Should I let the buyer move in prior to closing?

I crinched at just the title. Never a good idea. Doesnt mean I havent done that but should never be good option.

Tammy, I also advise against the sellers staying past the closing date.  Let the sellers move on and the buyers move in.

Never, never, never, never!!! The potential problems and liability are just not worth it! In NC we have a buyer possession before closing that's good for 7 days, which I've used on occassion when a closing (more often recording) had to be delayed due to circumstances beyond everyone's control. But overall, the answer needs to be never, never, never, never!

I agree 100%.  No good every comes from this.   The same can be said for the seller renting back.  No, no.  And NO!  xxoo

I wouldn't ever recommend staying in the house prior to owning it.  Nope, too many things can go wrong.

Tammy, I totally agree. It is definitely not a good idea. Your points should make any seller think twice before allowing it.

If for no other reason than they'll see the house in a new light that might not be favorable, I totally agree.

Knowing how hard it is to get someone out, you don't want to be eager to let someone in. Saying that, there is plenty to do prior to keep one busy...The move-in (if any) day will present itself soon enough

In rare instances, it could work and become a saving grace to buyers-in-wait; but in general, I agree, it's often fraught with potential problems and just not a good idea!

A home loses part of its sparkle and magic after it becomes familiar to a buyer, and that's when buyers start to see the dark side of the home. Most agents would say let them discover that when they have their feet up on the coffeetable and watching TV in the home that they actually own and are not "about" to own.

There have been extenuating circumstances over the past 40 years that I can count one hand when it was OK to let a buyer take early occupancy, but generally, the answer is NO. There are more reasons against than for.

1. You are only inviting trouble when you let someone in the home before the closing. It only invites big trouble where you could lose your home. People change after they move in and there are a lot of scam artists around
2. NJ

Tammy,

There is only one reason why this is not a good idea...LIABILITY!!!  Ocassionally, there have been situations where it was merited with both buyer and seller agreeing to sign a hold harmless agreement.

Cheers!

Hi Tammy. I agree. It is way too problematic to let a buyer move in before closing.

I would have to consider whether or not it would be something I would advise my clients on.  As an exclusive buyers agent it would be buyer directed.  We do have contracts "Agreement to Occupy Prior to Closing" which cover it all.  It might be that my clients are moving cross country, have all their furniture in the moving van because their property closed.  The moving people say "it's a window" and they might be there on Monday . . . or maybe they'll be there a week from Thrusday.  And if they need to store my client's stuff, it's another gazillion dollars.  If it's a week before closing, the place is vacant, seller agrees, we have the contrant in place, it might work and it might be beneficial to my client.  How odd that it's a major OH NO for buyers, but sellers remain in the property after closing all the time.  Same OH NO the sky is falling can be said about prior owners who have "two days" to move out after closing. If they have possession for any amount of time after closing anything can happen.  We enter into "Agreement to Occupy After Closing" frequently.  I've made that work for my deals many times and the same trepidations can be made of former owners having possession.  

Thank you Tammy, we never recommend our sellers to allow this. Great post!

Agree, agree, agree!! I like your solution in the last paragraph. There are definitely alternatives.

liabiltyg is the biggest part of this. We do have an addendum...how's 10k non refundable deposit, one million in insurance...and the list goes on in our addendum......and THAT should be enough to discourage the practice.

I rarely suggest a buyer interim occupancy for the reasons that you state.  There is too much at risk.  I usually suggest maybe allowing the buyers to move some of their belongings into the garage a few days early as long as they have insurance in place on their current home and their belongings in their state of transit.  That seems to be the best short term solution when two closings need to occur in the same day.