Is there any viewing etiquette?

VfM4meplse

Sagz wrote: »

6 viewings a day is do-able, but be organised. I'm house hunting 3-4 hours drive away from my current location so have had to see up to 8 houses a day. I Have a checklist to make notes on with things like: area, street, kerb appeal, decor, kitchen, bathroom, windows, heating, electrics, garden, off rd parking, neighbours, sellers position. I write up my notes in the car on the way to the next house and then sit down in the evening to decide if any house makes it to the short list, second viewing stage.

Now if I could just find a buyer who didn't pull out I'd be happy!

You're so organised (says she who hates inefficiency) - respect :T

lessonlearned

Sagz wrote: »

6 viewings a day is do-able, but be organised. I'm house hunting 3-4 hours drive away from my current location so have had to see up to 8 houses a day. I Have a checklist to make notes on with things like: area, street, kerb appeal, decor, kitchen, bathroom, windows, heating, electrics, garden, off rd parking, neighbours, sellers position. I write up my notes in the car on the way to the next house and then sit down in the evening to decide if any house makes it to the short list, second viewing stage.

Now if I could just find a buyer who didn't pull out I'd be happy!

Great idea, to have a preprinted checklist.

I'll pinch that one if I may:rotfl:.

grifferz

yoyoegg wrote: »

Put on a 'poker face' and never indicate you like the place, never mention what your budget is.

We're FTB too and I think we're mostly doing okay with our poker faces and asking questions on first viewings, but we both struggle with how to handle it when the EA asks, "so what's your budget?"

So, how do you typically respond to this question?

I don't mean when they ask it on the phone in order to add you to their spam list of properties they think are at all vaguely suitable, I mean when they ask you in person during a viewing.

taxiphil

Besides what's already been said, my advice on viewing etiquette would be to carefully read the description in advance, taking particular note of the dimensions of the rooms.

Then try to visualise those dimensions in your mind, by getting a tape measure and comparing them to the dimensions of your current house.

If at that stage you feel the property is too small for you, cancel the viewing with as much notice as possible.

There's nothing more infuriating for a seller than to rearrange their plans for the weekend, hide all their personal possessions, stick a vase of twigs on the table and brew some filter coffee, only to be told afterwards that the viewer thought it was "a bit too small for them" when the viewer already knew the dimensions before arranging the viewing! :mad:

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd agree with that comment re the dimensions - as many of us cant afford the amount of space we want and therefore are trying to figure out the minimum amount we can manage with.

I'm oo-ing and aah-ing over details of a property sent to me at the weekend - but I know that it wont do for me (even though some houses with that number of rooms might) because the bedrooms have sloping ceilings and I couldnt therefore have things like wardrobes back against some of the walls that I would expect to. I'd be quite happy to take a house with as much character and those sloping ceilings - but I figure it will need to be a room or two bigger than a house with straight walls - in order to accommodate my stuff.

So - I won't be indulging my curiosity and my hopes by having a look and driving the seller wild with timewasting.

Wyndham

grifferz wrote: »

So, how do you typically respond to this question?

I don't mean when they ask it on the phone in order to add you to their spam list of properties they think are at all vaguely suitable, I mean when they ask you in person during a viewing.

With something vague such as 'around this sort of price'. They are rude to ask, so you are not rude if you don't give a full answer!

DRP

yoyoegg wrote: »

Too many IMHO, you'll not remember what you saw where and have lost enthusiasm at the end.

Put on a 'poker face' and never indicate you like the place, never mention what your budget is.

Continually undermine the seller's confidence as you go from room to room by making asides "very tired decor, looks bigger in the pictures, are those electrics legal?, can you smell damp? etc."

If the seller asks about your intentions, just say "not in a rush, it's a buyer's market as you know", "the price has to be right, of course", "was really expecting new kitchen and bathroom at this price", "wasn't looking to take on a project..." etc.

Leave, shaking your head and writing in a small notebook.

:rotfl: that would be brilliant!


OP - as others have said , it is really important to make notes (you could ask in advance if ok to take photos as 6 viewings in a day will blow your shot term memory out of the water).

kelfen

See if they mind you taking a couple of pictures, start with one of front of house, and any rooms that interest you