Viewing with the owners not estate agent

Wkmg

As a buyer I’d much rather view with an agent. 

Scotbot

It may depend on what the vendor has signed up for, agents often charge a higher fee for conducting the viewings. 

swingaloo

 I would prefer to look round with the seller, you can ask questions. We viewed a house recently and the agent could answer nothing. It was all 'I need to find that out and get back to you'. So far he hasn't! He was however obsessed with telling me what a good buy the house would be if I like gardening as it had a South facing garden. He mentioned it so many times both inside the house and out that I had to point out to him in the end that as it has a wrap round garden on three sides of the house it would be odd if didn't have South facing garden. 

[Deleted User]

I have to say from the comments you have made and the seemingly unnecessary desire to “build a relationship” with the agent, Id see you’s as timewasters too. 

When I buy residential properties that are lived in, its always been the home owner doing the viewings. 

If buying a vacant or ex tenant house, its been an agent, but usually a junior who knows virtually nothing about the property apart from what is in the particulars 

Jumblebumble

We bought in West London
Some houses the vendors wanted nothing to do with the sale and others wanted to show us around
3 we saw were agent only and 3 were vendor only

Davesnave

The last agent I used had nice fluffy ladies in the front office and a sleazy-looking gent, the negotiator, hidden in the back room. He got me the price I was looking for and then said, "if I liked," he'd get some more and thus cover their agency fee. Ten minutes later, the fee had indeed been covered. For all I know, perhaps it already had!

Anyway if you tried to 'build a relationship' with him, I think he'd probably eat you for breakfast!

Mickygg

I much prefer to view with an agent. You can be more open an honest. I don’t like being harsh to people in their own home, but to agent I’m more honest and after a few minutes if I don’t like it, I tell them and we move on. 

When I view with an owner it takes ages, far too long if you are not interested. Some people may be blunt to owners but I’m not. 

I don’t like the hard sell by owners. Some vendors let you look round on your own which is fine, but those that wander round with you telling you how wonderful everything is and happy they have been, that’s nice to hear if you are very interested but not so much if you just want to leave. I also take what owners say with a pinch of salt as I have been lied to a number of times by vendors, another reason why I want to only deal with the agent.

Chandler85

I've always said that I'll show people round or let the agent.  Often when an agent does, all that happens is you sit in a room or the garden and the potential buyers ask you loads of questions anyway.  From simple questions, such as which direction does the garden face etc, which an agent should know to others like where's the fuse box, boiler etc and how old they are.  When was the bathroom and kitchen done?  Vendors know all this, agents don't.

If I showed someone round, I would always quickly show them through the rooms, pointing out anything that they might care about.  Then tell them they are welcome to have a look round by themselves and I'll be in the garden (if it was nice enough) or elsewhere so they could happily talk amongst themselves.  Garden was always better because they could see you outside so they knew you weren't listening in.

The vendor is also more likely to open loft hatches etc if asked.

movilogo

I prefer to view with owners because
1. I try to judge how they cared for the house.
2. They can explain questions betters - EAs have no clue.
3. They know better history of what repairs etc. were done.
4. Chatting with them I can extract how pressed they are for selling - like they already found a place or simply testing the market etc. This helps with making an offer. 
5. If they vendor likes you, then may accept a slightly lower offer from you than buyer whom they didn't like. 
6. You can convince vendor more easily that you are a serious buyer.

However, never try to negotiate price with vendor. Do that thru EA only. Most vendors don't feel comfortable discussing price with buyers directly. 

davidmcn

Mickygg said:

I have been lied to a number of times by vendors, another reason why I want to only deal with the agent.

As yes, that profession renowned for always telling the truth...

The honest answer from the agent is likely to be "don't know" for most of your questions, at least owners will give you an answer and you can judge for yourself how many pinches of salt to add.