Can I Come Through?
Can I Come Through the home again?
Buying a Home, the sold sticker is on.
Congratulations, your offer was successful and you have bought a home.
What happens next?
I work with inexperienced home buyers and sellers. My clients work through my processes, and we go through the options, what is available, what are they entitled to, and what should they check before they buy a home. There are many questions and this question is one of the most frequently asked.
Generally, my answer to my home buyer clients, is to find out what they want to know before they sign the Contract. To my home seller clients, I usually recommend that the answer to the question “Can I come through to do ….? is answered in the negative.
Why am I so hard on this? There are many possible ramifications for my selling client, and I find the straight answer of “No,” is easier than trying to justify it.
The following are just some of the scenarios over my past twenty odd years in real estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Come Through?
The buyer is excited about their new home. They want to go back and have another look.
Legally, their next opportunity to view the home is during the final inspection. Neither the seller nor the agent is obliged to give them access.
This sounds tough, very hard hearted, however consider your role as a seller.
You have sold your home, the relief from not having to keep up the presentation is immense. Your washing can go back to hanging in the laundry, the dog can keep their bed in their favourite spot, and you can leave your dishes on the sink.
Being on the market can be exhausting, and to allow a buyer back through once is potentially opening the floodgates for them to return again and again. Next time they feel more comfortable about the approach, you may be in the garden, and they turn up wanting to bring their family through.
You opened the door (literally) and now you know them. Saying ‘no’ to additional inspections right from the get go is far easier. Also,NEVER give the buyer your contact information.
Other reasons can include:
Can I Come Through?
Can you bring your family through? Your family didn’t get to see the property whilst it was on the market, and they would like to have a look.
Answer is NO.
Can I Come Through?
Can you measure up the kitchen because you want to change it? Followed with, ‘can your kitchen guy come through and do their own measurements, and get a more accurate quote?’
Answer is NO, wait until Settlement.
Can I Come Through?
Can you measure up for new curtains because you want to change it? Followed with, ‘can your curtain person come through and do their own measurements, and get a more accurate quote?’
Answer is NO, wait until Settlement.
Same answer for those wanting painting quotes, or plastering quotes, or plumbing quotes etc
Can I Come Through?
Can you measure up for fencing because you have dogs? Followed with, ‘can your fencing person come through and do their own measurements, and get a more accurate quote?’
Answer is NO, wait until Settlement.
This is another tough one, particularly when the property is vacant. My answer is still often ‘NO”.
Why? Depending on the property, is it a straight rectangle in the suburbs or a hilly bush block?
What type of fencing are they thinking? Will what they want need to be copaid by the neighbour?
What happens in a more regional block if the fencer has a fall, gets bitten by something, go to the worse case scenario and it has probably happened.
What happens if there is a dispute over: fencing type, or where the fence line actually is. You have opened a can of worms.
Fencing is one of the most common neighbour disputes and you have to ask yourself if you want to get involved in conflict resolution when your home is sold and you have one foot out of the door and the neighbourhood.
Can I Come Through?
The home is vacant can I bring some of our things over and leave them in the house, in the garden, in the garage or anywhere else on the property?
Answer is NO.
Again, this can seem harsh however who is responsible for the condition and security of goods left?
What happens if Settlement doesn’t go through? Too many possible scenarios.
Can I Come Through?
Can you do some work to the house because it’s sitting vacant?
Answer is NO.
As above regarding responsibility and Settlement, insurance, etc
Can I Come Through?
How many times can you go back to the home you have purchased?
Answer is ONCE for the final inspection that can be done within 7 days of Settlement
Can I move in early?
Settlement may be brought forward by agreement – the Seller has to agree you cannot assume.
Alternatively, you may move in under a License Agreement.
You will have to pay the cost to get the agreement drawn up, and usually a fairly nominal rent.
Effectively, you are taking ownership without the actual Title being exchanged or balance of funds paid. If anything breaks, doesn’t work, or you don’t like it then bad luck.
Can I change the special conditions once Contracts have been signed
You signed the Contracts, the Sellers signed the Contracts, can you change the Special Conditions because you have received other advice?
No, unless the Seller agrees and it is unlikely to be a yes. This is why the right advice is essential, it’s why my clients and I work through the Contract ensuring that what you need to be included, IS included.
What does Settlement actually mean?
Settlement is when as a Seller you are completely out of the property, giving VACANT POSSESSION – nothing of yours is left in or on the property unless previously agreed. The property is clean, and in similar condition as when the buyer bought the home.
On Settlement, the balance of funds is paid to the home seller.
On Settlement, the Land Title is changed from the sellers name to the buyers.
The property is no longer yours and you need to have vacated the property.
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Real Estate Guide
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