to view or not to view

weemissy

Sorry - long post, looking for your opinions on this. couldn't decide whether or not to put house on market - would like more room and been debating on and off for a while. There are now things I would do if I'm staying or cosmetic things if I'm selling. So by chance saw a really nice house for sale 2 weeks ago and viewed it twice, this has sort of made up my mind to get mine sorted and put on market - have had estate agents round, mortgage guy etc since seeing this house. Anyway was telling my sister that there are another 3 houses have just come on which I would like to view and she was horrified, apparently I'm wasting peoples time and raising hopes for nothing as I'm not in a position to sell, if she was seller she would be really angry and tell the estate agents not to allow viewers who aren't in a position to buy immediately. I pointed out that this is allowing me to get an idea of what I want and don't want - house style, street etc. because if I was lucky enough to sell I would have nowhere to go so would like to know exactly where and what was on offer. I don't like viewing peoples houses, I feel awkward, this was why I had to go back and 2nd view last house because didn't like to have good look first time:o
Now I feel bad about this and am thinking maybe I'm being unfair to sellers.
What do you think?

PasturesNew

I'd side with your sister.. you can get an idea on what's available by looking at leaflets and online, or doing drive-bys, just don't do the viewings until you've got an offer.

Once you've got an offer on yours you can phone round the agents to set up viewings... they'll treat you better too knowing you are in a position to buy.

Blacksheep1979

Surely you're being 'mean' to the buyers if you have nowhere to move...

QTPie

Personally, I think that you should make your position CLEAR to the EA... "My house isn't on the market yet" and let the vendor decide. That is fair: if a vendor is willing to take the viewings then it is up to them and you are not imposing (or raising the hopes) of someone falsely.

I agree with PasturesNew - you can get a good idea of a house/area, but online details, "drive bys" and using things like "streetview" on Google or "birds eye view" on Multimap (if you are in a town/city). I am really not a fan os people viewings is they are not seriously interested in a specific property (i.e. just to get "an idea" of what an area/street/period of property are like...).

QT

westv

I would have thought that most EAs wouldn't even give you the time of day if your property isn't even on the market yet.

weemissy

thanks everyone for your views, I'm staying within my current estate, the estate agents said it wasn't a problem to view, but I think they were keen for me to market with them, the owner of the house I viewed said he had had 5 viewings - none of which could buy immed. and he himself had viewed a good few houses. Although I said I would have nowhere to go if sold this wouldn't impact on any buyers, would do emergency squeeze in with relative - very short term to sustain school, nursery and work. Next door to me went to view a house last year and ended up swapping with the owner who was wanting to downsize, who knows maybe this will happen because owner was asking about mine - they are downsizing and want to stay in area. Meanwhile I think I will leave the viewings for now. Have started getting mine in order and will hopefully market soon:eek:
thanks again

chickmug

weemissy wrote: »

thanks everyone for your views, I'm staying within my current estate, the estate agents said it wasn't a problem to view, but I think they were keen for me to market with them, the owner of the house I viewed said he had had 5 viewings - none of which could buy immed. and he himself had viewed a good few houses. Although I said I would have nowhere to go if sold this wouldn't impact on any buyers, would do emergency squeeze in with relative - very short term to sustain school, nursery and work. Next door to me went to view a house last year and ended up swapping with the owner who was wanting to downsize, who knows maybe this will happen because owner was asking about mine - they are downsizing and want to stay in area. Meanwhile I think I will leave the viewings for now. Have started getting mine in order and will hopefully market soon:eek:
thanks again

Right here is my view as an agent.

The more that view providing they can afford the better. And this is regardless of the current position with their house sale. We regularly have people come back who have viewed well in the past who weren't sure if they wanted to move and what they wanted. So physically viewing helped them make the minds up.

So I say let them view and I am 100% of this opinion. Yes some sellers felt it wasn't right until I explained what could happen, to their benefit, and never knew any seller moan about any viewing.

After all you don't buy a 3 piece suite without looking round - you really can't tell from the web or leaflets. But perhaps a good idea to look on web and leaflets to help you shortlist as well as drive by some houses.

oneeye1

tyre kickers are a waist of time and ofcourse estate agents say view as they dont do the viewings its no skin off their nose is it

chickmug

oneeye1 wrote: »

tyre kickers are a waist of time and ofcourse estate agents say view as they dont do the viewings its no skin off their nose is it

Seems you are making comment on my post.

Well it is up to the people who read opinions on this public forum and whether they should listen to my advice or takes yours. Oh by the way what is your advice based on - how many houses have you sold?

westv

Well, considering most people try to go to a lot of effort to ensure their houses are just right for viewings, I'm surprised that EAs are prepared to send round people who are not even on the market yet.

chickmug

westv wrote: »

Well, considering most people try to go to a lot of effort to ensure their houses are just right for viewings, I'm surprised that EAs are prepared to send round people who are not even on the market yet.

Because as I tried to explain in my earlier post - many who viewed who had not sold, or who were not on the market were the eventual buyers of the property. This was not a one off position but happened regularly throughout the weeks, months and years.

Or could it be you are another let's knock all the agents?