2nd viewing!!!

anokayperson

hi all - house has been on the market for approx 3 weeks and have had 4 viewings. The last one wants to view again - and to me its sounds positive??? my question is what should I expect on a 2nd viewing? them opening of cupboards and a good rummage around in these areas or what? we have instructed our EA to do all the viewings for us as it is less personalised. But should I now be sorting out the cupboards where everything has, until now, been hiden. Also, do some sellers stay for the 2nd viewing in case of any questions etc? Therefore what are viewers looking at on a 2nd visit - just love this forum !!

Seabee42

As you say generally its a positive thing! The second viewing on my house recently they did as you would expect start to looking into cupboards etc after all they want to know whether they can live there! I wouldnt tidy up the cupboards much unless you really do have a lack of storage. If you cupboards are overflowing it might look like you do.

JournalGirl

Ooh for me a second viewing was more of.....is it what I remember?....where will my furniture go.?...can I measure a couple of things?....ask any questions I have though of since first viewing. I wouldn't dream of going into someone else's cupboards unless they invited me to....

Wyndham

I wouldn't worry about cupboards!

They are coming back to take another look as they think it may suit them. They may be doing a second viewing of a couple of properties, and trying to decide between them. It's obviously a big financial decision for them, and it needs to be right. So, either it will be right, or it won't, and at this stage there isn't much you can do, sorry. Make sure the house is presentable (as you will have done for first viewings), but that's it.

If the estate agent has been doing the viewing, you may want to let them do the second one too. Often on a second viewing it isn't about 'showing them round' but allowing them to take time to take a good look (but personally, I wouldn't look in cupboards as I think that's quite rude!) They may have questions about the council tax, or the size of the gas bill, so you may want to brief your agent. But mostly leave them to it - if you try to gush too much they may be put off.

Good luck, and I hope it's a positive outcome. But if it's not, it sounds like you have good levels of interest in the house anyway.

lessonlearned

Sounds positive....

The second viewing is all about getting down to the nitty gritty. Your viewers will want answers to questions and generally speaking the EA cannot do this. Also the second viewing can take quite some time.

My purchaser's second viewing took 2.5 hours!!!. Will your EA have the time, patience or the knowledge to cope with this. Will the EA make them feel rushed.

Generally EA's only allow around 30 minutes at the most. This just might not be long enough.

Yes they will want to look in cupboards, fitted wardrobes, the garage, any sheds you are leaving, the loft etc. At least they will if they have any sense. It's not rudeness, it's prudence.

Unless items fall on to your head when you open the cupboard door then I wouldn't worry too much. Obviously you don't want a lawsuit on your hands for injuries sustained. :rotfl: So if it really is that bad then a gentle declutter or tidy up might be in order.

However, cupboards are meant for putting things in so if they are full then they are being used for their purpose.:D

Your viewers will want to be reassured that the boiler is working, so if you cannot be there then leave the heating on low. They will or should want to check that they can open and close doors and windows, they will want to run the tap and flush the loos to check water pressure.

They will most likely want to know about council tax, average running costs. They might want to check measurements to see how their furniture fits in.

If you can face it then try to be around, even if you just sit in the garden whilst the EA does the viewing. That way you can be on hand to answer any questions. (You can also suss your viewers out a bit too).

Good luck.

elsien

2 1/2 hours??? Really? I've never taken anywhere near that. (Or flushed the toilets or opened windows.)

Davesnave

elsien wrote: »

2 1/2 hours??? Really? I've never taken anywhere near that. (Or flushed the toilets or opened windows.)

We once took about that long on a first viewing, and we had to eat lunch with the vendors! (We had come a long way.)

It was all a bit sad really, because I knew in the first 5 minutes that it wasn't for us.

lessonlearned

elsien wrote: »

2 1/2 hours??? Really? I've never taken anywhere near that. (Or flushed the toilets or opened windows.)

If I'm spending every penny I've got and let's face it most of us do stretch ourselves to the limit, then I want to know exactly what I'm spending my money on.

I've no intention of buying a pig in a poke. :rotfl:

If I haven a property a thorough once over and I'm happy to proceed only then will I cough up for a full builder's survey.

lessonlearned

Davesnave wrote: »

We once took about that long on a first viewing, and we had to eat lunch with the vendors! (We had come a long way.)

It was all a bit sad really, because I knew in the first 5 minutes that it wasn't for us.

I once was invited to lunch when I was viewing a property.

They had friends round and it was like party central, complete with copious amounts of wine and er hem unusual tobacco!!!!

phoebe1989seb

Like Lesson we've previously had buyers spending a couple of hours or more looking over the houses we've been selling. A second viewing back in 2007 took around that amount of time as there was quite a bit of house - and all its associated cupboards & other nooks/crannies - to be checked out. Our EA conducted the first viewing, but as the potential buyers wanted the answers to particular questions, it was agreed that we would show them over for the second view. They wanted to look into the possibility of putting an Aga in the kitchen for example and we also discussed items they were interested in purchasing from us if they went ahead with buying the house. A third viewing - to measure up - was much more brief

When we sold last time our buyers offered after the first viewing then came back with their kids for a second viewing which again we did ourselves. Although this was a smaller house it again took a good couple of hours as they quizzed us on all manner of subjects from utilities, to schools, to styles of furniture suitable for a Tudor house which had been extended in Arts & Crafts style when it was moved in the 1930s. They even brought a camcorder to film particular things - which did concern me a little!

We didn't end up inviting them to lunch on that occasion, but when we exchanged they did take us out for a meal to celebrate and to thank us for being so accommodating

Good luck with it OP - second viewings are often good news!

anokayperson

thank you all so much for the responses! fingers crossed for us!!!
Hypothetical question - these days, are people paying the asking price or automatically offering 5-10% below? so that it ends up being a game of tennis? thanks again