FTBS - How many viewings before finding property?

Davesnave

Money, you shouldn't over analyse, or give things which are routine more importance than they deserve.

We must've had at least 50 people through the two houses we sold in the noughties. We learned that people who came, saw and moved on were the least of our worries. We like people and we didn't begrudge them looking at our house, but we learned to treat anything they said with a big pinch of salt.

Looking at our properties helped some folks decide what they did want, but it was actually those who got our hopes up, and then dashed them when they couldn't deliver, who made things hard.

I've forgotten all the rest, but those few people with their useless offers or promises are well remembered, and not with affection! :mad:

moneyistooshorttomention

Dave - yep...those are the *****s - ie the ones who get your hopes up and then don't deliver that have proven to be the worst viewers to date.

There was the one who came back for a second viewing with Grand Schemes about how she would knock my house to smithereens and back and a Phoenix Would Arise from the Ashes:cool:. She had both my EA and I myself checking out "Grand Designs" type possibilities for what could be done with this house with a big budget to play with.

There was the investor who made an offer on the house and the EA's message telling me about this was "Not bad for a starting offer" and between that and I thought everyone made a starting offer and then worked up from there - I turned the offer down (still would - as it was too low) and confidently sat back and waited for the 2nd offer.

My EA has confirmed to me since that he expects there will usually be a series of 3 offers in a row on any house on their books and that the 3rd one will probably be the "best and final offer". Don't know if that's how it works in other areas of the country - but its certainly what they expect here...

Mozette

First time - I looked at about 10 flats before deciding I actually wanted a house, then probably looked at 10-15 houses. The one I bought was one of 3 in the same road, and one I actually liked better, but the one I bought was a bit more practical. I was glad I went with that option.
My 2nd and current house, I went and viewed it and put in an offer. Never saw another house and after 15 years have never regretted it.
I don't intend moving again unless I become very infirm and need something on one level, and even then I may go the stannah* route!
*doubtless other stairlifts are available!

Better_Days

First time - none at all, we bought the house we were renting.

Now on the fourth move and have looked at about 20 so far.

Looked at this many as:
1) We wanted to get more of an idea of what we want and don't want - some I have liked more than I thought I would when we actually viewed. Also it has been useful for ideas for layout etc
2) Get some visibility with EA's who seem to have a very short memory span even though we are cash buyers in rented
3) Our requirements are quite specific

OP, you are spending a lot of money - it is a good idea to look around, get a feel for the market. It is also important to get a feel for the local EA's - who value high to get business, who value low to get the turnover, who are not very nice to deal with, and who are straightforward and professional.

joujou

I have seen 8 houses so far. Made an offer on three. Still looking.

Another angle to viewing is to get familiar with more estate agents and what their service looks like.

Things that tell me estate agents what they are doing:
1) They can easily recall what property is on what street and have a mental image of what it is worth.
2) They know the advantages and disadvantages to a property without showering you with generic nonsense. "Property X is good because it is close to this school and this shop, the garden is odd shaped but you can do this and this with it" vs "Hmm, yeah, I think the loft is insulated, oh hold on, I'm not sure whether it is freehold" - dumbass.
3) EAs who treat you on a person level (even though I'm most likely one buyer amongst hundreds). An EA recently outright recommended I do not look at a property because I mentioned in passing a month ago that I don't like corner plots. Nice touch.

Things that tell me to run away from an EA:

1) They act surprised when I walk to their office and ask about properties. "It's on the website, go and setup emails". I know dumbass, I'm trying to develop a human rapport because I'm !!!!ing spending £200K to get you to understand what I want.

2) Estate agents where i know more about the property than they do or street than they do - I've been looking at this area for just a little over a month. If i know more about it than you do then you're a dumbass.

3) Estate agents who don't know where schools are and what their catchment areas roughly are. Dumbass, if you don't know where the most popular school in your area is than change jobs ok thanks.

UniqueName_2

I looked at lots of flats the second time around as I wasn't in a great rush, and I wasn't really sure which area was best. I was looking in London, so you have to get to know areas well as one street might be good, but the next terrible. And I think you only got a sense of that by going to see the flats.

I knew I wanted a good size 2 bed place, and I kept trying to talk myself into smaller places. But in the end the place I got was a 1 bed with a big garden which I knew I could change to a big 2 bed place, which I did and have a great flat now. I think the research element is a big part of it, including on price.

If I hadn't seen so many places, I would possibly have messed around with trying to offer 10% off asking price and lost the place. But I was confident the price was already low, then I could confidently offer what I did, and to be honest I was happy to bid up if needed. As I offered almost full price anyway, when someone tried to gazump me the vendor didn't accept it, as he felt I was an honest buyer. Worked out for me!

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

The last one we bought was I think the second or third one we viewed, viewed a few more after that, but knew that was the right one for us.

lazer

I have tried to remember how many houses I viewed and think the final total is 11 (Full viewings) and countless drives around and viewing outside of other houses, and what locations I like etc.

Of the ones I viewed - I made an offer on 2 (excluding the one I finally bought) - lost 1 to cash buyer, and another they wouldn't accept anything below asking price.

Of these 11 houses - 4 are still on the market 2 years later

Better_Days

UniqueName wrote: »

I think the research element is a big part of it, including on price.

If I hadn't seen so many places, I would possibly have messed around with trying to offer 10% off asking price and lost the place. But I was confident the price was already low, then I could confidently offer what I did, and to be honest I was happy to bid up if needed. As I offered almost full price anyway, when someone tried to gazump me the vendor didn't accept it, as he felt I was an honest buyer. Worked out for me!

This is a really good point. No good recognising your 'dream house' was a bargain or a reasonable AP 3 months down the line when someone else bought it because you made a low offer.

Also good for recognising properties that have just come on the market at an unrealistically high price. We recently viewed a property on the suggestion of the EA even though she knew we couldn't afford the AP. 'They will consider an offer' she said. It wasn't suitable for us, but it was over valued - AP of £325k probably worth about £275k. Another EA commented that the AP was 'ridiculous'. Appears the viewers agreed, property now off the market.

silverwhistle

Davesnave wrote: »

My FTB house was the only one I viewed and I viewed it once.

Your experience is pretty much mine. I was in lodgings in the same village after a work move and had been looking some time in the area. My technique was to wander round and look at the properties from outside. I didn't have a car (although I did have a motorbike) but I used to cycle round to see the places from outside: you see a lot more that way..

This was in the days when you got the details in the post from EAs, but the one I saw was a small ad in the local paper. I got on to the EA, got the details, organised a visit, phoned parents and made an offer the following day. It was at the time of the Thatcher sell-off and the buyers wanted to move on. The EA was chuckling at the good buy I'd managed, although I did have to wait for another for nearly 5/6 months otherwise the sellers would have had to pay back some of the discount they'd received. Obviously my situation was ideal for their circumstances. I didn't (and don't) believe in council house sell-offs without reinvesting the proceeds, but didn't see why only Tory voters should benefit.:-)

I've still got the same house and although I've been living abroad for 7 years will be moving back to it this summer. For a singleton like me it's been ideal: roomy (compared to modern speculative stuff) 3 bedroom terrace with a small garden. Drilling a hole in the wall proved how solid it was!