Performing viewings yourself - any tips?

kr15snw

Than you ladies and gents. I assume it's best if just the one of us performs the viewings? So not have both me and my husband here when they turn up?

davehills

I would also have some utility bills handy, (assuming they are not big!) so that you can show them how cheap the house is to run.

Be honest about any obvious repairs that need doing; maybe even have recent quotes to hand to remove any impresion that the house needs a lot of expenditure.

Be prepared for the people you have turning up. If they are of child beading age bone up on all the local schools etc. If they are OAPs be ready to quote bus frequency and where all the pensioner clubs are etc.

As others have said, start and stop in the best room of the house. Have a few vases of bright flowers in the main rooms, remove clutter, remove any traces of pets (Especially if smelly!). Put hanging baskets next to the front door.

Maye sure the front garden is tidy. If your immediate neighbous have junk in their gardens maybe offer to run it to the tip for them.

If the neighbours are noisy arrange viewings for when they are out. Likewise, try and avoid school kicking out time-last thing you need are rowdy teenagers about when prospective buyers are walking down the road. Be prepared for questions like "What's the worst thing about living here?" or "Do you get problems with having a prison next door?" or whatever.

Don't accept any offers straight away, unless you have already decided what you'll accept. Take 24 hours to think on it and don't be afraid to counter offer.

Mostly though, DON'T WORRY! Be relaxed and friendly, but not overly so. Answer any questions honestly, succinctly and prepare to provide any info the person might want. Don't bombard the peron with unwanted info though.

It'll be fine and you'll find a buyer in no time!

davehills

PS: As others have said, let the potential buiyers wander round by themselves a bit. People feel pressured in these situations; remove rthe pressure and people are more likely to make up their own minds.

kr15snw

I'm hoping we'll be ok! Hubby is a decorator so the house has been proper spruced up ready for this. The front room is in the process of being re plastered and painted, with new carpet and furniture coming this week so hoping that room will be proper great. The hallway was done completely last year, I've spent the weekend putting up a new fence in the garden, washing the gravel and putting out new plants (hubby re painted the house last week as well). Oh and next week he's re painting all the rooms (this will take him an hour or 2 for each room) and I'm going to clean the carpets. (all rooms were done in last 3 years though)

Hoping it should be spotless!

Oooh didn't think about local area, will swot up on local schools as they've recently closed most of them and made a 'super primary school' which im not too sure where it is! lol. I do however know about the bus timetable for the oldies hehehe.

We 'think' our house will be aimed at first time buyers. So singles, young couples and young families (the house has 2 large bedrooms but I wouldn't say it was any good for more than 2 kids max (not a huge garden).

Does anyone have tips on dressing the house? Obviously flowers are a great one. So wish they stilled showed House Doctor as Ann would know what to do! lol

davehills

kr15snw wrote: »

Than you ladies and gents. I assume it's best if just the one of us performs the viewings? So not have both me and my husband here when they turn up?

Personally, I'd say have hubby out mowing the lawn or doing the gardening when they view. Maybe it's me but I'd feel less pressured being shown round by a lady than a bloke. What do others think?

He's there if you need him or if personal safety is an issue but sufficiently out of the way so as not to crowd them.

I think It'd also give the impression that you really care for the house if the garden is being tended to.

davehills

kr15snw wrote: »

Oooh didn't think about local area, will swot up on local schools as they've recently closed most of them and made a 'super primary school' which im not too sure where it is! lol. I do however know about the bus timetable for the oldies hehehe.

We 'think' our house will be aimed at first time buyers. So singles, young couples and young families (the house has 2 large bedrooms but I wouldn't say it was any good for more than 2 kids max (not a huge garden).

The OFSTED website is worth a visit. Enter your postcode and you'll find a copy of the OFSTED report which'll give you an indication of how good the school is. If it's good/outstanding make the most of it!! Tell any young couples about the 'fab' school up the road. If they are sitting on the fence about your house it might just swing it in your favour. If the school is cr*p, then you might just want to tell them where the school is and not elaborate!

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports/

PS: I'm a bloke so any 'house dressing' knowledge stops at flowers, for me!

kr15snw

davehills wrote: »

The OFSTED website is worth a visit. Enter your postcode and you'll find a copy of the OFSTED report which'll give you an indication of how good the school is. If it's good/outstanding make the most of it!! Tell any young couples about the 'fab' school up the road. If they are sitting on the fence about your house it might just swing it in your favour. If the school is cr*p, then you might just want to tell them where the school is and not elaborate!

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports/

PS: I'm a bloke so any 'house dressing' knowledge stops at flowers, for me!

I hate to say it but one of the reasons we want to move is the local schools are terrible! The running joke is that the secondary school offers GCSE's in knife crime and drug dealing......

So we'll just comment we're close to them and move on!

Tinkaf1

We used HN - very impressed with them.
Our style was to welcome them into the hall, then say "I will just give you a little guided tour explaining a few things, and then I will go out onto the front garden to leave you to look again on your own". This worked for us because the house was empty. Buyers loved it. Also with HN you can enter instructions so that when someone calls them to view the agent will give that information directly, whatever it is. In your case it could be directions on how to find your home (this is one of the things they recommend), or where to park if there are double yellows outside.

In our case i wanted to be as welcoming and flexible as possible so i wrote down that we were very happy for extended family to come with any interested viewers on the day. Can't remember exactly how i worded it, but I know some people would love to bring all their kids, or both sets of parents, a sister or whatever, but feel awkward about turning up en masse.
The buyers who have offered bought their children and her parents, so 6 of them mooching while my husband was sitting on the front steps. LOL. Turned out to be wonderful as the buyers Mum was most excited by our house and was very vocal to her daughter telling her why it was so perfect. Hubby didn't have to say anything, the Mum had it under control. haha!

googler

Tinkaf1 wrote: »

In our case i wanted to be as welcoming and flexible as possible so i wrote down that we were very happy for extended family to come with any interested viewers on the day. Can't remember exactly how i worded it, but I know some people would love to bring all their kids, or both sets of parents, a sister or whatever, but feel awkward about turning up en masse.
The buyers who have offered bought their children and her parents, so 6 of them mooching while my husband was sitting on the front steps. LOL. Turned out to be wonderful as the buyers Mum was most excited by our house and was very vocal to her daughter telling her why it was so perfect. Hubby didn't have to say anything, the Mum had it under control. haha!

Oh, dear.... worst nightmare.

Just what every seller needs; the viewers' uncontrolled children running around their house, opening/shutting/slamming cupboard and wardrobe doors, jumping up and down on the radiators (and separating them from the walls), and using the toilet unannounced and uninvited...........

Are the children the decision makers, the ones spending the money on the house? No. Since they're not, they shouldn't be there. They'll go where their parents go.

googler

kr15snw wrote: »

Than you ladies and gents. I assume it's best if just the one of us performs the viewings? So not have both me and my husband here when they turn up?

The size of your house will dictate whether or not you both show them round. No harm in you both being there, one of you can show them round while the other remains in the lounge, kitchen, whatever.