To view or not to view

jangor_2

I have just put my house on the market but unsure if I should view properties I am interested in or wait until I find a prospective purchaser. At present my own property is empty, will this make it harder to sell?

With thanks.

pinkshoes

I think many sellers find it irritating if those viewing aren't in a position to proceed with a purchase, so personally I would wait until you have an offer.

An empty property has never put me off unless one of the rooms is an unusual shape, in which case it's rather difficult to imagine where all the furniture should go.

PottyHouse_2

Interesting question and be interesting to see the different replies on this one.

Not sure if your house would be harder to sell if it's empty - that wouldn't put me off personally I don't think, as I have the "scope" to see myself and my furniture living in a property - some people don't have that vision.

RE; you viewing other properties, it wouldn't hurt I suppose if you can view so that you can see what is out there but be aware if you fall in love with a property and want to buy it, that property may well have sold before you have sold yours, so you may be disappointed.

Personally, and this is not aimed at you, just our view -
having been on the market for nearly a year and waiting for the bottom of our chain to complete (again!) we are only letting "proceedables" view our property as with two very young children at home we cannot tolerate time wasters (before anyone's back gets up, not all viewers are timewasters I know) - if people want to have a nose, thats what Rightmove is for !!!!

Not meaning to pry but just wondering why your property is empty ?? You might get some advice saying to buy some furniture etc and stage your home so that people can get some vision on how your property would suit them ?

The market I believe is picking up again and I guess with the weather back to normal now viewings will be picking up too - good luck with yours !

princessamy86

I would say go and view. If everybody waited to get an offer on their property before viewing, sales would take much much longer! Imagine...someone has to wait for a first time buyer or chain free buyer to make them an offer, then the next person up has to find somewhere, and make an offer...and so on. It can take a while to find a house which is suitable. At work (I'm an EA), I encourage people to view as long as they have their property on the market. If they find something they like, and put a dependable offer in, then they have a clearer indication of how much they can accept for their own property.

With regards to your property being empty, it depends what sort of area you are in and what sort of property you have. In a predominantly "family" area, in close proximity to a good school, potential buyers would probably prefer to see furniture. Investors prefer to see without, as a general rule, but there's not really an easy answer to your question. Your best bet is to identify your most likely target market and cater to them if possible. However, I often think obviously unlived in properties where the vendor has put a few odd bits of furniture around the place can look worse. In that situation, I would be inclined to make sure any odd jobs were done, the place was clean and tidy and above all warm for viewings.

nollag2006

By all means, go and start viewing. If you delay starting viewings until you have an offer, then this could delay the sale of your own house, and you might even lose your buyer.

As for the property being empty - that might suggest to a purchaser that the house is not lived in and that you are keen to sell. As an investor, I would low bid on empty properties. It might be better to stick some old furniture in there.

jangor_2

Thankyou for the responses. I bought the house two years ago but decided it was not the right area for me and moved out to rented accommodation. A relative has been living in the property but left recently which is the reason the property is empty as I do not wish to return. I have left all the curtains and blinds in situ and all the white goods in the kitchen and have also left the CH heating ticking over. I have thoroughly cleaned, had a tatty leanto removed and a new kitchen door fitted.

Milliewilly

Yes this is a bit chicken and egg. I am in the same position. My house is on the market and I am looking seriously to move. Rightmove is only an indicator as you don't know until you view the property exactly what its like as the EA's use wide angled lenses to make everything look bigger particularly gardens and driveways / garaging which is what I am particularly fussy about.

If I view a house I will only view if I am seriously interested. Just because their house isn't sold doesn't mean the buyer is not proceedable. You could get a bridging loan, pay cash or reduce your house significantly to sell once you find something to buy.

Even if yours is SSTC it can still fall though.

For me the problem is finding something to buy and I don't want to rent as I have a cat and anywhere that allows pets is generally a dump. Plus for many of us renting is hugely more expensive than their mortgage payments.

PottyHouse_2

princessamy86 wrote: »

I would say go and view. If everybody waited to get an offer on their property before viewing, sales would take much much longer! Imagine...someone has to wait for a first time buyer or chain free buyer to make them an offer, then the next person up has to find somewhere, and make an offer...and so on. It can take a while to find a house which is suitable. At work (I'm an EA), I encourage people to view as long as they have their property on the market. If they find something they like, and put a dependable offer in, then they have a clearer indication of how much they can accept for their own property.

