Any advice when doing your own viewings when selling your house?

ellie27

I will be doing my own viewings. Estate agents will be making appts for viewings/feedback/negotiations etc

Any tips?

What not to say or what to say?

Just lead them through the house without any commentary makes sense?

What things should you not comment on eg if they ask about price/quickness to sell?

Any advice at all is welcome.

zaax

Tidy up, no funny smells

ellie27

I have the place spotless and really presented well, it was more of any particular things to say/not to say. I am not the best with words!

I read today, dont be too friendly as they may think you are a bit of a pushover when it comes to making offers.

And dont be too friendly as it might look like you are desperate to sell??

Dont talk about price I guess - tell them if interested speak to the agents?

dimbo61

Show them round and highlight the best points if ANY
I took our buyers around the house and walked outside to Nice Quiet garden ( sold in 20 minutes).
If they come with kids tell them about Good Schools nearby ( If any!)

jm2926

What I did was:

1/ Greet at door, invite in, break ice e.g. Did you find us ok?
2/ Explain: I'll show you round quickly, then leave you to have a look around on your own. Ask anytime if you have questions.
3/ Start and finish in the best room, let them walk into rooms first if they are small (open the door and wave them in).
4/ Here we are back in the lounge - do you want to have a wander round on your own or do you have any questions?

Practice any difficult questions beforehand. I did commentary e.g. this is the largest bedroom, built in wardrobes (opening door as I go). It gets the sun in the morning but as I prefer a dark room those are blackout blinds which we are leaving.

I just pointed out "features" not negatives. e.g. pull out larder and pot drawers in the kitchen.

It gets easier with each viewing as you practice. Practice on someone else first, it's amazing the stupid things I said first time.

googler

Don't offer any negative opinion or viewpoint about your home. Not one.

If you open your mouth, open it to say something positive.

You're paying your agent, but evidently not enough, or they would be offering you loads more advice, and possibly even .... carrying out the viewings for you. And they wouldn't need to ask about the best approach.

Propertyauthor

It can be quite awkward carrying out viewings on your own home, personally I let the agent do the first set of viewings, it's part of what I pay them for.

Make sure all your valuables are locked away and any personal information too, just to be on the safe side.

Best way is to just be quite friendly, but matter a fact.

Start at one end of the house, eg the garden, then through the ground and upstairs or the other way around. Mention any work you have had done, any guarantees or warranties on the work.

It's your choice as to whether you are OK with letting them view without you.

Avoid things like 'this is the lounge', more things like "we find this is a good space for two or if you like parties we fitted in 20 people" or "carpet is 100% wool, comes with stain resistant, only 5 years old" or "fire is gas" and if you have had it done, you could say "had it checked six months ago, so house has a gas safety certificate etc"

If they ask you about selling, say something like "all offers considered at this stage, but you are keen to get, or you need a certain amount to be able to move, but you will leave them to chat negotiations/price with the agent."

My view is I always try to be honest and fair, so if I'd found somewhere I'd say so, if I could move out quickly and live somewhere else until I found the right home, I'd say so; if I was only putting the property onto the market in the hope of buying a specific property and if I didn't get it, I'd take it off the market.

Don't forget though you can ask them too - how quickly do they need to move? What other properties have they seen? How does yours compare etc.

Hope that helps!

missbiggles1

1. Don't do viewings when alone in the house.

2. Why do the estate agent's job for them unless they're giving you a discount?

beecher2

Think about the questions you would want answered if you were viewing. I had council tax bills, factor bills, idea of utilities costs. They may well ask what price you're looking for, you could just say you hope for a closing date.

Think of something positive to say about each room, you definitely shouldn't lead them round with no commentary as that would be strange.

You could maybe have an open house?

beecher2

missbiggles1 wrote: »

1. Don't do viewings when alone in the house.
?

Not always practical. I live alone so it would be impossible. I just made sure someone knew when I was alone with potential buyers. As with anything you have to weigh up risk and keep it in perspective

Neese

We've viewed a few places where the owner has done the viewing, rather than the estate agent.
Ones I've liked -
Tidy and well presented
Shown us around first, then left us to look afterwards
Pointed out positives (one also pointed out drawer that was being fixed)
Had all info to hand (council tax, rough payments for heating)
Willing to discuss plans for next purchase
Asked us questions about our circumstances (seeming interested)!
Bad-
Help yourselves (whilst sitting smoking)
Untidy
No communication or willingness to discuss property or able to answer simple questions