Why Sellers Want Direct Contact

The appeal of direct communication is understandable. Property transactions can feel slow and opaque — information passes through agents and solicitors, and sellers often feel they have little visibility of what is happening. Direct contact with the buyer feels like a way to cut through the noise, build a relationship, and keep things moving.

The Genuine Benefits

Direct communication can genuinely help in specific situations:

• Arranging access for surveys, valuations, or specialist inspections
• Discussing practical matters like what fixtures and fittings are included
• Agreeing a completion date that works for both parties
• Providing reassurance during a slow or anxious period in the transaction
• Resolving minor misunderstandings quickly without waiting for solicitors to correspond

The Risks

The risks of direct communication are real and often underestimated:

• Sellers can make commitments — about what is included, what work will be done, what the completion date will be — that create legal complications
• Buyers can use direct conversations to apply pressure or extract concessions that they would not get through formal channels
• Information shared informally can affect the legal position of either party
• Direct conversations are not recorded in the same way as solicitor correspondence, which can create disputes about what was agreed
• Emotional conversations — about survey findings, delays, or price renegotiation — are harder to manage without the buffer of professional intermediaries

The Golden Rule

The golden rule for direct seller-buyer communication is: keep it practical, not legal. Discuss access arrangements, completion preferences, and what is included in the sale. Do not discuss price, survey findings, legal enquiries, or anything that your solicitor should be handling. If a conversation starts to move into legal territory, redirect it: 'I think that's something our solicitors should deal with — I'll ask mine to pick it up.'

Keeping Your Solicitor Informed

If you do communicate directly with your buyer, keep your solicitor informed of anything that is relevant to the transaction. A brief email summarising what was discussed is usually sufficient. This ensures your solicitor is not working with incomplete information and can address any issues that arise from the conversation.