With regards to your property being empty, it depends what sort of area you are in and what sort of property you have. In a predominantly "family" area, in close proximity to a good school, potential buyers would probably prefer to see furniture. Investors prefer to see without, as a general rule, but there's not really an easy answer to your question. Your best bet is to identify your most likely target market and cater to them if possible. However, I often think obviously unlived in properties where the vendor has put a few odd bits of furniture around the place can look worse. In that situation, I would be inclined to make sure any odd jobs were done, the place was clean and tidy and above all warm for viewings.

Now, looking at it from your point of view, what you are saying makes sense !!

I think it is my personal circumstances that limits me into not having proceedable viewings but I completely see the other side now. I think to be flexible is probably the best way to go !

P.S How is business going? 2 weeks since the start of the year I am really interested to know if things are picking up - thanks.

PottyHouse_2

Milliewilly wrote: »

Yes this is a bit chicken and egg. I am in the same position. My house is on the market and I am looking seriously to move. Rightmove is only an indicator as you don't know until you view the property exactly what its like as the EA's use wide angled lenses to make everything look bigger particularly gardens and driveways / garaging which is what I am particularly fussy about.

If I view a house I will only view if I am seriously interested. Just because their house isn't sold doesn't mean the buyer is not proceedable. You could get a bridging loan, pay cash or reduce your house significantly to sell once you find something to buy.

Even if yours is SSTC it can still fall though.

For me the problem is finding something to buy and I don't want to rent as I have a cat and anywhere that allows pets is generally a dump. Plus for many of us renting is hugely more expensive than their mortgage payments.

We had that problem last year, we did sell, but couldn't find a house in the area we wanted - we did consider renting but with 2 young children I couldn't put us through moving twice and paying "through the nose" for a dump like you say !! Same here, the rents are nearly double what we would pay in monthly mortgage payment for anything decent !! Plus all those deposits and credit checks to pay before you even get in.
So, in the end we "settled" for a property we were kidding ourselves about and needless to say it fell through just before Xmas so really the best thing for us.
Yes, we are well aware that being SSTC everything could fall through - we have been there twice now! (real pain when you think of all the viewing opportunities that could have been missed!)

The most useful thing I find on Rightmove / EA's details are the FLOORPLANS. I can look at them and decide straight away whether the property is the one for us, or not !!!
I think some EA don't put them on as they want boots through doors for their viewing targets - same as hardly putting any photos on if the house is a dump so they don't put anyone off - anyone agree ????!!!!!

PottyHouse_2

jangor wrote: »

Thankyou for the responses. I bought the house two years ago but decided it was not the right area for me and moved out to rented accommodation. A relative has been living in the property but left recently which is the reason the property is empty as I do not wish to return. I have left all the curtains and blinds in situ and all the white goods in the kitchen and have also left the CH heating ticking over. I have thoroughly cleaned, had a tatty leanto removed and a new kitchen door fitted.

I think the most important thing to me as a Buyer if I view an empty property that it is clean, smells fresh and warm (as someone else has recommended).

Good that you have window coverings etc as it won't look empty from outside and attract unwanted attention!

White goods in kitchen good so you can see where appliances can go.

I guess the bedrooms are probably important when it comes to furniture as some people may want to see what else you can fit in there apart from a double or single bed ... wardrobes, bedside tables etc.

If you can't buy furniture, see if anyone is able to borrow you some.

Not sure if your EA gave you any advice when you do start to get viewings ? unless they will be showing people around, and they should have the "gift of the gab" !!!

Good luck - hoping you get a property you love in a new area you love !!

princessamy86

PottyHouse wrote: »

Now, looking at it from your point of view, what you are saying makes sense !!

I think it is my personal circumstances that limits me into not having proceedable viewings but I completely see the other side now. I think to be flexible is probably the best way to go !

P.S How is business going? 2 weeks since the start of the year I am really interested to know if things are picking up - thanks.

I do understand how hard it is to keep tidying up for viewers, particularly with two young children! Flexibility really is the best thing if you can manage it-more viewers= more chance you will sell your house. You'd be surprised how many sales are put together by feeding a reduction down a chain. Vendor 1 wants a quick sale so will sell to Vendor 2 at a reduced price, meaning Vendor 3 can drop below the stamp duty threshold to attract a first time buyer-if you see what I mean!

We've been absolutely heaving since coming back after Christmas, 7 sales on the board (for a very small office with a previous record sales month of 5). Loads of new properties on the market, loads of viewings and more offers coming in. However, the offers are normally low and negotiation is fierce. In a market where there's a lot of new properties coming on each week the buyers know that they can walk away and they have a good chance of finding a similar property. It does depend where in the country you are though!