Dealing with Timewasters

Beancounter

Our house just went on the market yesterday, we are dealing with the viewings ourselves. Had a call right after it went live which I suspect was a fishing trip for someone, they asked if we could move fast as they moved out their place last year. I said yes we could and she would phone back after speaking to her hubby. No call so I texted asking if they wanted to make an appointment and got a reply saying "not at the moment". Then we got a viewer this morning who hadn't even put their house on the market?

Short of vetting all callers, how do you deal with timewasters? Is it just a case of having to put up with them incase they are "the one"?

fierystormcloud

Beancounter wrote: »

Our house just went on the market yesterday, we are dealing with the viewings ourselves. Had a call right after it went live which I suspect was a fishing trip for someone, they asked if we could move fast as they moved out their place last year. I said yes we could and she would phone back after speaking to her hubby. No call so I texted asking if they wanted to make an appointment and got a reply saying "not at the moment". Then we got a viewer this morning who hadn't even put their house on the market?

Short of vetting all callers, how do you deal with timewasters? Is it just a case of having to put up with them incase they are "the one"?

Looks like you will have to put up with it yes. Especially as you're doing it yourself.

Very annoying.

Hope you sell soon, but with doing it yourself, you are bound to get more timewasters than if you went through an agent.

That said, some agents send people around who I swear are fake and have no intention of buying.

Beancounter

We are with an agent, well a solicitor as we are in Scotland but are quite experienced in this but I guess we have been lucky in not having much timewasters in the past.

We always deal with viewings ourselves, at least that way the timewasters aren't costing me an agents viewing fee!:D

MadelinesMum

I keep getting the "can I rent for 3 years, then I will buy at the price you are asking". About 10 people asked that so far.

anselld

There is no point treating everyone who doesnt want to make an offer as a timewaster just because they don't want to purchase your property. Equally they could call you a timewaster because you will not meet their expectations as a buyer. There are plenty of over expectant buyers out there and usually the ones who are two tight to employ an agent!

As ever it takes two to tango and if you are doing your own viewings/ negotiation then you need to be open minded. If you don't want the hassle then pay an agent.

anselld

MadelinesMum wrote: »

I keep getting the "can I rent for 3 years, then I will buy at the price you are asking". About 10 people asked that so far.

.. in other words you are way over-priced.

davidmcn

anselld wrote: »

.. in other words you are way over-priced.

Seems unlikely given there'll be a Home Report valuation available.

tea-bag

Just part of the game, treet all the same. The couple who bought our house was the ones who showed the least interest! They loved the house so much the made a offer higher than the asking price

Thrugelmir

Beancounter wrote: »

Then we got a viewer this morning who hadn't even put their house on the market?

How soon are you expecting to sell your property? Your eventual buyer may be somebody that you last expect it to be.

Beancounter

tea-bag wrote: »

Just part of the game, treet all the same. The couple who bought our house was the ones who showed the least interest! They loved the house so much the made a offer higher than the asking price

Thrugelmir wrote: »

How soon are you expecting to sell your property? Your eventual buyer may be somebody that you last expect it to be.

The canniest buyer will be the one who seems to show little interest. I know you have to treat them all like the same but when they say early on that their house isn't even on the market yet your heart does sink.

My house is the only 3 bed detached on the market in our village so we are hoping for a quick sale.

Beancounter

anselld wrote: »

There is no point treating everyone who doesnt want to make an offer as a timewaster just because they don't want to purchase your property. Equally they could call you a timewaster because you will not meet their expectations as a buyer. There are plenty of over expectant buyers out there and usually the ones who are two tight to employ an agent!

As ever it takes two to tango and if you are doing your own viewings/ negotiation then you need to be open minded. If you don't want the hassle then pay an agent.

I realise that everyone who views will not make an offer just as I will not make an offer from every property I go to view when the time comes. My moan is about people who are months away from being in a position to buy coming to view. Not to mention people fishing for info when they have no intention of proceeding.

Interested to know why a buyer would deem me as a time waster?what exactly would their expectations be?

I would certainly not be doing any negotiations myself, i AM paying a solicitor a rather large fee so as I have done in my previous 5 sales will let them get a decent price for me. Here in Scotland it is quite normal for vendors to do their own viewings.