Viewings...

artbaron

tim123456789 wrote: »

Oh dear, nanny knows best, or not, as the case may be!

tim

For that reason I always refer to it as the stop penis.

phoebe1989seb

ash28 wrote: »

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.

This is very similar to our experience last time we sold (also in 2011) - our buyers viewed twice before offering (first the two of them plus new baby, second with their other kids - 11 & 13 - so they could choose bedrooms, which we fully appreciated), then they seemed to keep on coming back - to bring relatives, measure stuff etc. They lived some 50 miles or so away too, so it wasn't as if they were 'just passing'

Not only that but they were constantly texting us (silly to have given mobile no I know!) asking us to measure things, eg 'We're in a lighting shop, can you tell us the length of drop of the light fitting in the second bedroom so we know what to buy'.......

I guess times have definitely changed from the way our parents/grandparents perceived the buying process - my parents (who only bought two houses and lived in the second for over 40 years) only ever viewed once before offering and they'd have had a fit if they'd been selling and the viewers turned up complete with video camera - as our buyers did (and proceeded to film not just the house but all our *stuff* as they wanted to replicate our *look* :eek:) as they'd have thought a burglary was being planned!

moneyistooshorttomention

The thought hadnt occurred to me that buyers would just "turn up" on spec after their 2 Views hoping for more.

Time to get one or two excuses lined-up in case - so that I can flash a quick hurried smile and say "Sorry - I'm just about to go out to: an appointment/an evening out/etc" and select whichever one is appropriate for the time of day and pick up bag and jacket and walk out the door (for a 10 minute walk round the block until they've gone).

I think its really rude to expect to treat a house like its your home before you've moved in. Time to show off your new home proudly to Uncle Fred, Aunt Sally, best friend et al is after you've moved in. Until then - what's so difficult for them to understand about ITS STILL SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME.

hazyjo

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The thought hadnt occurred to me that buyers would just "turn up" on spec after their 2 Views hoping for more.

Time to get one or two excuses lined-up in case - so that I can flash a quick hurried smile and say "Sorry - I'm just about to go out to: an appointment/an evening out/etc" and select whichever one is appropriate for the time of day and pick up bag and jacket and walk out the door (for a 10 minute walk round the block until they've gone).

Might have to be a 'pyjama party' if they turn up at 8am on a Saturday morning

HATE the thought of buyers turning up unanounced!

Jx

moneyistooshorttomention

hazyjo wrote: »

Might have to be a 'pyjama party' if they turn up at 8am on a Saturday morning

HATE the thought of buyers turning up unanounced!

Jx

8am on a Saturday morning eh! Thinks.....what excuse can I use at that time as to why they can't come in? Any suggestions please?:rotfl:Crikey - I even ring friends to ask if its convenient to pop round, rather than just turning up. Come to think of it - I even ring my own parents to arrange when I'm coming (bar 2 emergency situations recently), as I know they're not keen on me turning up unannounced. So to turn up on a strangers doorstep out of the blue is:eek:

8am, 8am - errrm....how about "Sorry, you've just caught me about to change - got to head up the shop to get some stuff for breakfast. I havent eaten yet" (no smile, best approximation possible of bleary-eyed look)? Any better suggestions?

JimmyTheWig

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

8am on a Saturday morning eh! Thinks.....what excuse can I use at that time as to why they can't come in? Any suggestions please?

"Oh sorry, we were <ahem> busy. Can you come back in 15 minutes?" Best said looking rather hot and flustered, maybe fiddling as though you are doing up your flies?

moneyistooshorttomention

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

"Oh sorry, we were <ahem> busy. Can you come back in 15 minutes?" Best said looking rather hot and flustered, maybe fiddling as though you are doing up your flies?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:rotfl:

Best laugh I've had today that is:D

Errmmm...maybes not that appropriate to a single middle-aged woman I guess though...bar me coming out with something like "I'm just teaching a toyboy the ropes ....ahem....(yells upstairs "What do you want for breakfast love?").:rotfl:

Back to the drawing board - any suggestions for someone like me then? Errrm....could I try for "Just having a Skype conversation with my Open University tutor - gotta go. We're on about Euripides at the moment"? Do O.U. tutors do Skype conversations - and at that sort of time?

lessonlearned

As some of you know I am a retired property professional so here's my take.

Sold my house in 3 weeks flat, we legally complete tomorrow.

My purchasers had 4 viewings in total, plus I also gave them my phone number so they could approach me direct and avoid delays having to always go via the EA just to ask a question or three. Of course I did - I wanted the sale.

1st viewing - 10 minutes
2nd viewing - 2hrs 30 mins
3rd viewing - 30 mins
4th viewing - 45 minutes

Was I "bovvered" - of course not - I wanted the sale.

Always give your potential purchaser the opportunity to
view your property - several times if necessary. I always tell people at the first viewing that they are welcome to come back and take another look.

Should you allow them to visit with a builder to discuss any changes or work - yes of course - the purchaser needs to know anticipated costs and whether what they are planning to do is achievable, whether or not they can get planning permission etc.

