Are we in a sellers market?

YoungBlueEyes

I didn't expect the guy to open the door and let me in, I hoped the agent could arrange a viewing then they could come out to the property and show me round

How would you be qualified as a serious buyer? About half the properties I've viewed over the last few days were short notice (as I spot them come onto Rightmove) and only having called the EA. It was sometimes short notice and I squeezed a lot of viewings into my trip, but is that not what usually happens?

Mutton_Geoff

Why didn't you knock on the door and say you'd seen the sign, would it be convenient (and bypass the agent although the vendor would still be liable for the fees in most cases).

YoungBlueEyes

Ooh I couldn't have Mutton Geoff - that sees a bit too cheeky. If I had the nerve I perhaps would have....

Bass_9

The vendor may have felt unwell, they could have been on a nightshift that night, house may have been untidy etc... Lots of valid reasons.

Just because it was inconvenient for you It doesn't mean they're being awkward... it's their house at the end of the day so if they simply couldn't be arsed that day then so be it.

It also doesn't mean that it's a sellers market, this seems irrelevant. I'd say my area is a sellers market because decent houses generally go very very quickly and there are lots of buyers in competition for them.

ProDave

I would have ignored the agent, and gone and knocked on the door "I'm just in the area for today and notice your house is for sale ,,, "

Davesnave

It's a seller's market if the seller is just hoping to move and not greatly committed one way or the other.

There are two like this near me at present; both have been unsuccessfully on the market in the last year or two and they have substantially increased their prices since the last time. I'd guess they're thinking it only takes one set of buyers to fall in love with their house, who will then pay close to the inflated price. Neither property is so unique that's likely to happen though!

A buyer's market can happen at any time with any house in areas where turnover is modest. Our house was like that. The vendor needed to be 120 miles away ASAP, so put it on at a good price and hoped for a bidding war....which didn't happen due to the timing and property type. She was just unlucky.

Davesnave

ProDave wrote: »

I would have ignored the agent, and gone and knocked on the door "I'm just in the area for today and notice your house is for sale ,,, "

Me too, "Faint heart never won fair property."

DaftyDuck

It's a sellers' market for sellers who want to make it so, a buyers' market for buyers who do likewise.

Had you been wearing a smart shirt, ironed skirt, and leather shoes rather than your on onesie and slippers and had you knocked politely on the door and got a viewing, you would be making it a buyers market, especially as the slob seller (tv during the day; I didn't know it was broadcast then) and useless agent were aiding a buyers market.

I have seen someone loitering outside when I had a house for sale, details in hand, and offered the m a viewing... and went on to sell to them, hence making that a sellers market.

Market trends influence the market as a whole; individual sales are controlled by buyer, seller, and agent. It's not quite that easy to influence, but I bet that seller hadn't cleaned the house that morning, just in case a viewing popped up!

PasturesNew

YoungBlueEyes wrote: »

....
EA The vendor is unavailable for viewings but we could make you first viewer a week on Saturday. Does that suit at all?
Me - How is the vendor unavailable? He's sat on his 4rse watching telly, I can see him from here!....
So my question is..... !!!!!! happened there?! Why don't sellers want to let people in?

Sellers will want to tidy up before a viewing.
Sellers might not wish to do viewings, leaving that to the agents as they've not got people skills and are "scared" of random strangers.
The seller might have been minding a sick relative in another room, with viewings booked at specific times of the day.
The agents do all the viewings and they're all out/busy.
The person you are seeing watching the telly isn't the seller, it's their son/father/brother, or a visitor as the seller is down the shops buying coffee/biscuits.

You have already "shown your hand", that you're visiting the area - and it's a well known "tourist activity" to view houses where they have no real desire to move there, they just like looking.... in popular/tourist areas agents will routinely double check your motivations ... and won't want to "bend over backwards" to provide a free tourist destination/activity for an hour or so of their time/at their cost.

lena_halo

I wouldn't have let you in either! I only did viewings at the weekend for my flat. It's intrusive having people wandering through and when you have a full time job, you need some time to yourself.

Plus the cleaning is a nightmare :rotfl: