How long would you expect a viewing to last?

natasha22

Thank you all. Really helpful to hear a range of experiences
Just to say weve had plenty of viewings under the 15 min, but wondered yesterday if we were taking too long as the first viewing had others waiting outside and the other we werent able to see certain bits.
Will definitely be a bit more confident in asking for second viewings if needed then!

We were concerned about the time waster aspect, as we have now viewed aprox 25 properties. We have definitely slowed down as at the start we were doing a lot of viewings of EA suggested properties who didnt really understand what we were looking for. We obviously were less sure in what we were looking for too so viewed a range of properties (Historic town, with lots of different house ages, sizes, types of area) so are definitely viewing fewer properties

powerful_Rogue

We had an EA round yesterday to value. He said that he was only allowed to be in the property for 15 minutes due to the current situation.

dramaticat

I've just had confirmation of a viewing tomorrow, and the estate agent blurb says: "We would like to keep the time spent at the property to a minimum, usually 10 - 15 minutes is plenty and is in line with Government guidance." So it might not be estate agents seeing you as timewasters as much attempting to adhere to whatever government restrictions have been placed on them.

Having said that, while 10 or 15 minutes is plenty of time for me to work out that I don't want to buy a place, it is not enough time to decide if I definitely do want to buy it, particularly if I am trying to compare it with other properties I am viewing. This might be a problem with properties that are likely to sell fast and I'd need to put in an offer pretty soon after the first viewing. I need a bit of time to just stand in a room and visualise how it would be to live in it and how I would use it.

I understand that there are risks in trying to carry out things that we used to regard as "normal" and that these measures are in place to try and mitigate them, but if I'm going to be spending this amount of money, I need more than 10 minutes to make the decision. It makes me wonder how the risks compare between a buyer spending 30 minutes in a property once and coming back for two or three 15-minute visits, bringing with them any germs they may have picked up in between visits, before they can make up their mind.

I went to see an empty house two weeks ago and spent around 25 minutes there, but at least 5 in the garden.

iampetesmith

The owner showed us round our house, I think it took around 15 - 20 mins. He just went through a few things as we were going round each room, then we were talking for a bit in the kitchen at the end when he dropped the bombshell that he'd already had a few offers. We were the lucky ones who's offer was accepted though.

matthew91822

I viewed 3 small houses of the exact same layout in the same road. First house was a viewing by the owner and took a good 30 minutes, him giving every detail about the property which was great.

Second house was litterally 5-10 minutes with an estate agent who just wanted to be anywhere else but there.

Third was the house I got offer accepted on was about 15-20 minutes but in immaculate condition, did check stuff like cupboards, taps, doors switches etc. Didn't see the need for a second viewing.

Thrugelmir

Second viewings far longer than the first. Never offered on the first viewing alone. You notice much more the second time. 

staffie1

When I view a property, I take as long as I want.

lady1964

When we viewed houses in two towns 200 miles away, we spent one day viewing 6 or 7. The first house we viewed in the second town was the one we bought. We were in the house no longer than 20 minutes, we didn’t even go out to the back garden as it was raining but we viewed on a Saturday and offered on the following Monday. Moved in early January and have been very happy here ever since, best move we’ve made 😀

dramaticat

I'm back from my viewing and I spent around 40 minutes there. The estate agent showed me round and at no time tried to rush me. The owners were out.