Performing viewings yourself - any tips?

kr15snw

We're seriously looking at going with the housing network to advertise our home, but obviously this means we need to perform the viewings ourselves and we have no idea where to start!

I've never viewed a home (the one we're buying is a private sale through a friend of a friend) and hubby hasn't for 12 years and only saw our current house and bought it after the first viewing!

So help?

We're slightly concerned as we live in a rabbit warren of an estate on a walkway, and we have parking by our back garden, but if you come to the front door you have to walk up a big grassy hill (with walkways) and I just don't think it gives the best first impression (plus there are no steet signs, so people are likely to get lost. Lol).

Plus when it comes to viewings is there a particular route around the house we should take? Like by the front door we have another room thats basically a glorified shed (lol), do I show them this first?

Do we take them out to view the gardens etc?

Are there any things we should definately mention, and things we don't mention?

Thank you guys

googler

Start and stop with the best room.

By all means show them the garden if the weather's nice, but there's little appeal in doing this if it's raining. Leave them to look at it as they leave if the weather's bad.

Don't offer anything negative about your house or its surroundings. Nothing at all. Not even if the viewers lead you into it, with some grouch about you being 'difficult to find'.....

Let them into each room first. You hang around at the doorway, or outside the room, so they have the room essentially to themselves and you don't crowd them (unless it's a big room). Only enter the room if required to show some feature or other.

Avoid saying "This is the lounge" when it's blatantly obvious which room it is. Try to lead a conversation about the lounge, as you introduce it - "We redecorated the lounge earlier this year....." or "The bathroom suite was replaced in ....."

There's no shame in writing yourself a script, and using this as a prompt as you walk around. Sometimes conversation with the viewers can distract you from what you want to tell them, as opposed to what they want to know.

A quick google for 'showing your own home' (you could try variants) brought forth;

http://www.home-sellers-club.co.uk/sell_own_house_how_to_viewings_day.html

VJ_

I'm just sorting out the mortgage on my first property, so have recently been through quite a few of viewings; on a number, it was the first time the agent had seen the property themselves! They all had different 'styles' I don't think it matters so long as you show your home off in the best light. I knew the type of thing I was looking for, so mostly ignored the agent accept for when asking him questions.

phoebe1989seb

Have a list ready of answers to potential questions they may ask - council tax band, gas/electricity provider, date of last boiler service, situation of local schools, refuse collection days etc etc...........

Neil_in_Bristol

If you feel comfortable with it, once you've shown them around, leave them to wander around on their own. I found it very difficult to discuss things to my wife with the sellers peering over my shoulder throughout the viewing.

Mazzawa

Learn as much about the house/estate/general area as you can. For us, being in a conversion we were able to tell viewers all about its history which on feedback through the EA was greatly appreciated. The more you can tell them, the more you can put them at ease about moving to a new area/part of town the better it is. Be honest about everything so tell them your bills, tell them about any recent repairs you have made but always put it in a positive light - they will appreciate this and tend to be more encouraged to buy a property that is transparent with its history/running costs etc.

Good luck

daisymay2008

I condcuted around 7 viewings on our house and would advise the following

as someone already said try and start and finish with the best room (ours was massive kitchen diner)

point out the all the positives and good points (i used to explain about our made to measure solid fire surround and basically how we hadn't cut corners on anything

I would guide them around and then tell them to take a look on their own if they wanted

I would point out the fact our garden was not overlooked and is south facing

I also explained how nice the neighbours were and the fact that all the neighbours either worked or are retired

I also printed out a word document with details of all the work we had carried out (more detail than the EA brochure) I added my mobile number and also council tax cost utilities etc

I always told them to contact me direct with any questions

oh and de-clutter everything keep it clean and tidy but not over the top so it feels like someone actually lives there, too much air freshener and they may think your hiding smells/damp etc

oh and when you show them your bedroom don't say 'this is where the magic happens' :rotfl:

PasturesNew

Get a PAYG phone just for selling the house. That way, when it rings, you KNOW it's about the house. Also, once sold, you won't then have the new owner phoning up for the next 3 years asking random questions.

terrierlady

avoid doing viewings with gents on their own think safety first, if u do viewings always leave the back door on the latch so that u can escape if god forbid u need too, . in the hallway if going upstairs let him go first , upstairs always keep close to the door ,dont let him control exit route ie allow him to walk towards window u keep close to the door ,cheap alarms for personal use only about £5. Not intended to scare you just think safety tell a neighbour time of arrival if guy on his own due

Seanymph

say as little as possible.

I viewed an overkeen persons house last week, and even if it was my dream home I don't think I'd have bought it because I was all jiggly from too much being said to me for too long.

Her love was her garden - it wasn't mine - but I was introduced to every raspberry cane in every bed and given latin names and spent more time looking at the beds than the house.

Let them set the pace and tone, don't babble, answer questions - say little.

They'll know if they like it or not without you telling them 'that's the kitchen'.

phoebe1989seb

Seanymph wrote: »

say as little as possible.

I viewed an overkeen persons house last week, and even if it was my dream home I don't think I'd have bought it because I was all jiggly from too much being said to me for too long.

Her love was her garden - it wasn't mine - but I was introduced to every raspberry cane in every bed and given latin names and spent more time looking at the beds than the house.

Let them set the pace and tone, don't babble, answer questions - say little.

They'll know if they like it or not without you telling them 'that's the kitchen'.

We had one like that last time we moved - she got out her daughter's wedding photo album and even a magazine feature reporting the event, lol! We left the house with not a clue as to what the place was like as she had completely befuddled us with her gushing and irrelevant smalltalk