Viewers whose property is not on the market

amberstone99

How do you house sellers feel about letting people view your home which is up for sale when theirs is not even on the market?
It's a lot of work preparing your home for viewers if you have a big house and I now really feel like turning down viewers if they are not in a position to buy. In a sticky market, viewers are appreciated of course but I am starting to feel annoyed with people just looking around to see what the current prices and properties are like.
Then you get those who show a strong interest, come back for a second viewing then offer to buy at a price which is totally ridiculous. Really wearing !

Alter_ego

I feel fine. I have recently viewed about 10 and Tuesday exchanged contracts on one. Our house goes on the market this week.

googler

From many other threads on here, assuming you're selling in E&W, it seems perfectly possible for you, the seller, to accept an offer from someone who has complied with your wish that they put theirs on the market, then for you only to start looking for somewhere else once you've accepted their offer, and to drag this process out without committing to a firm entry date.

I'd say if you're going to demand something like this of your buyer, you should maybe give something in return. Commitment to entry by a fixed date, for instance.

Checking proceedability of viewers tends not to happen in Scotland, where in many territories there is traditionally open viewing on Thursdays and Sundays, sometimes at other times. This is published in advertising material, and viewers can simply roll up, knock and be admitted.

hazyjo

Been discussed many times before so search may give you some insights (not a sarky reply - trying to be helpful )

I always let them view, and have always viewed before getting a buyer.

Before I last moved:

- I wanted to know what I could get for my money.
- I wanted a house in mind so when I got an offer, I could ring immediately to make an offer on what I wanted
- I wasn't viewing particularly locally. Hour's drive away, and too late in evenings so all had to be done at weekends. Sometimes EAs were fully booked, vendors couldn't do viewings, or I had weekend plans. Didn't want to have to way 2-3 weeks in some cases to view a property!

You never know who has viewed your house and not offered as they're waiting for a buyer.

I wouldn't be viewing if I didn't trust myself not to get emotionally tied to a house and talk about all sorts of things like bridging loans! If a house I liked sold, then it sold. A few came and went that I liked, but viewing without a buyer has worked out well for me.

I definitely wouldn't say they had to have a buyer before viewing!

Tlc11

I can totally see your point and how frustrating it is. I hate the thought of someone just coming for a nosey with no intention to buy what so ever. However, I don't think you can sniff these type of people out. Just because someone's house isn't on the market it doesn't mean they are the aforementioned type of people.

We were thinking about selling up here a few months back. We are very middle market for our area. The lower half of the market is still moving at a steady pace. The upper half of the market has really slowed. I didn't want to put my house on the market for it to sell, then I mess my buyer around as I hadn't found anything I wanted. I figured when I found something I liked, I would then out my house straight onto the market in the hope it would then sell.

Everyone's circumstances are different. Our agent said they would 'vet' all potential buyers first to ensure they could actually afford the house / were in a position to move before they allowed viewings. Maybe that's something you could consider?

pinklady21

googler wrote: »

Checking proceedability of viewers tends not to happen in Scotland, where in many territories there is traditionally open viewing on Thursdays and Sundays, sometimes at other times. This is published in advertising material, and viewers can simply roll up, knock and be admitted.

Not so much the case now up here - while they still exist, open viewings are no longer nearly as popular. Mostly you call the agent and make an appointment.

lookstraightahead

Up to you - your house. You don't know their personal circumstances, they might have just inherited or they only want to see your house and won't sell otherwise.

But feel free to stop viewings.

Regarding obscene offers, maybe they think it's an obscene asking price and you're having a laugh. Who knows.

martin1959

We are in the same situation as you. We initially said only those in a position to proceed to view, but after a few days took this off. We have been on the market for two weeks today, and had 5 viewings, with 3 offers, all from people who have not sold.

I have told EA to thank them for their offer, but advise that I am not going to even discuss price with anyone who has not sold. The position they are in would determine what level I would drop to.

I am fortunate that we already have the house we are moving to, although building works will not be finished until June, but have access to another flat we could move into within a few weeks if this was important to a buyer.

If enough people who have not sold come to view, and want to buy, sooner or later, one of them must find a buyer......hopefully!!

babyblade41

I Won't allow viewers unless proceed able . I have a tricky set up with animals and to allow viewers takes a lot of organising .

I am never in a position where I am forced to sell and has to be under my terms due to animal welfare.

I can't be doing my job if I have tyre kickers.. my house my rules

Alarae

I was one of those viewers.

We actually put our house on the market for said house, and sold within four days.

Didn't actually end up buying it in the end (divorcing couple- run away people!) but we wanted to make sure what we wanted in the next house was out there before selling ours. Didn't want to have to cut our buyers loose if we couldn't find anything.

As we didn't get the house we went on the market for it actually took us a month to finally find the house. Felt quite sorry for our buyer really.

resilie

just because their house isn't on the market doesn't make them non-serious buyers... we were looking for the right house to come up - took nearly 6 months! but we weren't going to put our house on the market without knowing the right house to move to is out there for us... had first and second viewing quickly, went on the market the next week, had an offer 5 days later and accepted another (higher offer) a few days after that..offered on the house we want same day, all in the bag in 2 weeks and a few days...