Would an open house for viewings put you off?

toc25

Thanks

I'm in the East midlands, they aren't very common round here so it might not go down very well. I went to one once, it didn't bother me. I remember that it brought out the competitive side of us though, we compulsively made an offer on the house even though we weren't sure about it. Luckily it didn't get accepted.

jlaw4

I live in manchester and most viewings i attended were block viewings. I agree with some of the comments about being able to look around without being mithered. Plus we got to listen to what other buyers asked and gaged how much interest there was. Admittedly we did go into a couple of bidding wars that we lost but it never put me off!
As for the dog, we viewed a few where they had huge dogs. a family member always took them on a long walk and came back as we were leaving.

NeilCr

I did one yesterday in Kent. As others have said it was nice to be able to view without the agent hassling me. Although, we had a chat and he was a decent guy

I had no problem getting a second viewing for Tuesday - my partner could not attend and I wanted her take on the property.. It suited me - there was a a 40 minute window so I didn't have to be there at a designated time and it was more relaxed than a specified appointment where you can get the sense that the agent knows they have to be somewhere else in the very near future!

Hedgehog99

If I was agreeing to an OH as a seller, I would want to be absolutely sure it would still be "by appointment" and not "drop in". The security risk would be the biggest no-no for me as a seller (viewers unsupervised in rooms while EA is busy in other rooms, esp if a few drop-ins get let in after all). Make sure all your important things are secure (bank stuff, jewellery, passports etc).

As a buyer, if the appointment time suited me then OK if you must. I would't let the EA pester and pressure me. EAs like OHs because they only have to staff it once cf multiple separate viewings/travel time and because they think buyers will be rushed into offering if they see other interested viewers. Some timid buyers might not be able to face the thought of an OH and some who the times don't suit just won't bother full stop.

Another thing to think about: your location and available parking. When I was selling, I refused an OH because I lived somewhere with allocated parking and which was difficult to find. I didn't want multiple viewers annoying neighbours by parking in their spaces, nor did I want to EA to be called by a lost viewer and go out to find them, leaving other viewers unsupervised in my property. It was also a small property, a facty which would only have been highlighted by more than one set of viewers at once.

I can see your point though about kids and dogs. It was bad enough managing prepping for viewings without those.

Maybe you can ask your EA to try and leave your sleeping days free of viewings so that you only have to clean and tidy a few days a week while maximising the available days of the week for viewers?

I do wish you the very best. I've just been through it an am out the other side (surrounded by boxes), so there is light at the end of the tunnel eventually!

katebl

MeltingSugs wrote: »

They definitely put me off. I see it as potential for a bidding war or the EA pretending there is one. No estate agent I spoke to when discussing listing ours wanted to do an open house, they said if you stuff up and don't sell at the open house you are going to find it harder when everyone looking knows there was an open house and it didn't sell. It was buyers doing it for convenience more than anything according to our EA.

This is a really good point, three weeks running I've had a text from an EA about attending an open house at the same address that weekend coming, which is plain embarrassing - look on rightmove at similar properties to yours within a 5 mile radius listed within the last fortnight and see how many are under offer or SSTC, this should help you decide

sparky130a

I'm a little confused by those saying an open house means you get to view agent free.

Simply assert yourself at a conventional viewing and that's possible if the EA is half decent...

hazyjo

sparky130a wrote: »

I'm a little confused by those saying an open house means you get to view agent free.

Simply assert yourself at a conventional viewing and that's possible if the EA is half decent...

Presuming a high street agent. My next door but one neighbour is selling with an online agent and had an open day on Sat so they did their own viewings. Only two though, unfortunately not the tens of people who were viewing on open days in our streets a few months ago

alchemist.1

If anything it will be good for you as the Vendor. Encourages people to make offers when they see the number of other people looking at the property too. To suggest something like this suggest that the local market is going strong. Worst case scenario you can viewings by appointments afterwards if not successful.

allthe7s

toc25 wrote: »

Thanks everyone

The dog won't go in a crate and he gets quite distressed in the car, he is a bit of a cling on and wants to be with me or my husband all the time.

I suppose if the estate agent will do the viewings I could just take him out for a walk during the viewings.

I also work nights and am asleep in the day some days, so thinking an open day would be good for that reason too.

I think I'm maybe over thinking and stressing myself out for no reason really.

When we've had viewings my husband has just taken the dog & children out for a walk around the block a few times!

Cakeguts

Dogs in properties can put people off.