2nd Viewing - Advice for me as Vendor!

alipops1986

Hello Ladies & Gents,

We have secured a 2nd viewing for our wee starter house - bloke came yesterday and is interested, returning with his father next week for a 2nd viewing.

Is there a vast amount of difference between a 1st viewing and 2nd? What should I expect as the vendor? [It's my first time selling!]

Thanks in advance,
Alipops x

mark-w20

I'm not all that experienced but our house is also up for sale, we have had one couple come back for a second veiwing, they want it but need to sell.
There second viewing was longer, more time spent chatting with us, I guess they looked closer at things, making sure it suited them more and looking at things they had not properly noticed the 1st time.
One bit of advice I could give is to prepare a little bit of information before hand. I got asked some questions I was'nt prepared for at the time, such as monthly council tax amount, monthly fuel bills, electricity etc. etc. I have since done a sheet to print off with rough monthly costs.
As yours is like ours and sounds to be one 1st time buyers are intersted in that is probably quite appropriatte as they will possibly have a limited idea of that type of thing.
Hope it goes well for you.

Better_Days

The second viewing is very important indeed. The buyer is interested otherwise he wouldn't be bothering. This is your opportunity to sell the property

Make sure the property is at least as well presented as it was for the first viewing. As has already been suggested be prepared for questions about utilities, neighbours etc. Make sure you address any issues the father raises as the potential buyer may well take his advice.

Good luck!!!

housesitter

On my second viewings and in no order:
I have spent time looking in cupboards, brickwork, got into the loft, examined the concrete garage structure. Asked about various examples of bills for cost of running the house. Tested the broadband speed. Worked out where the light switches were going to, where all the plugs were in each room. Examined drains, checked taps & toilets. Looked for rot and damp; pulled back carpets, moved furniture. Measured each room to check against the EA advert.

They showed me receipts for improvements that had been carried out, servicing for the boiler & other services (chimney, tree cutting).

Several cups of tea, a chat and gave me an idea of what sort of people they were and how to deal with the process of buying the most expensive item I'm likely to ever make, from them.

To that end, one should make a thorough examination - it's your money.
But I'll wager most FTB's are unlikely to go into so much detail.

Wyndham

housesitter wrote: »

On my second viewings and in no order:
I have spent time looking in cupboards, brickwork, got into the loft, examined the concrete garage structure. Asked about various examples of bills for cost of running the house. Tested the broadband speed. Worked out where the light switches were going to, where all the plugs were in each room. Examined drains, checked taps & toilets. Looked for rot and damp; pulled back carpets, moved furniture. Measured each room to check against the EA advert.

They showed me receipts for improvements that had been carried out, servicing for the boiler & other services (chimney, tree cutting).

Several cups of tea, a chat and gave me an idea of what sort of people they were and how to deal with the process of buying the most expensive item I'm likely to ever make, from them.

To that end, one should make a thorough examination - it's your money.
But I'll wager most FTB's are unlikely to go into so much detail.

I'd be really annoyed if a viewer started moving my furniture and lifting carpets! If they want to send a surveyor then I'm happy for them to do it, as I expect them to be professional and put things back where they found them - but do you know how to relay a carpet properly?

And how would you test broadband speed without using the vendors computer (and I wouldn't let anyone use my computer thank you very much!) You can do a bit with drains, but a proper, again professional, examination is often worthwhile.

I think if I knew in advance that the potential buyer wanted to do these things, they could be accommodated, but to just turn up and demand crosses a line in my view. It's still the vendors home at this point.

alipops1986

Thanks everyone - I shall bare all your advice in mind.

I have been asked about White Goods, neighbours and to see the boiler/heating in the 1st viewing.

My main worry is that they might want to discuss price as we're 'offers over' and i'm not sure how to tackle that one to one if asked. Any tips on this? Is it unlikely they will?

Thanks,
Alipops x

DRP

Wyndham wrote: »

I'd be really annoyed if a viewer started moving my furniture and lifting carpets! If they want to send a surveyor then I'm happy for them to do it, as I expect them to be professional and put things back where they found them - but do you know how to relay a carpet properly?

And how would you test broadband speed without using the vendors computer (and I wouldn't let anyone use my computer thank you very much!) You can do a bit with drains, but a proper, again professional, examination is often worthwhile.

I think if I knew in advance that the potential buyer wanted to do these things, they could be accommodated, but to just turn up and demand crosses a line in my view. It's still the vendors home at this point.

moving furniture is absolutely fine, but lifting fitted carpets would be a no-no for me.

Better_Days

alipops1986 wrote: »

My main worry is that they might want to discuss price as we're 'offers over' and i'm not sure how to tackle that one to one if asked. Any tips on this? Is it unlikely they will?

This is what you pay your EA for - negotiating the very best price for your property taking into account both your circs and that of the buyer. Some people do agree a price and 'shake on it' but I think you really have to know what you are doing for this to be advisable.

Otherwise there is the danger it becomes too personal, when in fact this is a business arrangement.

You could say something like 'I would be very happy to consider any offer that you may like to make through xx (EA).' and also use the opportunity to find out as much as possible about the position of the buyer.

pmlindyloo

Having been caught out with this one I would be checking the mobile phone signal! Just to warn you if he makes/receives a call while he's there.

This can be an absolute deal breaker if the signal is rubbish. Ditto for the computer so you might like to have a few facts ready.

DRP

my buyer was interested in doing a roof conversion.

My EA had mentioned this to me (just in passing) so I did the research (Google maps!) so i could say this was definitely possible on my house - also a house was being converted up the road so I told the EA to send her up there to talk to the builders if she wanted some specific information.

The point is , try to be prepared - it might be very useful to consider how others in your street have added value (conversions/conservatoriess/extensions etc), as ay buyer would likely want to do this...

Mr_Moo_2

Personally as a purchaser I'd rather the vendor isn't about for a second viewing. I'm there to have a good look around, take some detailed measurements, check things over thoroughly. And that is all much easier if they're not following you around. Obviously this requires a key holding EA.... useful if the vendor is contactable so if anything specific is asked it can be answered.