Selling a house is stressful enough without having to work around unexpected visits from the buyer. One couple is packing up their home ahead of closing, but their buyer has already stopped by once and is now asking to come inside again.
The sellers aren’t sure whether they should accommodate another visit or tell the buyer they need time to finish moving. They shared their situation to see what others would do.
The buyer stopped by while they were packing
The couple is hoping to close on their house in a few weeks. They’ve already purchased another home and have been moving their belongings out, using their weekends to pack and load the truck.
During one of those busy weekends, the buyer showed up at the property without a scheduled appointment. According to the seller, she introduced herself, chatted about her life and the house for a while, and then left.
The interaction may have seemed harmless on its own, but the couple was trying to move forward with their move. They were already juggling the work of leaving one home while preparing to settle into another.
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Now she wants another walkthrough before closing
A few days after that visit, the couple received a message saying the buyer wanted to return that weekend for another walkthrough. This would be an additional visit, separate from the final walkthrough already planned before closing.
The timing was the sellers’ biggest concern. Weekends were their only opportunity to pack, and another visit would interrupt the limited time they had to get everything done.
They also weren’t sure how to respond. Could they simply say the weekend didn’t work? Would refusing the request create problems with the sale? They even considered allowing the buyer to visit while they were away.
Although they described the buyer as pushy, the seller acknowledged that she seemed excited about the house. The couple wanted to be reasonable without rearranging their moving plans every time she asked to come back.
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Some thought the buyer was probably planning her move
Several people responding to the post felt the request itself wasn’t unusual. A buyer might want to measure rooms, figure out where furniture will go, or take another look before ordering items for the new house.
One person who identified themselves as a real estate agent suggested finding out why the buyer wanted to return and how much time she needed. If she only wanted to take a few measurements, the sellers could offer a short visit at a time that worked for them rather than give up their packing weekend.
Others made a similar distinction: the couple didn’t necessarily need to refuse another walkthrough altogether, but they could propose a different day. The house was still their home, and an additional visit didn’t have to happen on the buyer’s preferred schedule.
The unannounced visit bothered people more than the request
While many understood why the buyer might want another look, her earlier decision to show up while the sellers were packing raised more concern.
Several responses advised the couple to have all future visits arranged through their real estate agents. People also cautioned against letting the buyer enter the property alone while the sellers were away, suggesting that an agent accompany her instead.
One person who identified themselves as a broker or agent recommended having both the buyer’s and seller’s agents present. That would give the buyer an opportunity to see the house without putting the sellers in the position of hosting another visit or answering questions while they were trying to move.
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Others warned that an extra visit could create more stress
Not everyone thought another walkthrough was worth accommodating. A few people raised concerns about buyers returning before closing and then questioning the property’s condition or reconsidering the purchase.
One person shared an experience in which their buyer insisted on another visit, reportedly to take measurements, but later sent a cancellation agreement. They acknowledged that they couldn’t know for certain whether the additional visit had influenced the buyer’s decision.
Those stories didn’t establish that this couple’s buyer had similar intentions. Still, they added another perspective to the discussion: what feels like a simple visit to one person can feel like another potential complication for someone already preparing to move.
The sellers may be able to find a middle ground
Before agreeing to another walkthrough, the couple could ask their agent to find out why the buyer wants to return and how much time she needs. If she simply wants to take measurements or plan where her furniture will go, a short, scheduled visit might be easier to accommodate than giving up another weekend of packing.
They could also suggest a weekday or another time that works better for them, with the real estate agents arranging the visit rather than the buyer. It would be worth checking their purchase agreement with their agent before deciding how to respond.
The buyer may be excited about her new home, but the sellers still have to finish moving. Setting a clear time for any additional visit could help them accommodate her request without putting their own plans on hold.
