Viewings, an uncomfortable experience

[Deleted User]

I once viewed a property that had been vacant for 5 years - except for the spiders! It wasn't a pleasant experience. To make it worse, we got locked in (including the estate agent) and had to get a neighbour to let us out!

However, i'd never be put off viewing an occupied property (since most are) - however I do expect people to have made some effort tidying the place up

kiki*_2

I guess it depends on the owners but either way you have to treat it as a purchase and it's an expensive one! I feel uncomfortable test driving someone else's car but it has to be done and it doesn't last very long!

Our viewing was fine, lady showed us round then left us to investigate ourselves.

Clearlier

I don't have any problem looking at a house which is being lived in but I have felt awkward at two recent viewing where the vendor was present. The first one didn't want us to look in the garden, kept telling us how they used the house and made us feel very uncomfortable. The second one opened up with 'We don't want to leave' and it didn't get much better. I had thought that when it came to selling in the future I might try and do it myself. Having gone through those last two viewings I have my doubts although we did have one other vendor viewing which was ok. Even then though we felt a bit awkward trying to discuss how we would change it to suit ourselves. Maybe we need a slightly thicker skin but if we do second viewing on either of the two earlier houses we'll certainly be asking for the vendors to be absent.

flora48

Depends how much you want the house. We went to view a individual build with spectacular views, the man grudgingly let us in then left us to our own devices to wade through 2 feet of clothes on the floor in all the bedrooms, to see a kitchen where you couldn't put a pin down, to peer through windows that had been wiped only as far as his 13 year son could reach ( the lad had to do all the cleaning!) and to enjoy last years xmas decs in September!

We didn't have a second viewing as it was never "politic" to do so. The vendor's word, not mine.

Yes we bought and enjoyed those views for the next 25 years.

He certainly had no intention of making us feel comfortable.

missile

As long as you are business like, I do not see a problem. You can often glean useful info from the seller.

What bugs me most, are those who come to look with no serious intent or cannot afford the asking price.

Hoof_Hearted

I have to say that I used an online agent and did my own viewings. It is much more comfortable showing people around rather than having people tramping through with an agent. All appointments are arranged with the seller, so no random people turning up.

sonastin

I would never dismiss a property or even mark it down for being occupied. But I do wonder if it is a coincidence that all the properties I've ever made offers on have been empty. I would like to think that I look past the owner's possessions and it could just be coincidence but I do feel more comfortable viewing empty houses. EA showing of occupied is next on the list and vendor-showings are definitely the most uncomfortable.

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

It is much more comfortable showing people around rather than having people tramping through with an agent.

What a load of ****

Are you really saying that viewers walk around the house differently when you're there than they would with an agent? That somehow their footwear magically cleans itself, and they float round with you, not even touching the floor, whereas they 'tramp' round with an agent....?

Brallaqueen

I eventually bought the flat where, on the first viewing the owner reamed the estate agent for not informing her we were coming (in a very polite, middle class but unmistakeable way). Because the flat was empty they had not bothered to tell her, and at that moment she was visiting a sick friend in the flat below. I have to say I liked meeting the owner and being introduced.

serious_saver

I don't mind mess but sometimes it feels awkward if your viewing a property with the vendor. They often seem to have a higher opinion of their own property than other people might which makes it difficult to discuss your thoughts openly.