Just had my first viewing - think I need some tips!

Shmo

As a buyer looking for a quick purchase I'd love to see a clean empty house as I would take it as an indication of a motivated seller. If the house had been on the market a while and showed no signs of moving out preparations then I'd be wondering if they were serious.

There is a certain amount of discomfort in packing away everything except the bare essentials but it certainly makes moving day easier.

N1AK

bloolagoon wrote: »

I think I was thrown today as I have always thought of my home as a family home yet this was a couple and a friend (all 3 to buy) and they were obviously expecting a more none child based home as had no details or listings etc.

You can't please all of the people all of the time. Some people will be attracted by the house showing the happiness and stories of a family, others would prefer to see the space and fill it in with their own ideas.

Families will tend to like a house that a family is obviously using and enjoying; non-families might slightly prefer somewhere that has an office room etc.

Don't worry about it too much. I like to 'see the space' personally and have rented places that were entirely empty; however if I saw a family house with no personality it would seem odd to me. Have the odd photo, some toys etc and I would notice them but they wouldn't get in my way.

ian103

Not really bothered what the property is like as the last 3 houses were all brought to update / redecorate etc. I learn't my lesson on our first house - OH said its all OK and with in a few hours we had stripped all the walls for redecorating so its been the same ever since.

We brought a new house and that was a poor experience and when selling it we should have neutralised the colour scheme and laid the rooms out for their intended use.

When we sell houses a good tidy up, fresh air through th house and take the dog(s) out when the estate agent does the veiwing. No strong smells etc.

We recently veiwed a property and there was a stroong smell of cooking (something like cabbages) and that was off putting but we still had a second veiwing.

phoebe1989seb

Every property we've ever bought (1 flat & 5 houses) has been a *project* so personally we tend to see past clutter etc and instead concentrate on the footprint, layout and potential of the place.

Our last house (sold two years ago) was a period house of a very unusual layout with a large footprint but only two upstairs rooms. When we viewed in 2007 the downstairs set out as the following - kitchen, living room, conservatory, dining room, bedroom, bathroom and annexe comprising two rooms plus shower room.

There were only the two of us as DS had just gone off to uni with no plans to return to live at home, so two bedrooms were all we required in reality. However, we were downsizing from a much larger (more than twice the size!) house and had no intention of getting rid of the majority of our *downstairs* furniture, so the thought of having several extra reception rooms was a bonus to us The current layout and existence of the vendor's *stuff* certainly didn't dissuade us from purchasing........but then I class us as being pretty unusual, LOL!

When we were ready to sell 3+ years down the line we had added an upstairs bathroom, but otherwise the house was presented as follows - upstairs presented as the only two bedrooms and downstairs as - kitchen, living room, conservatory (presented as breakfast room with large island unit), dining room, study, music room, sitting room (with futon) and two shower rooms.

There was no way we were going to show 2/3 of the downstairs rooms as fully-functioning bedrooms, having sold four lots of bedroom furniture when we sold our previous house

Our buyers - a family of 5 - were looking for a good-sized family home with 4-5 bedrooms. Despite our additional sofas, sideboards, bookcases and desks etc they were able to visualise three of the downstairs rooms as potential bedrooms and, whilst we're not fans of family photos or other unnecessary clutter, we do have lots of *stuff* as we're great collectors, yet none of this prevented them from seeing our house as a much loved family home, visualising themselves living there and making an offer immediately.

Admittedly, the house was not the normal, standard 2/3 reception room property and you'd have been an idiot not to see the potential just by looking at the footprint as shown on the floor-plan (it was approximately 1200 sq ft on the ground floor), but IMHO all this obsession with creating a sterile, empty box when selling is crazy and a result of too many house programmes on TV creating an expectation that every property, however old, will be presented for sale as if it were an un-lived in new build

OP - good luck and don't go mad with the de-cluttering!

bloolagoon

Thank you all for your wise words. I think I was just having a bad day yesterday, I'd had treatment so was tired, husband away on mandatory training, my immune system is low so I am full of cold, chest infection, cold sores and the viewing so early threw me. It was just so rushed. I finished work at 5pm and had football training at 6.30 - viewing at 5.45. The children didnt get time to eat. I was exhausted from lifting heavy items.

I am going to take it easier today, de clutter at a nice pace and do some gardening, fence painting to enjoy the sunshine.

Re the gym - I don't know where to put it. It used to be in the master bedroom and that room was a playroom, EA advised showing off the large bedroom and removing it. The buyers thought the master was too large and empty space (its 25ft by 15ft). Seems like you can never win. It could take time to sell so I'd be reluctant to not use the gym for months as I need to build my strength up and am in training for a half marathon for cancer uk later this year.

Right off to pick myself up, stop being so down and just do my best. I'm amazed at how much clutter I have accumulated though.

I_have_spoken

Once you're on RM post the link here for constructive feedback.

ndf9876

Nothing more to add except to say that this has been really interesting - lots of different opinions; the person who prefers an empty house as it indicates faster movement to the veterans who can see the floorspace and appreciate the property for what it could be, not what it is. I guess the comment "you can't please all the people all the time" summed it up - it's still your home after all!

Anyway best of luck with the viewings

Mojisola

ndf9876 wrote: »

Nothing more to add except to say that this has been really interesting - lots of different opinions; the person who prefers an empty house as it indicates faster movement to the veterans who can see the floorspace and appreciate the property for what it could be, not what it is. I guess the comment "you can't please all the people all the time" summed it up - it's still your home after all!

Isn't this the truth? I swing between thinking if the buyers are daft enough to be put off because of the style of furniture/gym equipment/children's toys then I don't want them buying the house to just wanting someone to buy it!

When we bought our house, years ago, it never occurred to me to look at how the house was furnished or decorated. We were buying the structure - not the seller's lifestyle.

DRP

ndf9876 wrote: »

Nothing more to add except to say that this has been really interesting - lots of different opinions; the person who prefers an empty house as it indicates faster movement to the veterans who can see the floorspace and appreciate the property for what it could be, not what it is. I guess the comment "you can't please all the people all the time" summed it up - it's still your home after all!

Anyway best of luck with the viewings

Absolutely true. Which is why 'neutral' is recommended by so many.