A viewers perspective on your home...

Doozergirl

It's not rocket science to clean your house before viewings. If people can't be bothered to do it out of simple pride, they won't be doing it because someone pointed out the obvious to them on a forum.

It doesn't put me off; it's all reflected in the offer price. Have enough confidence in your own ability to create a lved home rather than someone elses and you will save money.

DVardysShadow

ali-t wrote: »

What would you have preferred they did with the dog? Should it have been in the house? I would have thought that the garden was the most appropriate place for the dog so your viewing wasn't interrupted.

Made a casserole, to give the smell of home cooking.

shirlgirl2004

ali-t wrote: »

What would you have preferred they did with the dog? Should it have been in the house? I would have thought that the garden was the most appropriate place for the dog so your viewing wasn't interrupted.

Thanked you by accident :rolleyes:

My dogs were taken for a walk when someone came to view. It really isn't that difficult. Gardens are a selling feature and I want to be able to go outside and see how overlooked a garden is etc you can't always do that from the back windows.

Fire_Fox

I'd scrub a place from top to bottom the day I got the keys anyway. I bought one filthy cottage (filled an upright Dyson from just one room, later found out it was infested with fleas :eek:), smartened it up and made enough profit to split two ways and still buy my current home outright. Worst house in the best street and all that.

shirlgirl2004

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I'd scrub a place from top to bottom the day I got the keys anyway. I bought one filthy cottage (filled an upright Dyson from just one room, later found out it was infested with fleas :eek:), smartened it up and made enough profit to split two ways and still buy my current home outright. Worst house in the best street and all that.

It's easy enough to scrub a small house from top to bottom but not a large family home when you have children in tow. I agree about the worst house in the best street though.

olias

Last property I sold, first buyer offered full asking price, but pulled out over a concern over access. Second buyer also offered and paid the full asking price (which I had pitched £10000 above the EA valuation!

I cleaned the house top to bottom and put fresh flowers around before every viewing. I bought brand new duvets, bedding and pillows and only put them on prior to each viewing. Bought fresh bedding plants etc to dot around the garden so there was always something in bloom. Made sure EVERY diy job was completed fully. Put baskets of fresh fruit etc in (decluttered) kitchen prior to every viewing. Bought expensive magazines for coffee table and bedside tables etc etc etc.

OK so that little lot was a monumental pain in the a55, and expensive, but the house sold quickly and for full asking price.

House was a cottage in a national park and so I was 'selling the lifestyle'.

Olias

Fire_Fox

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

It's easy enough to scrub a small house from top to bottom but not a large family home when you have children in tow. I agree about the worst house in the best street though.

It was three bedrooms and my long-suffering parents gave us a hand moving. I don't have kids but if I did I'd do my level best to ensure they were out of the way for the entire day - if at all possible I'd palm them off on family or close friends overnight with the offer of returning the favour.

poppysarah

airfresheners often equals damp... or something equally nasty lurking. or people seriously obsessed with covering up smells.

ognum

I would never let an EA viewing person sell my home. It is important to be pleasant look casual but clean and be available to answer all questions.
I know this has been debated elsewhere but I always allow buyers the time to wander through the house alone. It is important for viewers to imagine their things in the space and if you stand by them its hard to think things through. The house is clean but not fanatically so. It is also important for viewers to feel you are relaxed and have nothing to hide.
I have never had a house on the market for more than a week and have always sold over asking. (Have just done so again)

Knub

I'm a FTB and have recently had an offere accepted on a house me and my OH are really happy with. It's all in the "process" with lenders and solicitors atm so fingers crossed...

Anyway, I wanted to comment on my experience looking at houses in the past 3 months trying to find the "one".

A few things I have learnt quite quickly and simply, are, that nearly all estate agents are money grabbing sob's, they "work" for the owner but don't care about them or you; just their commission (I find this very Sad, but it IS business I suppose). I found this true of all your major EA brands. The types that have young 18-20 somethings showing you around, make no effort in "selling" the house when you are there, but email /text/phone you all !!!!!!!g day to get the next viewing sorted.

The only good experience I had was with the independant EA's and even then they weren't great.

It's amazing walking around some people's houses how little they do to tidy/clean/get it sold but still have the asking price set to what it MIGHT have been worth 2-3 years ago...baffling.

Getting to the point of desperation, finally found our house I mentioned at the start. The EA was independant but the viewing was actually performed by the lady who owned the house. Lived there 20+ years, raised her children there, it was all nice and clean, airy, well maintaned, all the essentials (cooker, heating, glazing, insulation) all perfectly done and within the past 3 years. SHE was the one who sold us the property in the end.

With regards to selling a property, I don't know if some people generally think it will sell itself and if they have to make no effort at all but as a FTB I'm impressed with places that feel like a home and cared for, rather than a single batchelor's house that hasn't been cleaned/maintained since he lived there.

The ideas of fresh flowers, home cooking are really good. With a well maintained home you are definaltey on the right track, imo.

Another good one my boss used to do when being visited by the bank manager; get a coffee perculator on and get the smell of fresh coffee in the air!