We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Is being at home for viewings a help or a hinderance?
clairecymru
Posts: 522 Forumite
I would be grateful for people's view points on whether it is best to be at home with people come to view your property or to make sure you are out and let the EA handle everything.
I normally ensure that I am out (most of the time I am at work anyway) because as a buyer I prefer to have the viewings conducted purely by the EA as I don't feel relaxed when the vendors are at the property.
However, yesterday I was at home when people came to view my property. I thought they were coming at 1pm, so I went out for an hour but they were running late and the EA turned up with them at 3pm. The viewers seemed pleased I was there (this was their second viewing) and had loads of questions that they wanted to ask me about the flat and the surrounding area.
I have two more viewings tomorrow and one on Saturday and normally I would ensure that I am out but now I am wondering if I should stay in.
What do you think?
I normally ensure that I am out (most of the time I am at work anyway) because as a buyer I prefer to have the viewings conducted purely by the EA as I don't feel relaxed when the vendors are at the property.
However, yesterday I was at home when people came to view my property. I thought they were coming at 1pm, so I went out for an hour but they were running late and the EA turned up with them at 3pm. The viewers seemed pleased I was there (this was their second viewing) and had loads of questions that they wanted to ask me about the flat and the surrounding area.
I have two more viewings tomorrow and one on Saturday and normally I would ensure that I am out but now I am wondering if I should stay in.
What do you think?
0
Comments
-
You've almost answered it yourself...(2nd viewing) stands out...
For 1st viewing its my preference to be with EA, so you can be brutally honest discussing it with the OH, without worrying about vendor being in earshot, and try to corner the EA for the story on the sale/price/timescale/other interested parties etc.
If you like somewhere and go back for a second viewing, then its much more useful to go round with the vendor's present, so they can answer specific questions, rather than waste your time with an EA who umms and ahhs, because they don't have a clue - then promises to find out for you, and never does...Act in haste, repent at leisure.
dunstonh wrote:Its a serious financial transaction and one of the biggest things you will ever buy. So, stop treating it like buying an ipod.0 -
i think it depends on personal preference. On the one hand, you would be there to answer any questions but then on the other, some people may feel uncomfortable or rushed. If i were viewing a house, i personally would prefer to see the owners there.0
-
For one thing, turning up two hours late, unannounced, is just plain rude, and either the EA or the viewer should have made it clear to you they were going to be late.
Second, you have a flat; what is it about the flat that absolutely demands that you tell the viewer details, but that you can't tell the EA so that he can be prepared to tell them? People say on hear 'I know my house better than the EA', but really - there can't be that much to tell, unless you live in a mansion......
What kind of questions were they that you knew the answers, but that you couldn't have prepped your EA in advance?
Likewise, I wouldn't even hire an EA that didn't know my local area, so that if someone asks about it, the EA knows. Maybe it's different in other parts of the country, or where EAs cover a wider geographical area than the ones around me tend to do, but I'd expect them to know their turf....0 -
I'm with Cloudcuckooland : I infinitely prefer if the vendor is absent at the first viewing and present at the second.
Here are my reasons why:
every potential buyer has entered a property that simply wasn't "it". For a plethora of reasons. It is a gargantuan waste of everybodys time if the EA and vendor then faithfully traipse through the entire house and garden, carefully explaining the benefits/history/whatever with a buyer who has zero interest in ever purchasing it.
Obviously, the most efficient way would be for a potential buyer to honestly declare from the outset "Not for me, not interested - cheers & goodbye". But virtually no one does that WITH the vendor present. It's someones home, that someone has done their best to make it look presentable - it would be rude.
Yet....by not being rude and thus feigning absent interest and appreciation.... it becomes a royal time wasting exercise.
However, for a second viewing I always preferred the vendor there. Asking about relationships with neighbours, upkeep of hedges, time at which the sun leaves the garden, reason for vendor moving, timescale, etc, etc...0 -
I'm moving to a new area and the house I'm buying was shown to me by the vendors.
I thought this was great. I get to see the type of people that live in an area I know little about, the vendors know the house so can show me the house in more detail and we had a chat about the area afterwards too.
I find it more reassuring to have viewed with the vendor if I like the house.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
every potential buyer has entered a property that simply wasn't "it". For a plethora of reasons. It is a gargantuan waste of everybodys time if the EA and vendor then faithfully traipse through the entire house and garden, carefully explaining the benefits/history/whatever with a buyer who has zero interest in ever purchasing it.
I've had a couple of viewings like that (as a buyer) but it was more difficult because the EA didn't do the viewing and it was the vendor showing me round.
Much prefer EA for the first viewing, or better yet one of their assistants who just do their viewings so you don't get the sales patter.0 -
I agree that I have always preferred it when then sellers are out, so you don't feel like you are intruding. I think the most awkward we felt though is when we were looking around a house with tenants - most of the time the tenants don't want to move out, so being the people that could potentially 'do them out of a home' is never going to be comfortable!!
I think the idea of being around for any second viewings is a great idea, as you can answer any queries and generally be welcoming. I imagine if you can form a good relationship with the buyers it makes the process a bit smoother and nicer
0 -
I prefer the owners to be in. You can ask them questions directly any they will have a better idea than the estate agent.0
-
In a (small?) flat more people might make it seem even smaller."A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Ride hard or stay home :iloveyou:0 -
Due to personal circumstances, either my wife or I (or both) and at least some kids are usually at home for viewings. We let the EA and viewers wander round (we don't accompany) but I guess it could still make some viewers uncomfortable.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.7K Spending & Discounts
- 247.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.7K Life & Family
- 262.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards