TV property show star slams agents who reject ‘non-proceedable’ buyers
Kirstie Allsopp says she 'hates' agents who only take offers or allow viewings by people who've already sold homes.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has said she’s unhappy with estate agents who aggressively filter sales property applicants prior to viewings.
The practice has been on the rise during Covid following government guidance following the initial total lockdown last year that “in-person viewings should only take place when buyers are seriously considering a property”.
This led to many agents asking some buyers for proof of intent including bank statements, mortgage in principle documents or confirmation that their existing property is on the market.
Some vendors, wary of too many strangers tramping through their homes, have also asked estate agents to vet buyer more carefully than normal to keep numbers down.
During the Location, Location, Location programme, which was the second of its 35th series, Allsopp invited viewers to ask questions of her for an hour after the show on Twitter.
Twitter followers
These are often lively interactions between the 49-year-old presenter and her 426,000 followers on the social media platform.
This led a fan of Allsopp’s to ask about her views on ‘Covid vetting’ of viewers.
Jo Taylor said: “How much do you hate/agree with estate agents not showing houses to people who haven’t sold their own? Seems to be the new thing.”
Allsopp retweeted the question, answering: “Hate it, hate it, hate it”.
This is the second time the celebrity has commented on the issue of ‘proceedable potential buyers’, saying in May that it was reasonable but that it would ‘bung the system’ eventually.
The TV star has a track record on reviling government intervention in the property market on any level.
Allsopp made her name in politics briefly during the early noughties when she was instrumental in forcing the then Labour government’s attempts to introduce Home Information Packs (HIPs) for vendors.
I am a fan usually of Kirsty and Phil but recently I feel that they are not in tune with the market and the problems managing it, through the last year of the Coronavirus Pandemic. It is very sensible and reasonable to only conduct actual accompanied viewings for those in a position to proceed to purchase. For a number of reasons – but most importantly not to encourage people to mix and travel during lockdowns when there is no reason for them to do so.Thereby reducing the risk as best as possible to clients and our staff. Even if they fell in love with the property and wanted it – they were not in a position to offer or buy it! AND in this current market it would be a complete waste of every ones time as well as undue risk.
I am not sure @KirstieAllsopp can be honestly meaning what she is quoted as saying. As an agent since the 1980s, I know my vendors are not going to be interested in buyers unless they can proceed.