

I emailed an agent about viewing a house and they have come back to me and said they have a video they can send on but first I would have to provide proof of mortgage approval or proof of funds - so I don't get to see the property in person and to even see the video of the house, i have to give them proof of funds? Is this the way things are now?

Yes that’s it until level 5 lifted in May. That’s why so few on market. Show proof of funds mortgage approval before you can view video and bid. Go sale agreed and engage solicitor then view house first time.

22-02-2021 6:17pm

Proof of funds before you can watch a video?
Ridiculous

Graham · 22-02-2021 6:36pm

Mod Note

Sam Hain, do not post in this thread again.

Milena009 · 22-02-2021 6:40pm

bubblypop wrote: »

Proof of funds before you can watch a video?
Ridiculous

Agreed.
We are bidding on a house However we did see photos, video (on YouTube by EA) and now only proved AIP.
Waiting to see if we got outbid or not to view this house

JimmyVik · 22-02-2021 6:51pm

If i was buying I would just hold off. Wait til mext year.
This craziness reminds me of 2006 when people were buying houses off plans.
I have a felling a huge amount of properties are going to come on to the market once covid clears.
Anyone buying now will be paying a COVID premium, and the vendor and estate agent know you are desperate if you are putting up with this.

leahyl · 22-02-2021 8:18pm

bubblypop wrote: »

Proof of funds before you can watch a video?
Ridiculous

I know, I mean who’s to say I’ll be bidding on it? I mightn’t think it’s worth putting in an offer if I actually see it - which is what you have to do in order to make an informed decision. I’ve seen lots of photos of houses before I went to view them and thought they looked great and when I went to view them it was a different story. I shouldn’t have to be providing them with evidence that I’m mortgage approved or have enough funds in normal circumstances for Gods sake, never mind just to see a video, which to me isn’t much different from
the photos on daft.

ted1 · 22-02-2021 8:44pm

JimmyVik wrote: »

If i was buying I would just hold off. Wait til mext year.
This craziness reminds me of 2006 when people were buying houses off plans.
I have a felling a huge amount of properties are going to come on to the market once covid clears.
Anyone buying now will be paying a COVID premium, and the vendor and estate agent know you are desperate if you are putting up with this.

And those selling will have the same Covid premium, do no point holding off if you see one you like.

The house I’m currently bidding on has 5 bidders. Mixed of first time buyers and people trading up and down.
Not many 4 beds for sale in south Dublin

Gael23 · 22-02-2021 9:23pm

It’s fine to but if a virtual tour if that works but then what if the person selling has nowhere to go.

It’s a situation that’s only going to get worse

LastStop · 22-02-2021 10:52pm

I've been to 4 house viewings during this lockdown. It depends on the Estate agent, have not heard of any of them been fined for showing houses.

put offers in on a couple, one smallish house listed 249k last offer on it was 305k before I told the EA I wasn't following up any further.

Another the Vendor wouldn't deal with anyone in a chain.

Hoping more supply hits the market soon if restrictions are eased.

22-02-2021 11:06pm

Shelga wrote: »

I viewed a house this morning. Pretty sure the EA was breaking the rules, as 90% of EAs have told me viewings are banned, even for vacant properties.

I no longer care. The house I viewed today was vacant, I didn’t touch anything and I didn’t go near the EA. It’s madness forbidding viewings of vacant properties. People are going crazy with not being allowed to move forward with their lives and buy somewhere, as if it wasn’t already hard enough.

Agree that you can’t force tenants to facilitate viewings during a pandemic, nor should you, but this blanket ban on all viewings is just needlessly cruel, at this stage.

People need to feel like they are being given the opportunity somehow to make some progress with their lives. A year this sh*t has been going on now.

