Vendor not present at viewing

pimento

emmatthews wrote: »

If they want to sell and I want to buy, then I really don't feel the need to know about the reasons behind it.

Unless you're moving because the neighbours are a noisy nightmare and you don't want to tell a bare faced lie.

You never know, they might not ask a direct question...

ReadingTim

My parents are selling their house at the moment, and are having the EA do all the viewings - their view is that the EA is better placed to objectively point out the positive features of the house, rather than the things that they (as owners) are particularly proud of "wittering on about how beautiful their fitted wardrobes are etc etc" as per hermanmunster's post. The EA should also know what's of interest to the buyer, and point out those features, or how they could be incorporated, which my parents wouldn't know.

However, they seem also to be there while the EA is taking people around the house, which I think it just weird, as if they're deliberately ignoring the potential buyers, or just being a bit off-hand.

Personally, I'd always want to meet the buyer/seller - as well as being able to answer questions the EA won't know, I like to get the measure of the person I'm doing business with, and business is about relationships. Good relationships will smooth any business transaction, whereas an impersonal or anonymous approach won't always be as productive. Obviously I'm not advocating you become emotionally involved in the lives of the buyer/seller, but one doesn't need to charge around with the 'there are no friends in business' mantra of a candidate on The Apprentice!

pimento

IMO, you need to see the whites of the vendor's eyes.

wriggly

tommie1shunt wrote: »

The advice about knocking on next door is good advice, they can be a mine of information, might even save you money. Did this recently when the guy answered the door we knew in an instant that we would not be buying. We did not know you could christen you child Shut The F### Up.

And if you're in any doubt about your potential new neighbours, try the house two doors up. They'll fill you in. :rotfl:

tyllwyd

When I bought in the past, it was normal for vendors to do all the viewings, but that seems to have changed in recent years. Our EA said that he is happy for him to do viewings or for us to do it, but preferred for us to go out if he did the viewings because otherwise the viewers aren't sure who to talk to.

The last viewing on our house was an EA one - ten minutes beforehand, I was rushing around the house, shouting at the kids to hurry up so we could get out in time - and as we fell out of the house I realised that the lady with a toddler who had been hanging around outside looking at next door's hedge for a while was actually our viewer. The kids thought it was hilarious how embarassed I was!