They have a bottom line too. Their builder can be one of your greatest selling tools, giving your house his full approval and telling them how wonderful your house is and what a good investment it is.

Re - unscheduled viewings - no this is unnecessary. Viewings by appt is fair and polite and shows consideration to the Vendor.

Always give viewers the opportunity to have a wander round by themselves without you hovering over them. Obviously you do need to take care with personal possessions such as jewellery, wallets, purses etc. - trust is one thing but you do need to exercise a little caution.

Inspecting inside cupboards and wardrobes should be allowed - they are fixtures and fittings that come with the house. The purchaser has a right to see what they are buying.

A little tip for when you come to view properties yourself - inspecting inside kitchen cupboards is a good way of checking for damp as well as false cupboard fronts, hidden chimneys etc.
It's also a good place to look for mouse droppings or any sign of rodent or insect infestation.

It's no good relying on the home-buyers report to highlight these kind of issues - they won't. A full structural survey should reveal any problems but I wouldn't bank on it.

We are all aware of the old saying "caveat emptor" - buyer beware.

When a purchaser is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds they have every right to do a few simple checks and three or four viewings is entirely reasonable.

Bringing families to the second or subsequent viewings is a positive sign that the viewer is seriously considering buying your house. Encourage it, don't be annoyed by it or alarmed. After all you're not trying to hide anything ......or are you.

When my viewers bought their children at the second viewing I engaged with the children. I asked the little girl aged 6 which bedroom she had chosen.

Do you see what I did there. I just confidently assumed that they loved my house and of course they were going to buy it. Be confident - you love your house so will other people.

Anyway the little girl said she had decided on the yellow bedroom but that it would have to be pink. I turned to her father and jokingly said "There now Daddy you have your instructions, Barbie Pink please". He fell about laughing.

Always try to be friendly and find ways to break the ice. The little girl won't remember the house, but she will remember her new pink bedroom just like Barbies in the house where the nice lady lived. Never under-estimate "kiddie pressure".

Shameless moi???:rotfl: Who cares - I got the sale - and anyway I like talking to children.

I've have sold houses in a professional capacity to many first time buyers. It was a gambit of mine to always to ask them if they wanted to bring their parents along for their input at the second viewing. Again I always assumed that of course they loved the house and wanted to come back for another viewing.

A lot of sales are lost because people are swayed by their families' negative reaction. My mantra in these cases was always "Meet the Parents". If Mum and Dad approve then you've got the sale. Mum and Dad will often stump up extra cash too if necessary, so you stand a better chance of getting a good offer. Get the families on board and you've more chance of getting your sale. Even grandparents can hold a lot of sway in these decisions, especially nowadays when they could well be making a financial contribution.

Let the families come I say, offer them a cup of tea, open the choccie biscuits. Don't be afraid. If you've got nothing to hide, then you've nothing to fear.

If you want to sell you have to put yourself out, to be available and to "put on a good show".

Selling a house in today's market takes committment, dedication, patience and stamina.

You cannot afford to dictate terms. You need to bend a little. Two viewings and a take it or leave it attitude will get you nowhere.

A "I have a life to lead and you are not going to interfere with my life" attitude will stick out like a sore thumb and will come over as being rude, arrogant and stand-offish. You cannot afford to be like this - not in the current market.

Yes it can be irritating to have to reschedule your appointments and activities to accommodate viewings but you just have to bite the bullet.

The second viewing at 2 hours and 30 minutes was a very long viewing and I was exhausted by the end but my patience was rewarded.

Never forget you are not selling just bricks and mortar. You are selling a lifestyle. Charm and sophistication are part of the package.You cannot afford to be a curmudgeon, you have to be sweetness and light.

There's too much competition to be slap happy or grumpy. This is a business transaction and people do business with people they warm to, trust and like.

Your viewers are your potential customers. Customers are always right - even when they are wrong;). They hold the purse strings, they have the power.

Give your purchasers want they want, preferably before they even ask for it or realise that they want it.

Chuck in a few extras and freebies to sweeten the deal. Please them, delight them and they will be getting their cheque book out before you know it.

System

I absolutely agree with lesson learned - if you want the sale you need to put the effort in

Our buyers once rang us at 5.00 and wanted to come and see the house with an uncle who was in town that night. At first I thought "poor me, this is crazy, the house is a tip and it's still MINE and how dare they etc" but I knew I wanted the sale more than having to put up with a bit of discomfort.

I also think when you're selling it's time to stop thinking of it as "my home" because hopefully its going to be someone else's soon

About 6 weeks after we had accepted the offer our buyers came with all the family - and I mean all the family, in trampled aunts, brother and kid and both sets of grandparents.

I smiled sweetly and when they asked me if we wanted them to take their shoes off - I turned and asked our buyers if THEY wanted them to take their shoes off "after all it was going to be THEIR house very soon"

lessonlearned

Fantastic!! An excellent attitude - you deserved your sale.