At this stage, Im just going to blanket ignore what the Govt says, I'll wear a mask and keep up with appropriate protection measures and separation, but when the Govt?state cant even abide by their own directions/laws, their own cohorts (golf gate) can shamelessly get away with what they please (the attendees anyway, not some other poor sap who runs a business, rightly or wrongly), they have allowed 5000 people waltz into the Country in the last Month from high risk Countries alone! and wont say a damn to the businesses that supports, yet shut everywhere else down, Which is it!? its one or the other.
At this point, Id think isolation for those at risk and maybe even wholesale ignoring/flouting any opinions/advice by the State (and thats from a person that supported/practiced closing down and caution in regard to all this).
I dont mind being patient, but the Govt/State have dithered and basically fcuked up any opportunity to grab this by the balls, I know vaccine availability is a critical matter, but their double standards are starting to pi$$ me off.
Everyone who can, should just get on with their lives, blanket ignore/avoid any state employee who says otherwise, cant lock us all up, they cant even stop a few people entering the Country, never mind the 5k plus that did.

Baby01032012 · 22-02-2021 11:15pm

I think there is a level of panic bidding which is not logical. We’re in a pandemic with resultant recession. Very few properties on market no physical viewing and I’ve seen properties bids way above recent sales.

JimmyVik · 23-02-2021 11:18am

Baby01032012 wrote: »

I think there is a level of panic bidding which is not logical. We’re in a pandemic with resultant recession. Very few properties on market no physical viewing and I’ve seen properties bids way above recent sales.

And all this not allowing people to even see a video before proof of funds is just whipping up a frenzy. And we all know what happens when the frenzy stops.

lalababa · 23-02-2021 11:29am

JimmyVik wrote: »

If i was buying I would just hold off. Wait til mext year.
This craziness reminds me of 2006 when people were buying houses off plans.
I have a felling a huge amount of properties are going to come on to the market once covid clears.
Anyone buying now will be paying a COVID premium, and the vendor and estate agent know you are desperate if you are putting up with this.

You'd think it would be the other way round....mass unemployment, economy in the tank... uncertainty everywhere...but no apparently not.
Only 10,000 houses for sale on Daft , a very ,very low supply.

DeWanderer · 23-02-2021 12:00pm

There is a massive shortage in housing. And it is only going to get worse. There were not being enough built before lockdowns started. Now we are even further behind, due to close downs in construction and the halt on building of new houses. Based on this, we are not in a short term, artificially inflated price bubble. It is fully expected that prices will rise for years to come.

Plus a lot of people have managed to save bigger deposits themselves and have family that can gift them money towards bigger bids. And there is more desire to get out of rental accomodation.

I haven't been following this thread but I've just read the last couple of pages. I feel I should give my differing opinion. I think that if someone can afford a house that they want, they should go ahead, and not be expecting prices to come down. Of course no one should do it on a whim and should spend time really thinking about it. Panic bidding is never a good thing.

I agree that the prices have gone up loads recently and houses are going for way above asking. That's a reflection on the current market and the increased demand. It's depressing all the same. And it should not be this way.

Sweet.Science · 24-02-2021 11:47am

Got an email saying likley viewings be pushed back to April but nothing has been confirmed to date

Gael23 · 25-02-2021 9:52pm

Any more clarity on this?

Aureli · 25-02-2021 10:57pm

Also bidding on a house, we are currently highest bidder and 20k over asking, we are still 220k under our max budget so we can keep going just need to decide how high we are willing to go. I'm from the area know the houses very well as my bf grew up 4 doors down. The house is walk in ready and everything I need, I don't need to physically see the house to know that. We will of course view the house before signing contracts and have a full survey done.

Gael23 · 25-02-2021 11:06pm

Aureli wrote: »

Also bidding on a house, we are currently highest bidder and 20k over asking, we are still 220k under our max budget so we can keep going just need to decide how high we are willing to go. I'm from the area know the houses very well as my bf grew up 4 doors down. The house is walk in ready and everything I need, I don't need to physically see the house to know that. We will of course view the house before signing contracts and have a full survey done.

The problem I see with that is you might do a deal fine but then what if the seller has nowhere to go

Aureli · 25-02-2021 11:09pm

We are not in any hurry to move, we will happily wait 6months or so till they find somewhere.

House Viewings

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