To contact seller before the viewing or not?

glasgowdan

I have a viewing booked for a house next week, but am just wondering whether I should knock or drop a note in their door tomorrow? In the hope of an early sale I suppose.

It's a new house on the market in a quick-selling area. I do believe I got a viewing on the first day of viewings though.

If I swing by and drop in a note before work tomorrow, how on earth should I word it? Any thoughts?

PasturesNew

If you did, in my experience you'd be the first ever person that did such an "odd thing".

Do what you want, but it's a bit odd.... they might just find you a bit 'creepy' and prefer to go with anybody else .....

Just my tuppence.

glasgowdan

I've called up to view a house brand new on rightmove recently and the agent told me it's already under offer as someone saw the sign and dropped a note in the seller's door!

marksoton

It's risky.

As above the seller might be freaked out by it. You also run the risk of inflating the price before you've even started.

If i were the seller it wouldn't sway me at all.

glasgowdan

Thanks, good to hear a couple of external opinions. I'm so obsessed with trying to find our future home right now that I'm not thinking sensibly.

eddddy

glasgowdan wrote: »

I've called up to view a house brand new on rightmove recently and the agent told me it's already under offer as someone saw the sign and dropped a note in the seller's door!

TBH - I think there's a good chance that the EA was thinking "What can I say to get this person off the phone".

But sadly, EAs do play games (like deterring some buyers, whilst encouraging others), and sellers sometimes make weird decisions.

But if I were selling a house through an EA, I might wonder what 'game' somebody was playing if they put a note through my door.

jaydeeuk1

I contacted our seller directly after viewing as we weren't in an immediate position to buy, even had a drink, only because their EA was a !!!! (they didn't like fact we went with visum). Don't think the EA was happy i bypassed them, but seller was quite happy and we have a good relationship with exchanging info - i ignore their EA. Now waiting for a moving date!

frugalsmurf

eddddy wrote: »

TBH - I think there's a good chance that the EA was thinking "What can I say to get this person off the phone".

But sadly, EAs do play games (like deterring some buyers, whilst encouraging others), and sellers sometimes make weird decisions.

But if I were selling a house through an EA, I might wonder what 'game' somebody was playing if they put a note through my door.

I don't think this is an estate agent ploy as I've heard of it. One house sold Before it went on rightmove and the estate agent said someone was waiting for it to go for sale and they had no viewings....sign went up and it sold.
I think that's mad personallly, as they could have got more.

davidmcn

It sounds a bit odd. Though not sure it will necessarily do you any harm. By all means submit an offer as early as possible if you want to avoid it going to a closing date.

hazyjo

glasgowdan wrote: »

I've called up to view a house brand new on rightmove recently and the agent told me it's already under offer as someone saw the sign and dropped a note in the seller's door!

Yep, that would prob have been on a day or night when the EAs was shut. Others may also consider it if they happened to be in the area and saw a board. I've had it done to me before when the EAs was shut.


I agree with all the others - if you already have a viewing booked in, it would definitely be a bit odd. What could you say other than 'I have a viewing booked in for next week, just wanted to say hi, look forward to viewing your house...'. Bit different to saying 'Was driving round the area as it's somewhere we are contemplating moving to, and just seen the For Sale board outside your house which looks like it might be perfect for us (have checked the Rightmove listing online). We are very keen to view, but unfortunately the EAs are closed so I wondered if you might give me a call/email regarding viewing today (Sat) or tomorrow (Sun) if that's at all possible. If not, I'll give the EAs a ring first thing on Monday. Thanks in advance...' etc etc.


Most EAs obviously discourage it as they like to get a bit of info off them first and get them signed up.


Def don't write if you're booked in to view


Jx

DigForVictory

My concern would be viewings are booked for a week's time. If someone wanted to see round my house *now* (family home, ahem) it would not be showroom/mother-in-law cleaned & tidied & the assorted evidences of family life suitably concealed for public view.

So I'd freak a bit, unless your note established that you were just wanting to get an idea of whether the house would suit you, be done in under 5 minutes but above all still quite prepared to wait for the official showing if that suited me-as-vendor better.

Just my perception.
All the best!