Observations gained from 30+ viewings!!!

WestonDave

There are clearly people out there who think the rest of the population came down in the last shower or have the same excellent (i.e. dreadful) taste as them.

We're buying a classic example of the "decorated to a high standard". Did a first viewing, agent phones to enquire as to our opinion. "Not worth anything like what you are asking" says I, "Oh really why would that be" replies agent a bit testily. I then proceeded to point out that underneath the nice new carpet and fresh paint lay an outdated heating system with odd radiators - sure fire giveaway that it needed ripping out and redoing, a 1960's electrical system with one socket per room - again rip out and redo, 1970's slime green kitchen units, and a coloured bathroom suite. We left him to stew and after they'd dropped the asking price £35k we offered and eventually had accepted £10k below that. I should point out that in this instance the vendor was a lovely old lady who'd clearly been led up the garden path by the agent who was kite flying in the hope of catching a mug relocating from London.

Other classics we've seen were the loft conversion which had involved remodelling the first floor such that there was no way of getting to the bathroom or loft room without going through either one of the two original bedrooms. Then there was the house with the third bedroom that was literally the size of a single mattress, and the house where the owner proudly showed us the space under the house that he'd excavated himself and shored up the foundations with a few breeze blocks. :eek: My parents who've just moved saw a house with a conservatory that had a toilet cubicle in the middle of the back wall.

DKLS

Just returned from 2 more viewings, 1st 3 bed semi, decor dated but clean, tidy, fairly uncluttered, tidy garden and obviously cared for.

The other in an unfamiliar area, well it was the first viewing that I have done where the details only had a photo of the exterior. I now know why :eek: :eek: :eek: I was met by a "lovely" lady who had 3 green teeth unwashed hair and her extended brood, I swear I could hear banjos in the background!!, was waiting for the line "your not from round here are you boy"

I should have jumped in the car and sped off at that point, but no Mr Polite strikes again, exactly how many times can one say this room has a lovely high ceiling? Also a first of seeing a black carpet that was actually patterned

On returning home I had to dive in the shower And i have just noticed after 3flea bites on my ankle:eek:

I now have two new rules, I will now only view at the top end of my budget and will never ever view a property that has no internal photos.

Rapidly losing the will to carry on
Am off to gym now to spend 30 mins in the steam room to deep clean my self.

rls1973

MascaraMinx wrote:

some people even put vamilla essence in the oven on a low heat to get a decent aroma!

that s a nice idea, will try that myself (my house is not for sale though!)

the first house we ever bought together was a bit of a tip, which didnt matter cos we were going to do it from scratch anyway. however, when we moved in after exchanging contracts etc., found a wardrobe in the middle of the floor and a note from the seller who had only moved down the road, saying would we mind keeping it there till he had chance to deal with it. didnt leave us much choice!!
well you try and be friendly but after about 3 months we had to force hiim to collect it by threatening to take it to the tip. looking back we must have been soft to last as long as that, we were young and naive back then!! :rotfl:

MissMotivation

I could tell you some real horror stories about properties that I have been in to value and although "some" agents are to blame for the state and price of certain properties that come onto the market I tell people if I think they need to make improvements to the property before it comes onto the market.

However some people just do not get it, for example, I went to value a property 2 weeks ago that was a deceased estate. I met the nephew of the old guy that had died (he was actually living in the property at this point). The property was a dump, it stank to high heaven, dried food on table, coffee cups with mould growing on them, beds dirty and unmade, an unbelievable amount of clutter, lawns that were knee high......I could go on and on.

Anway to get to the point.......I told him that before we could market the property he would have to clean, tidy (light a bomb under it lol) His reply was "what is the bare minimum I can do? Some people have no shame, i've lost count of the amount of times I've been into properties with disgustingly diry toilets, dirty underwear lying on the floor etc.

I don't understand people, I would be embarassed to let people in if my house was like that! These people are generally the ones that want top price for the property then can't understand why it's not selling!

Mrs_Arkwright

DKLS wrote:

exactly how many times can one say this room has a lovely high ceiling?

AAARRHGHGHGHGHGH one of my viewers said that today!

Was it you?

I don't have green teeth though

Goober_Girl

I have viewed two properties over the weekend. Both filthy but owners not in the least embarrassed about it. One, who was quite eccentric, said 'we've been here 8 years and haven't had to do much to the place...' Yeah! Not even cleaned in 8 years I reckon! He's pretty sure he's gonna get 35K over the 'offers over' price as 'one down the street' went for whatever...

At the 2nd viewing the place was even dirtier, weird vendor attempting to mask smell by the most vile incense sticks I've ever smelled. I couldn't see one of the bedrooms as her adult son was still in bed! It was nearly midday! The rest of the house was packed to the gunnels with so much clutter it appeared half the size. This woman didn't have verbal scoots, she hardly said a word! I can chat to most folk but she was seriously hard going to get any info. out of her.

Fortunately I can see through all this when viewing houses but I'm sure they'll be astonished when they don't achieve their expected price.