Time waster viewers

PasturesNew

I, too, rearrange everything, scrub it all down etc before a viewing. There's furniture to rearrange, washing up to be done, clothes to be put way, floors/sinks/loos/bath to be checked, new loo rolls out, swap the towels over, position the curtains neatly ... new towels in place of old/shabby ones.

On one occasion I had to remove damp washing from 2-3 airers, pack it up, dismantle/tuck away the airers and take the damp washing out on a drive around the area for 30 minutes while the agent was doing a viewing.... then put it all back out to air when I returned.

Among the 2-3 good/proper reasons not to wish to pursue my house, one piece of feedback I got was "they didn't like where the breakfast bar was"

Really?

I don't even have one! That was a small stand alone table in the kitchen....

I think people who can't spot the difference between a small table and a breakfast bar... shouldn't be legally allowed out on their own without a responsible adult

I've not had a "no show", but the agents do seem to show people 2-3 houses one after the other and I was just leaving once when the viewers arrived early as they'd "refused to go into the one before mine".

davidmcn

martin1959 wrote: »

I appreciate we may be doing more than necessary but we want to show our home at its best...

Clean all kitchen worktops
Clean both bathrooms including shower screen
Move photos - nicnacs - phone chargers from sockets.
Move ‘dog’ items (beds bowls etc)
Make sure windows are clean
Make sure floors are clean
Vacuum throughout
Take dog to daughters flat a mile away
Pick up any litter outside property (there is a bus stop outside)
Move cars so drive does not look too crowded

All this adds up.....

It does sound more than necessary, and surely you'd be cleaning/tidying etc to a reasonable extent anyway so it's not really time wasted for the sole benefit of the viewer. Can't one of you just take dog out for walkies during the viewing rather than do a round trip to daughter?

martin1959

Thanks all for your valuable opinions....

I do think we go over the top a little, but we were spoilt with our last sale in 2015 when the house went on the market Friday, had 4 viewings Saturday, with two full asking price offers, one of which completed. I know the market is not where it was them

We heard back this morning that the couple due for a second viewing ‘could not come round as friends unexpectedly arrive just before they were due to leave’ My response to the agent was bo***ks, any reasonable person would apologise to friends and either ask them to come back in an hour, or let them wait, while they came round. They are renting only half mile away!

They want to book again this coming weekend, but I really don’t want to see him again, as I may well say something quite unprofessional! Have told EA we will think about it, but my gut feeling is that even if they put in an offer, they will mess us about.

We have told the agent to remove the ‘only able to proceed’ requirement, but to do a sanity check on viewers to make sure they have at least got their property on the market, and it is not rediculously over priced. Also have asked EA to pass our mobile number to any booked viewers with instructions to text if unable to make appointment.

seven-day-weekend

-taff wrote: »

We did that. We drove there, couldn't find anywhere to park, thought that was going to be a likely scenario all the time if we lived there, so we drove off and looked at somewhere else.

My husband didn't even want to go inside the house we had an appointment to view, when we pulled up outside it, as he said it was too small. I said, that we mustn't just go home without informing them as it was very bad form and that if we were going to the trouble of informing them we may as well view it.

We owned that house for forty years, only selling it in 2015

But yes, just to drive off is, imho, extremely bad manners.

seven-day-weekend

tizerbelle wrote: »

Was I the only buyer (when I was a buyer) that would actually go out and check out the house from outside before I would even book a viewing? To get a feel for the location, neighbouring properties, roads, parking, etc. It just seemed the best way to shortlist properties for me.

We have always done that (and even looked through the windows if the house is empty). We have ruled several out this way.

seven-day-weekend

We recently advertised our apartment to rent. We had numerous replies in the first couple of days (around 13 IIRC).

I offered all of them appointments one after the other on the following Saturday. Of the seven that accepted the appointment, I sent them a questionnaire with a few questions on about where were they living now and why did they want to move, whether they could provide references etc. Only two returned the questionnaire.

On the Saturday, we made time for all seven appointments. Only four turned up (including the two who had returned their questionnaire). A young lady who was flat-sharing in the same block also asked if she could view, so when it was apparent that someone was not going to turn up, we offered her that appointment.

So we were spending a lot of time just twiddling our thumbs in an empty flat.(We did get a good tenant though, the young lady from upstairs ).

People should let you know if they have booked a viewing but are not going to turn up. It is so rude not to.

MobileSaver

martin1959 wrote: »

I appreciate we may be doing more than necessary but we want to show our home at its best...

I'm with you and would always make sure the house was immaculate before any viewings.

However I was lucky with the last two houses I sold and I'd already bought somewhere else before selling the former so once deep cleaned they pretty much stayed clean.

Even now though we'll easily spend a whole morning cleaning before friends and family turn up.

Bossypants wrote: »

I think you are going to wear yourselves out like this, ... I genuinely don't think viewers notice that much detail, as long as the place isn't grimy

I can see where you are coming from but I respectfully disagree. I guess it depends on the house but if it's a nice house then sparkling taps/showers/mirrors/appliances and granite worktops can definitely give it the wow factor which will encourage more and higher offers.

In particular a house is typically £200k-£400k and people don't increase offers by tens or hundreds of pounds but by thousands or even tens of thousands so while deep-cleaning is effort it could easily be the most financially rewarding work you've ever done on a per hour basis.

need_an_answer

Your property has only been on the market a very short time,you will find there is "instant" interest which you are getting now and then it will slow a little.


I understand wanting to make a good impression,but actually sometimes a little of the homely feel goes a long way.


Buyers need to see something lived in that they can relate to,i certainly do and don't expect sellers to be to formal in their approach

PasturesNew

-taff wrote: »

We did that. We drove there, couldn't find anywhere to park, thought that was going to be a likely scenario all the time if we lived there, so we drove off and looked at somewhere else.

Where I live the car park's usually empty ... there's little that goes on - and the houses have their numbered spots anyway.

At the time of one viewing about 2 months ago a new neighbour was moving in and turned up with two large vans, managing to block the agent in! Timing! Having moved in, they don't even own a car, so the car park's even more barren than usual.

Right now, three houses don't own cars out of a dozen houses or so.

davidmcn wrote: »

I would keep it all in reasonable shape in case somebody comes at short notice - I've had the agents phone with "we've got somebody in the office now who wants to pop round and view, if that's possible?".

I had a call like that - and couldn't do it. I wasn't even dressed and I'd had a stinky onion dish cooking in the slow cooker that ponged to high heaven

After that I've always kept my house "one hour ready" - so that, given one hour's notice, I could always get dressed, put my stuff away, move the furniture around, clean the loos, check the floors, do all the washing up ... and get out. Every time I walk into a room now I look for "little jobs that could be done, things that could be put away now" so they'd not eat into essential time if I get a sudden call.

JosephK

Went to view a house once, many moons ago, no reply, no one in. Turned out, between us arranging a viewing with EA and the date & time of viewing, vendors decided to take house off the market but not bothered to tell anyone.

Worked out for best in the end, loved place we eventually found.