Viewings...

barnaby-bear

hazyjo wrote: »

Mind you, the sellers aren't much better! Viewed another this weekend and, amongst other things, the vendors came out with the following statements (all from the same house):

(BF asked about the area...) "Let's just say it's 'changed' over the last few years. Actually, it seemed to go downhill when we moved in 27 years ago!"

"If we decide to move, that is. He wants to, I don't know yet..."

(talking about the original window on the landing) "I've done my best over the years to patch up the window behind it, but there's only so much you can do..."

"It's only a small house. Like a tardis in reverse - looks big from the outside, but small inside."

They also let on that the kitchen's 26 years old; that they'd replaced a gas valve on the 'ancient' boiler around 10 years ago.

She also told my BF off for leaning on her wall on the landing while we were all chatting. He managed to lean on the other one and got told off for that too! He's 45!

They pointed out dark bits under the bedroom wallpaper and said they 'appeared' after it had been papered. Told us the front door wouldn't close cos of the weather, along with the rear door. Said the downstairs loo was really 'only for emergencies'. Made it clear they were inconvenienced by viewers (they had 8 on the first day, and we took a second look on the Sunday). There were loads of other things they mentioned. All really negative! Even the council tax band is high and they were saying how they really ought to have appealed at the time. They missed out some rooms completely and we had to ask to see them (lounge, main bedroom, downstairs loo). They were in and out of a room, turning lights off behind them before we were even out of the room!

Just a bizarre couple of days really...

Jx

Are you sure this isn't a forced sale, previous relationship (silent owner ex-wife/hubby, house inherited from a parent and sibling has a share?) forcing the sale now kids have left? Forced to put on market for financial reasons or to get benefits? Certain circumstances exempt immediate action if can be seen to have the house on the market?

hazyjo

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Are you sure this isn't a forced sale, previous relationship (silent owner ex-wife/hubby, house inherited from a parent and sibling has a share?) forcing the sale now kids have left? Forced to put on market for financial reasons or to get benefits? Certain circumstances exempt immediate action if can be seen to have the house on the market?

Didn't seem to be. Retired couple, in 60s - young in ways, moving to Essex coast. No kids. Married for donkey's years. Apparently there's a below asking price offer already. Only been on market a couple of days. They put it on before Christmas but removed it same day as didn't want viewers until New Year.

Jx

artbaron

Last year I got the most useless estate agent possible, even in theory. Unfortunately I can't remember the company or I'd name them. I arrived 10 minutes ahead of time and waited. Fifteen minutes after the agreed time I rang the office. No answer. Twice more, no answer until I got 'lucky' and was told he was on his way. 10 minutes later he hadn't arrived so I rang again, just as he turned up. He didn't apologise or mention the fact he was 25 minutes late, just opened up the house... and stood there. He said nothing whatsoever and didn't move an inch. I asked him four basic questions in all and he literally said "'Fraid I don't know," to every one. He never even offered to find out. The only other thing he said as we were leaving was, "Nice shirt".

ravravrav

This thread is interesting because we've viewed a house twice now but as a FTB I still don't feel I've looked at it thoroughly enough! I feel I want to go round and snoop EVERYWHERE but with the family in the house I feel like I'm in the way. As I've no experience of this already I'm not too sure what's acceptable and what isn't. eg, I don't want to be peering behind the tv as they're watching it or flushing the loo loads of times or whatever. But on the other hand it's a LOT of money I'm spending, so...

After reading what's been written here I feel guilty for wanting a third viewing!

Davesnave

ravravrav wrote: »

After reading what's been written here I feel guilty for wanting a third viewing!

Don't be. I spend longer looking at cars than some people spend on buying a £250k house, but that doesn't make me wrong. An hour minimum, and much of that is chatting to the seller, because it will tell me more than looking for a long time at the car!

As Jo implies, the more some people talk, the greater chance there is that they'll reveal something interesting or useful!

So far as I can remember, we've viewed three properties three times and then walked away. At least we made absolutely sure we didn't want them. The house I'm sitting in now was dismissed on a first viewing, but we came back twice later on, having reconsidered. Choosing a house is bloody hard.

When we last sold, we probably had around 30 viewings. It really didn't matter to us if that was 30 people viewing once or 10 viewing three times over.

moneyistooshorttomention

hazyjo wrote: »

Didn't seem to be. Retired couple, in 60s - young in ways, moving to Essex coast. No kids. Married for donkey's years. Apparently there's a below asking price offer already. Only been on market a couple of days. They put it on before Christmas but removed it same day as didn't want viewers until New Year.

Jx

I think the clue as to their being unwilling to allow a third viewing isnt for any "bad" reason then. The clue to the fact that they are still expecting to "get on with their lives" even though they are selling their house is the fact that they realised having the house for sale over Christmas would mean disruption to their lives and they didnt want that disruption.

You are dealing with an age group that definitely regards any more than two viewings as distinctly odd and not reasonable (unless contracts have already been exchanged) and who are likely to regard third viewings in the light of "didnt happen in our day and its not the way we think things should go and we won't accept that much disruption to our lives" (errr....I'm in that age group - hence explaining the likely thinking here:rotfl:).

