Question about accompanied viewings

Greymarl

This is possibly a daft question but how do you ensure that your estate agents relay vital information that could help a prospective buyer to make a decision on your property?

There are things about my property which I think are good features such as that the boiler is new and of good quality, perhaps the quality of the materials used or other little features for example, which may or may not be obvious to prospective buyers. I would probably want to draw attention to such details as it may help their decision, but I won't be doing the viewings myself.

I know buyers are not stupid (well some are, I was ), but I don't think it would hurt emphasise certain good points about it. I know because it has recently been refurbished I would not want to give the impression that it has been done on the cheap as it hasn't, but maybe I am not giving viewers enough credit to judge for themselves.

I did toy with the idea of leaving an information sheet of my own but on balance think it might look like I am desperate to sell (which I am not).

Will the estate agent ask me for answers to common questions about council tax/flooding/burglaries to relay to them also? It has frustrated me hugely when viewing houses that time and again estate agents haven't known the answers to some really very basic questions.

Just curious really as I've not sold before.

Doozergirl

Be there! You don't have to leave.

You think buyers aren't stupid, but once you've had a few viewings, you'll change your mind.

I had a doctor, a consultant, an apparantly intelligent man who was looking for the last bedroom because we have one bedroom set up as a lounge for the kids. For some reason he'd decided it was a lounge and couldn't get his head around it. Twice he asked me about the missing bedroom.

It's also taken the EA weeks to work out that a heavily insulated house, expensive gas filled windows and a brand new boiler means lower fuel bills.

Greymarl

Thanks DG. I can't be there unfortunately, due to our working hours my partner and I will find it difficult to attend, and we're not living in the property.

Loving your story

tattyuk75

Maybe recruit a friend to act as mystery shopper?

First thing I'd do is send an email or something to your EA with bullet points of things you find relevant and get them to acknowledge it. I would have thought that EAs would like to be in possession of all the features and benefits of your home, you never know what may tip someone into making an offer, so I would think they would be grateful for your input.

Greymarl

tattyuk75 wrote: »

Maybe recruit a friend to act as mystery shopper?

First thing I'd do is send an email or something to your EA with bullet points of things you find relevant and get them to acknowledge it. I would have thought that EAs would like to be in possession of all the features and benefits of your home, you never know what may tip someone into making an offer, so I would think they would be grateful for your input.

The first is covered, I have someone lined up all ready to go, thank you for the suggestion.

The second is a very good idea, I like that, thanks! I will do as you suggest (and perhaps they will take that information along with them to the viewings). And then the mystery shopper can see how they fare

grimsalve

If I was selling my house I'd want to do the viewings myself so I can highlight the good bits (and steer potential buyers away from the bits I don't want them to see ). I enjoyed doing it after a while.

I was accompanied by an EA on a viewing once (for a vacant property I'd seen advertised on RM) and wasn't impressed at all - she basically just unlocked the front door to let me in, then she popped out for a ciggy. When she came back I had a couple of questions for her and she just shrugged and said she didn't know.

hazyjo

You'll approve the EA's details, so just make sure it's clear on the front page - there are usually bullet points of plus points. Make sure it's included on that. If they love your house, they'll probably then read the details with a fine tooth comb. The details or facts themselves are very unlikely to sell your house to any prospective buyer. If they love the house, a new boiler will be a huge bonus. If they don't like it, a new boiler ain't gonna make a jot of difference.

I'd not worry too much - just make sure it's clearly listed on the details, and picked out as a front-page bullet point.

Jx

nomoneytoday

Tell the EA to emphasise the good points.
Whether or not a viewer cares is a different matter, as many will update, redecorate and change the house once it's theirs anyway

Greymarl

hazyjo wrote: »

If they love the house, a new boiler will be a huge bonus. If they don't like it, a new boiler ain't gonna make a jot of difference.

Very true. I suppose it affects what sort of offer is made if any to some extent, rather than the difference between offering and not. I wanted to highlight that it doesn't need anything doing as it's an older property, more than anything. I think I am overthinking this!

InkZ

Been viewing loads of properties lately and Estate agents are so different. We've had some that show us every detail of the house, most just say this is the lounge, this is the bedroom etc, and one said 'I'm sure you've heard it all before, just take a look around' and didn't even come up the stairs with us!

Before picking an agent I would suggest doing a couple of viewings with them first, or getting a friend to. They all cost roughly the same but the difference in service is immense.

Just to add, personally I couldn't care less about the boiler in a house and. Just looking for somewhere the right size, shape etc and isn't too much work to make it livable. Boilers etc can always be sorted later.

googler

Greymarl wrote: »

This is possibly a daft question but how do you ensure that your estate agents relay vital information that could help a prospective buyer to make a decision on your property?

Give them a list of them

There are things about my property which I think are good features such as that the boiler is new and of good quality, perhaps the quality of the materials used or other little features for example, which may or may not be obvious to prospective buyers. I would probably want to draw attention to such details as it may help their decision, but I won't be doing the viewings myself.

Bear in mind that some 'quality of materials' which is important to you may not matter a fig to your viewer. Likewise, things you consider are 'vital' may not matter to them either

You might want to establish whether or not it'll be the same person doing the viewings for you each time - the effect of such a discussion above will be diluted if it's a different viewing person each time.

I did toy with the idea of leaving an information sheet of my own but on balance think it might look like I am desperate to sell (which I am not).

You could give the info sheet to the EA, but you might want to trust the EA on what the important points are, and allow him to gloss over the ones that buyers are unlikely to show an interest in. After all, if he's doing accompanied viewings on a daily basis, who's more likely to be in tune with what buyers are asking about and feel is important? You or him? Especially since -

I've not sold before.

"Will the estate agent ask me for answers to common questions about council tax/flooding/burglaries to relay to them also? It has frustrated me hugely when viewing houses that time and again estate agents haven't known the answers to some really very basic questions."

All I can say is - have an open discussion with your EA about what you and he both feel are the points to emphasise and discuss with viewers. You might want to establish if it will be the same person conducting your viewings each time, as said above