Yes, of course, buyers and sellers can talk to each other during the process of buying and selling a property. There is no legal reason why the two parties cannot speak to each other, and nor is there any harm in the buyer and seller talking to each other. Of course, with that being said, both the buyer and the seller should be willing and able to speak to each other. Legally, buyers and sellers can talk to each other during the home buying process. In fact, here are 5 good reasons for buyers and sellers to speak to each other during the sale and purchase process.
To avoid miscommunication
Let’s say you are moving cities and you’re looking to buy a new home in Leeds. You’ve seen a few places online and you’ve shortlisted the ones you liked best. Now, after a few visits, you have chosen a property that you want to call home and you have even made an offer for the same. While you might be interested in moving in after three months, the seller might prefer to close the deal as early as possible. In such a scenario, should you let the estate agents in Leeds do the talking or is it better to speak to the seller directly to find some middle ground? After all, any miscommunication between estate agents or even between the seller and your estate agent could backfire.
To reach an agreement
Legally speaking, there is nothing wrong with a buyer and seller talking to each other directly during the process of buying or selling a property. Buyers and sellers can speak to each other as frequently as they wish to. Of course, any offers, terms and conditions as well as any verbal agreements between the buyer and seller are not legally binding. If a buyer and seller have come up with any verbal agreements that they both wish to proceed with, they must inform the solicitor or estate agent who can amend the contract accordingly.
To make the best offer
Once a potential buyer has decided to make an offer, he or she can get in touch with the estate agent to get the details of the seller. Feel free to call the seller and let them know that you have made an offer, and while doing so try to figure out what kind of offer the seller is looking for. Meanwhile, you can also speak to the seller to know about details about the property as this will help you decide how you can amend your offer, if required, and such information could also help during the negotiation process.
To find out about the neighbourhood
Interacting with the seller is a good way to find out about the area, the neighbourhood, the neighbours as well as anything else that you might want to know regarding the property. For instance, if you are moving from Manchester to Leeds, you could get in touch with the seller to find out about the best schools near the property. You could also find out about the neighbours and the neighbourhood; what are the neighbours like, are there many like-minded families in the area, what are the crime rates like and so on. And of course, you can ask the seller for some pro tips, such as the best takeaway restaurants or the closest grocery store.
To reassure the seller
There are quite a few homeowners who are emotional about selling their homes. After all, they have lived in that very home for years, their kids have grown up there and they have so many happy memories that are linked to that property. As a buyer, you can speak to a seller to reassure them that you are not going to tear their house down. Many sellers might not sell their childhood homes to potential buyers who are looking to tear the house down and reconstruct it! Similarly, you could speak to the seller to reassure them that you will take good care of the house and that the seller is welcome to drop by any time, just in case they might be missing their childhood home. Such gestures could also help build a personal connection, which could further ensure that the seller accepts your offer without too many negotiations.