This is what it is - they don't know you from Eve and, for all they know, you could be expecting to "disrupt their lives with having to do more house-selling work - ie that proposed 3rd viewing" to no good purpose (ie they still didnt get to sell the house to you).

I guess it's either put thinking cap on as to whether there is a way to convince them that you are a genuine buyer/would pay a fair price and therefore they wouldnt be put through that extra "work/disruption" for nothing or accept there won't be a third viewing. From their point of view - I very much doubt the thought has even crossed their mind that the purpose of a 3rd viewing might be to offer them more money. They are likely viewing it as someone who does seem rather unsure whether they wish to buy their house or no.

ash28

We sold our house in 2011, the family we sold it to viewed until we stopped them.

First and second viewings then the offer, accepted the offer (we were on holiday but daughter was in the house), third viewing to show niece and niece's daughter the house, fourth viewing to show parents the house, fifth viewing to show brother the house, the sixth viewing was to measure the dining area to see if their table would fit - our lounge/diner was 35ft long by 18ft wide - they had a table and 4 chairs - their whole house would have fitted into the room let alone their table and chairs.....

It came to a head one Saturday morning when they turned up unannounced at 8 o'clock and got daughter out of bed to let them in for yet another look around.

She let us know (we were there for the first and second viewings but not the rest) and we got in touch with the EA and basically said "are they taking the p1ss?"

The viewings stopped then - the EA said the reason they had so many viewings was because we were on holiday - but as I pointed out the house wasn't empty - our daughter lived there too.

Had I been at home I probably would have agreed to the viewings, I knew they were really excited and it was a huge step up for them property wise and they couldn't wait to move in. So understandable but annoying nonetheless.

moneyistooshorttomention

ravravrav wrote: »

This thread is interesting because we've viewed a house twice now but as a FTB I still don't feel I've looked at it thoroughly enough! I feel I want to go round and snoop EVERYWHERE but with the family in the house I feel like I'm in the way. As I've no experience of this already I'm not too sure what's acceptable and what isn't. eg, I don't want to be peering behind the tv as they're watching it or flushing the loo loads of times or whatever. But on the other hand it's a LOT of money I'm spending, so...

After reading what's been written here I feel guilty for wanting a third viewing!

Re how much looking is acceptable. Personally - I'd accept looking in a kitchen cupboard or two (though wonder why they wanted to - as the kitchen obviously needs replacing so why do any further sussing-out of it it). But a lot of kitchens would look acceptable condition on the face of it, but people would wonder if they were when looking inside the cupboards. So - I would just mentally shrug and think "Thats pointless - but I suppose they've just got into the habit in other houses and thats why they are doing it here". Looking inside my built-in wardrobes isnt acceptable - as I'm obviously going to have personal possessions in there still, so its still "private territory". Peering at my books - well thats "private" but I always peer at other peoples books myself (and I've already got the ones my mother wouldnt approve of hidden:rotfl:).

I would say overall the clue is "what counts as good manners in someone else's house?". If you wouldnt do it in a house socially then don't do it in a vendors house. What I wouldnt do in a friends house is, for instance, move the furniture/fiddle with the curtains/go to the loo more than once in quick succession/peer in their wardrobes (even if fitted)/start prodding at their walls etc.

In a friends house I would go to the loo once, switch a light on or off, ask if I could open one window, ask if I could look in the back garden and admire the plants, sit in any built-in seating.

Better_Days

ravravrav wrote: »

After reading what's been written here I feel guilty for wanting a third viewing!

Don't be, I agree with Davesnave. Buying a house is a massive financial commitment over many years. You do not want any nasty surprises. I always ask if I want to look into cupboards (which I do like to do to get an idea of the condition of the kitchen units), and so far vendors have always said yes.

Ask for a third viewing if you are seriously interested in the property but need more information. There is a lot to take in, and it can be helpful to have a checklist. I always take round a little notebook to jot things down as I go along. Just be aware that for some vendors it takes a great deal of effort (such as for someone like me who is not in the best of health) to get the house ready for a viewing. Getting the house spotlessly clean, tidying up, moving things around so the house is shown to its best effect can take a while.

ash28

ravravrav wrote: »

This thread is interesting because we've viewed a house twice now but as a FTB I still don't feel I've looked at it thoroughly enough! I feel I want to go round and snoop EVERYWHERE but with the family in the house I feel like I'm in the way. As I've no experience of this already I'm not too sure what's acceptable and what isn't. eg, I don't want to be peering behind the tv as they're watching it or flushing the loo loads of times or whatever. But on the other hand it's a LOT of money I'm spending, so...

After reading what's been written here I feel guilty for wanting a third viewing!

When ever I've conducted viewings myself I've always asked, after the initial showing around if the prospective purchasers would like a wander round on their own - it gives people a chance to have a bit of a closer look at everything and a chance to talk about the house without me there - I would normally wait in the kitchen. I always show people where the fuse box, stop !!!! and meters are anyway. In the case of fitted wardrobes or cupboards (not kitchen) I always open them for people so they can see what they're getting and to show them shelving etc.

For a second viewing I would just tell them to look around on their own.

If they wanted to open windows/try light switches/turn on taps they are more than welcome.

Don't feel guilty about a third viewing - we've normally done a third viewing but usually after we have put in an offer and before exchange.