Should you find a buyer before you look at houses

hazyjo

I am searching the market seriously but haven't viewed yet. I think my house will sell within 1-4 weeks so am not too worried about it all - will probably be waiting a year anyway.

I have always viewed before having a buyer but do NOT get emotionally attached. I am quite pragmatic about it. What's meant to be will be...

Jx

diveteachr

Totally depends on the market conditions in your area and also the kinds of property involved - I recently accepted an offer on my 1 bed flat reasonably quickly and then started looking for somewhere to buy. The fact I had already accepted an offer on my place gave me a clear advantage when it came to qualifying my offer on where we live now.

Davesnave

smallholdingsister wrote: »

I am not having viewers who aren't on the market yet.

Interesting, because if you are a smallholder in somewhere like Wales, where the market tends to be very slow, you would miss out on all those potential buyers from faster-moving areas, hoping to find something before committing.

It's a big step on a well-worn path!

diveteachr wrote: »

Totally depends on the market conditions in your area and also the kinds of property involved

Which is what I mean by the above and sums it up. It's not a one size fits all, but this forum is very skewed to the buoyant markets of the South/South East.

When we were selling in the recession, in an abnormally slow market for where we were, our eventual buyers viewed before going on the market. It was seeing our place that prompted them to go for it.

smallholdingsister

Davesnave wrote: »

Interesting, because if you are a smallholder in somewhere like Wales, where the market tends to be very slow, you would miss out on all those potential buyers from faster-moving areas, hoping to find something before committing.

It's a big step on a well-worn path!

TBF the only one we said no to was someone whose sister lives here and who lives in a neighbouring village. Blatant noseying.
I am staggered by how much time some people appear to have on their hands.

NicNicP

We had no intentions of moving until we saw a house go on the market just down the road from us. After looking at the details we had a viewing and then decided to put ours on the market. Luckily we sold within 24 hours so we're able to put in an offer. Our vendors had been looking but hadn't found their ideal home. Personally I would be viewing houses as each circumstance is different.

Davesnave

smallholdingsister wrote: »

TBF the only one we said no to was someone whose sister lives here and who lives in a neighbouring village. Blatant noseying.
I am staggered by how much time some people appear to have on their hands.

Having sold to people who weren't on the market and showed absolutely no outward signs of enthusiasm when viewing, I no longer judge viewers.

I've had effusive praise which has amounted to no feedback whatever, and offers to buy which have been withdrawn a week later with no explanation. I've also been strung along for months by folk who had their mortgage offer withdrawn, and even had a buyer disappear suddenly after bringing a builder around to quote for alterations.

As a result, I've made offers and begun the buying process myself, only to withdraw later.

People get very emotional over showing their properties and all the 'work' that entails, but they'd be far better treating it as just another job, like mucking-out, but potentially with a greater pay-off!

I viewed around 50 smallholdings, but in the end, I could only buy one. Knowing which one depended very much on the other 49. Yes, I needed a of of time on my hands to do that, especially at a distance from home, so I made time.

2bFrank

Thank you very much for your replies. They are much appreciated

We are in Greater Manchester so the market is in the middle at the moment. On our street this year, two houses have gone on sale, one sold within days, the other is still on the market, so its hit and miss I think.

We will wait until we have a buyer and then start viewing properties. Fingers crossed we get a buyer quickly, as the area we are moving too is pretty fast paced, so wouldn't like to miss out. Our only problem is our house is pretty much prime for a FTB, so I imagine they will be eager to move, fingers crossed the sellers of the house we buy are just as eager.

Thanks again

System

If you're not ready to proceed just use the same estate agent as the seller, their vested interest will push it to happen

System

It worries me that people may not actually find something to buy, and then have to drop their buyer

hazyjo

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

It worries me that people may not actually find something to buy, and then have to drop their buyer

My friend at work had his house on the market and found a buyer immediately. Several months later, he still couldn't find anywhere to buy. His buyers had offered two increases in the meantime so he could have a bit more cash to find somewhere(!), but still no joy. Eventually he pulled out. It's now up for sale less than a year later and he hasn't had any bites in the few weeks it's been up - and he won't look at anything until he gets a buyer.


It really can be a vicious circle!


I have always miraculously found buyers when the RIGHT house has come up for me. There were lots of maybes and lots of disappointment, but it's pretty much always worked out for the best in the end for me. Fate


Jx