Hi

LandyAndy

Drathor wrote: »

Well no not really I had already put a offer in on another that I like more. But I feel so uncomfortable poking around someone's house when they just sit downstairs watching TV

And that wasn't the only reason any way.

Maybe they have CCTV in every room

Leory

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

The best viewings I've been on with a vendor always involved them showing us around the house first then they left us to have a wander around ourselves.

This has been my experience of most properties I have viewed, and how I was when selling my house.

A quick guide by the owner, downstairs first then upstairs. They then go back down and let us have a look around ourselves. Any questions can be asked at the end.

pinkshoes

Ideally be shown round by the vendor, and THEN given time to wander round on my own.

That way I can ask lots of questions, and then be nosy!

r_holmes22

When we were selling our place we would ask viewers for their preference (view accompanied by us, alone, or a quick tour and then some alone time). We were aware of the risk of theft, but were prepared to take it. We always offered to take any questions either during the tour or after they had looked around if they wished. In other words, we tried to be as accommodating as possible (anything to improve the chances of their becoming interested in the house). We felt being as open as possible would establish trust and reassure them that we had nothing to hide.

Now that we are looking to buy we are finding a mixture. Typically the vendor escorts us around and doesn't offer any alone time (at least, not on the first viewing). While it is useful to be able to ask questions as we go round, we do find that this means we are distracted and that we can't discuss what we don't like or might change about the place (we have to reflect on the negatives afterwards). It can perhaps give us a sense of the vendor's position regarding the sale, although I'm also conscious we could equally be fed a string of bovine poo poo.

I do know what some posters above mean about feeling uncomfortable 'nosing' around people's homes, though.

Annie1960

I much prefer an estate agent.

agrinnall

As a vendor I prefer to do a brief tour of the house first with the viewers then let them look around on their own and ask any questions that they want to - but I always asked first what they would prefer. As a recent buyer (offer accepted on Tuesday) all of the houses that I looked at were shown by a representative of the Estate Agency even when the owners were in the house (although a couple of them the EA was late and the owner let me in and started to show me round anyway). It may be a difference between selling in rural Scotland and buying in suburban Birmingham.

Emmylou_2

First viewings I prefer it to be the agent (so if it's entirely wrong I don't need to waste time looking round 3/4 of a house when I've known it wasn't the right house after the kitchen). If it gets to a second viewing, I'd like to meet the vendor (because if I'm viewing for a second time, then I like the place but want to find *stuff* out about it - like water pressure, or how the neighbours are, or what parking's like at times other than when I'm viewing etc)

pickles13

I prefer an EA. Its so awkward with the owner in the house at all. The EA showed us around the house we just offered on, while the owner took her dog for a walk so we didn't meet her. We are going back again in a few days to show the parents around and have been told that it will just be the owner there, which we are happy about now that we know it is a house we love.