Is being at home for viewings a help or a hinderance?

clairecymru

missile wrote: »

In a (small?) flat more people might make it seem even smaller.

This is my biggest reason for normally wanting to be out. My flat can seem overcrowded when there are loads of people in it.

I think I will go out for the viewings today and if they come back for second viewings then if I am at home then I might stick around.

Jebrelli

Like other posters on here, I prefer to view the property with the EA the first time and with the owner the second time.

This week I went round to measure up the flat that I'm buying and ended up chatting away with the seller about the area and neighbours. Also found out that the cellar in the property had quite a lot of money spent on it by the previous owners (installed lighting, power points, telephone line etc) as they used it every day for music rehersals. So that was a pleasant surprise and something the EA knew nothing about.

westv

ClaireyFairy wrote: »

I prefer the owners to be in. You can ask them questions directly any they will have a better idea than the estate agent.

I agree with that. Nobody knows a place better than the owner.

kford224

clairecymru wrote: »

This is my biggest reason for normally wanting to be out. My flat can seem overcrowded when there are loads of people in it.

When looking at one house, the owner being in is the thing that made us realise that the house really wasn't for us. She answered the door to us and the EA, and it was SO difficult getting into the house. The hallway was really narrow and the seller had to go into the kitchen in order for us to go through to the lounge!! We knew immediately that we couldn't live like that.

TOBRUK

I have always been at home when people are viewing but I keep well out of the way as the estate agent carries out the viewings. Wherever room I am in I move out of the way when they are viewing that particular room.

The EA introduces me when they arrive and if there are any questions they may ask me after going around the house. It is surprising what sort of questions some ask.

I have also been on the other end where I have been viewing a property. When I need to ask a question I like to see their reaction and their body language - especially when asking about neighbours etc.

Over a week ago I had an offer on my house and last weekend had to do some viewings of my own - 5 properties on Saturday which was a marathon! I am moving 100 miles away to be near family. I have a cash buyer and therefore need to move fast!

Yesterday I made an offer on a property which they accepted - I only had 1 viewing! The people selling showed me 'round (I had members of my family with me) and it was fine. As I live so far away and considering that I don't want to lose the sale I only had a chance for 1 viewing before making a decision - if I had left it a couple of weeks to go and see it again it would probably have gone!

westv

Am I the only one that has never viewed a property with an EA (apart from when a place is unoccupied)? I suppose with the EA I've used it's always been taken as read that the vendor does the viewing.

Jerryjerryjerry

It all depends. If you're a Vera Duckworth type, then yes, you will be a hinderence. However, if you're a cool, calm type, then you could even be a help.

When I sold my house two years ago, the estate agents took about 60/70 people around my house.

I showed (at the estate agent's request), two seperate couples around my house and one of those couples actually ended up buying.

A lot of buyers actually prefer to deal with the owner because the owner knows more about the property, the area and the people surrounding the place better. For instance, the buyer of my old house was a trumpet player and he wanted to know what my neighbours would think of the noise. I told him that my neighbours were more or less deaf and that the walls were very thick. That sold it.

The neighbours aren't really deaf but well, he can't sue me now.. its too late.

tyler80

We have had some estate agents doing viewings but only where the owners are dead!

Every other viewing has been done by the owner. I didn't realise this was unusual until recently

TOBRUK

westv wrote: »

Am I the only one that has never viewed a property with an EA (apart from when a place is unoccupied)? I suppose with the EA I've used it's always been taken as read that the vendor does the viewing.

On Saturday I had 2 viewings with EA and 3 with the vendors. One viewing I had with an estate agent (the vendor was at home) every question I asked the EA she said 'I don't know' but I'll find out for you! She didn't go and ask the vendor at the time! She didn't know her stuff about the property!

I asked about wall insulation, about the boiler, water meter etc - she couldn't answer. The property had a garage ... well the garage had been converted into a dining room but the garage door was still there! They had bricked up the entrance and made another room! I asked whether they had had planning for the conversion and also if the walls were insulated, I didn't think they would have been able to insulate that wall - single brick/block with garage door behing it!! VERY STRANGE!

The viewing of that property was a waste of time!

mlz1413

TOBRUK wrote: »

.They had bricked up the entrance and made another room! I asked whether they had had planning for the conversion and also if the walls were insulated, I didn't think they would have been able to insulate that wall - single brick/block with garage door behing it!! VERY STRANGE!

sounds like no planning permission / building control told about this which should get flagged by solicitor - but I guess the price probably reflects what the garage is being used for.

To OP I also agree with CCLand, hope the viewings go well for you.