Showing people round

Majik

I've had a good search, but am looking for reassurance more than anything here i think - I have the first viewing on my flat this afternoon - having to take an hour off work to show the lady round. FTB (a good thing I hope) and this is the first time I will have EVER shown anyone round (I'm a first time seller)

What advice would you give for showing someone round? Obviously, the place is nice and clean, and I'll be sticking some mild aromatherapy oils on to make it smell nice and so on, but more about the actual showing round - how do I go about it?

It's a first floor maisonette, and we've got half a garden, a little outhouse storage thing with a freezer and dryer in it, plus a garage in a block at the end of the street - so lots of places to go to! Is this a good thing, making them walk to them all, or will it reflect badly that it's not all together? lol - I think I'm stressing now *calms......*

So - general advice for those that have shown people around?

Thanks in advance!

Majik

Doozergirl

Always let your buyer walk into a room before you so the room looks bigger and you're not blocking the view.

Save the best room for last.

Never point out any flaws, even if you think it's obvious, unless it is about to be fixed or improved.

Don't talk too much because you distract from the house and the more you say, the more likely you are to drop yourself in it. My husband is not allowed to do viewings because you'd think he was trying to sell himself instead of the house and he always managed to say something stupid.

EDIT: GOOD LUCK

With regards to the garage, just let them know it's there. You can ask them if they would like to go and see it after you've shown the rest of the house, but it might be a second viewing sort of thing for some people.

Bruja_2

I don't know if it's a bad idea but I give the key to the agent and let them show people around. I figure if I'm paying why should I do the job myself.
B

Majik

I'm on with HouseNetwork.co.uk, so not an option. I agree, I will definitely do that if I change to a local agent.

Majik

maninthestreet

Aways have a good answer to the question "Why are you selling the property?"

Note that "because the area is bad" is NOT a good answer!

scope

I suggest you give the keys to your estate agent and get them to do the viewings.. They are salesmen/women, you are not.. You are bound to say something they dont like, want to hear, etc.. The estate agent wont say what he doesnt know.

Also, as a buyer I prefer to view a house with the owner out of the house.. It allows me to think loud, check things you normally wouldnt check, walk around without knowing the owner is watching your every move, etc..

We tried to sell out house last year with my wife doing the viewings (she insisted), we pulled it off the market after 5 months because it didnt sell, this time around we asked the agent to do the viewing, and sold within 2 weeks..

Having said that, some estate agents are rubbish at showing people around, others are brilliant.. We chose the one we went with purely because we knew he was good at his job, having seen some houses with him the previous year.

Good luck selling.

edit: sorry, just noticed your comment about HouseNetwork.co.uk.. I'll leave my comment anyway.

sausagefans

Majik wrote: »

I've had a good search, but am looking for reassurance more than anything here i think - I have the first viewing on my flat this afternoon - having to take an hour off work to show the lady round. FTB (a good thing I hope) and this is the first time I will have EVER shown anyone round (I'm a first time seller)

What advice would you give for showing someone round? Obviously, the place is nice and clean, and I'll be sticking some mild aromatherapy oils on to make it smell nice and so on, but more about the actual showing round - how do I go about it?

It's a first floor maisonette, and we've got half a garden, a little outhouse storage thing with a freezer and dryer in it, plus a garage in a block at the end of the street - so lots of places to go to! Is this a good thing, making them walk to them all, or will it reflect badly that it's not all together? lol - I think I'm stressing now *calms......*

So - general advice for those that have shown people around?

Thanks in advance!

Majik

Not sure I would go with the oils as not all people like these. Fresh coffee generally works for me but I make it regularly anyway (we don't like instant) so it looks natural.

Some people say baking bread is good but its a bit obvious! I often offer them a cuppa so it looks natural...

Best of luck with it!

MJMum

---

djm1972

Agree with the advice regarding oils. Any kind of obviously induced smell will introduce doubt in the buyer that perhaps you are trying to cover something up. I was put right off a house I viewed because the vendor had obviously had incence cones going combined with powerful air fresheners.

My advice is to open a few windows about an hour before the viewing and put the fire on full. Then close them and turn the fire off before they arrive and the place will be full of nice warm fresh air.

prutter

I've done a few viewings recently, and the last one I did resulted in a sale on our flat

All the above advice is good.
Plan out in what order you're going to show them the rooms.
Have an idea of what you're going to say.
Offer them a coffee.
Let them go into rooms first.
Don't gabble or waffle on.

Also, I prepared a number of flyers for potential buyers detailing in bullet points stuff like:
Years left on lease
That the bolier had been serviced annually
What fixtures and fittings we were leaving
How much the council tax was
What the neighbours were like
etc. etc.

A number of our viewers took these with them and said they found them really helpful.
This also covers you for forgetting to tell them something which you suspect might help sway their decision.....

Edit: Personally I felt more comfortable doing the viewings myself rather than letting our agents do it - as I had peace of mind that everything had been covered and explained to the viewers. If they came back for a second look, I'd let the agents do it (allows them to have a good snoop round without feeling awkward).

Bun

Some very good points above. I would agree about the scented oils/air fresheners - not only does it look as if you are covering something up but I'm asthmatic, and the last thing I need to do when viewing a house is puff on my inhaler! I suppose this goes for lots of flowers with hayfever sufferers, but I digress.....

Anyway, my main point is that you may like to think who the property is likely to attract, ie professional couple, couple with baby etc etc and mention local amenities for each group. Travel, gym, nightlife, shopping, or schools, parks and libraries will help the viewers 'see' themselves in your area if they aren't there already. Is the garden easy to maintain? Is it enclosed for children? I live in a maisonette and it is great with tiny children, you are never far from them.

Sorry to witter, and good luck!