How long would you expect a viewing to last?

RelievedSheff

When we bought our first house in 2007 we viewed about 50 houses before we found the one we ended up buying.

When we bought our new build last year it was the first house that we viewed. We had gone to look at a few different house types and plots but in the end went with the first one we saw as it just felt right for us and suited how we live in the house. On the plus side it was also the cheapest of the ones we had initially gone to look at 

TripleH

We've viewed 3 properties and a mock up flat since the ease of lockdown. I'd say each has taken at least half an hour (technically the first property was 2 seperate flats in the same building).
I do think it depends on the Estate Agents (they may have only 1 person only doing the viewings).
It may also depend on the property, an empty property is better than one where the owners have to pop out for viewings and there may be a delay between them coming back and the viewing ending so people are encouraged to initially use first viewing as a "do I think I could live here type viewing" with a second one being a more detailed "should I live here?"

MaryNB

For the first house I viewed (which I was pretty keen on) I was only given 15min and was going around the place like a headless chicken trying to tick everything off on my list, even though it's a tiny house. EA told me there was another viewing after mine but I ran over by 5 min, nobody arrived, and I noticed him lock up the house after I left.
The viewing for the second house I viewed took 10 min because I wasn't as keen on it.

I've been tasked with finding new tenants in the various houseshares I've lived in over the years and we usually do them in 15min slots. Couldn't believe I was given the same for a house purchase. But I guess it depends how much you want the place and how many checks you need to do. 

Chilli6

I felt rushed with some of the viewings I had. The standard seems to be 15 minutes but you aren't given a time frame when booking so it can be a surprise when they rush you round. One house needed alot of work so we spent 45 minutes on our second viewing but were being hurried along the whole time. Some only need 10-15 mins if they are more straight forward.
If I'm spending so much money on a property I'm certainly going to take longer to choose than if I'm picking a new sofa. 

seradane

We viewed about 20-25 properties when we were buying ours, and never felt like the agents were considering us time wasters. Although this was pre-lockdown and the market wasn't super hot so that may have helped. The slots they gave us were about half-hour viewings, we usually only needed 15-20 mins, so gave us time to get from one to the next as well. Wouldn't have been happy with much less time than that though!

Falafels

I think fears around covid are a factor here. My purchaser (and a friend) came round for a third viewing yesterday, and they were here for nearly an hour. But that's in a situation where we were all masked and gloved, keeping a distance, all the doors open so the property had a free flow of air, and I could disinfect all the surfaces once they'd gone. I wouldn't be trusting an estate agent to do that!

The EA's viewing slots are 15 mins, I know, and have been ever since lockdown was lifted.

scottiescott

I have just purchased a 3 bed bungalow (get the keys next week)
Property was empty (probate) and I viewed it myself in 30 minutes. Went back with my builder mate and spent 2 hours going over it with a fine tooth comb (under the floor, up in the attic, contemplated structural amendment etc etc).

Soot2006

When we were selling, our EA always tried to keep people inside for 20-30 min, specifically starting conversations with them in the nicest rooms or in the garden when the weather was good.

hazyjo

Between 5-20 mins should be enough unless you're chatting with an owner or EA for ages. Absolutely no point in spending 20 mins in something you're not interested in, so walk round and get out in 5.

phoebe1989seb

Last time we sold, in 2017- a 4 bed detached period house with large-ish garden - we did the viewings ourselves. The first viewings ranged in length from 1 hour to in excess of 2, and iirc we had a second view that lasted closer to 3 hours 

I can't imagine many estate agents allowing someone that long to look around.....in fact when we purchased that property we were ushered out after half an hour and without seeing inside the garage or outbuildings, even though we'd explained to the EA when making the appointment that we were travelling 3 hours to view so expected enough time to have a good look as it was unlikely we'd be coming back for a second.

As it happened, we did go back a second time and, having moaned to the EA about being rushed previously, they gave us the key (empty property obviously!) and told us to take as long as we needed.