house viewing in secret... how?

[garycat]

I have a house I rent out and am thinking of selling in the next few months. One of my wife's friends is very interested in buying the house but how can we allow them to view it while the tenants are still in residence.

All I can think of is telling the tenants we are going to do an inspection and then at the last minute telling them some friends are going to do it as we can't make it.

We don't want to involve the letting agent as we will then have to pay about £6K commission on the sale.

Any ideas?

[Olf]

Why not - sounds sensible - your trusted nominee is going to do the inspection for you. Problem is they'll want to see it more than once!

[hornetrider]

garycat said:

Any ideas?

Doesn't really matter if the tennants know, does it? Just inform them and crack on without the agent.

[Vespula]

Tell the tenants the truth, the more time they have to prepare for a move the easier it is for them. MTFU.

[fatboy b]

Vespula said:

Tell the tenants the truth, the more time they have to prepare for a move the easier it is for them. MTFU.

^^^^ This. Just be honest and give them as much time as poss to find somewhere else. In reality, it's going to be 2-3 months anyway before any sale goes through.

[garycat]

Vespula said:

Tell the tenants the truth, the more time they have to prepare for a move the easier it is for them. MTFU.

True, but the tenants have not been good (late payments, annoying the neighbours etc) and they have also expressed an interest in buying the place themselves so they may make it awkward for us.

[HOGEPH]

Buy a pair of these.

[ianash]

We don't want to involve the letting agent as we will then have to pay about £6K commission on the sale.

Any ideas?
[/quote]

Why would you have to pay the letting agent any commission, after all they are not introducing the buyer.

[RemainAllHoof]

Fit hidden remote webcams in all rooms. You can allow your friends to view the house without them even setting foot in there. And if the tenants are hotties, I suggest buying the domain xxxtenants.com. If the tenants find the webcams just tell them it was because your friends wanted to view the property prior to purchase. I'm sure the judge will accept that excuse.

[touching cloth]

Could you post the terms of the contract that make you think you'd have to pay the agent a sale commission. Have certainly seen letting contracts that included provision for a sales commission if selling to the tenants, but not for selling to other people... seems ludicrous.