You have to chuckle at viewer feedback!

got2dothisnow

On remarketing my house for the third time after two sales fell through, I told my agent that I didn't want any feedback at all as I wouldn't be making any changes and it just got me down listening to the negativity after putting in so much effort. I have to say, it was a lot less stressful. The viewers either like it, or they don't, and you only need to know if they want to buy it!
It also means, when your phone rings, it's either a viewing or an offer, which stops that sinking feeling and makes it all a much more positive process.

kinger101

I think part of the problem is that some viewers feel compelled to view properties just to tick some box in their mind that they're doing something toward their goal of moving.  So if nothing suitable comes up, they look at something unsuitable instead.

I had one viewer for a three-bed semi I was selling who wanted to upsize from his 4-bed because his family was growing.  The only justification he seemed to have for viewing was it was a house for sale in the right village.

jacko74

To be fair when viewers usually leave feedback that appears non-sensical it's usually because they're being polite and want to say something diplomatic and inoffensive rather than coming out with the truth and saying the house is an overpriced dump.

Soot2006

I had to say "I'm sorry but it was gross; I can't even imagine cleaning it" in response to one of the houses we viewed last year. EA's  response was. "I know. I was embarrassed to show it to you but you did insist you wanted to see it" ... It was so gross ...  As in, who knows what condition the house is in because everything, EVERYTHING was covered in grime and the bathrooms stank of !!!!!! from the poo-splattered toilets. It was priced right up at the top of the market, not priced as a do-er upper!

AdrianC

We viewed one place (we knew we didn't want it, but the EA was showing us another one nearby...).
The vendors were away. They had locked EVERY SINGLE internal door.

Polly05

Just had my first ever feedback. They didn't like it coz the stairs are steep. 
I think they're just bog standard to be honest. 

Hannimal

AdrianC said:

We viewed one place (we knew we didn't want it, but the EA was showing us another one nearby...).
The vendors were away. They had locked EVERY SINGLE internal door.

At least you know the locks worked!

numbercruncher8

Is anyone genuinely surprised why this happens? 

Viewers may view several properties, and could be hard pushed to remember specifics. If a property is simply 'meh', then you could say it simply isn't for you. If the agent is doing their job the next question is 'why was that'? You probably would come out with anything.

Another reason would be that in some cases there would be very low interest in a property anyway. I remember a common thing was to be 'bounced' to another property nearby, which the agent may rave about but on visiting it was nothing of the sort - easier to make throwaway comments about. 

I had this a lot when selling. I suspect the reality is that the stupid comments are in the minority, the valid ones elicit an emotional reaction because you are invested in your own home. The people that have the overwhelming positive feedback either bid, or might be thinking of bidding (in which case they may choose to keep cards close to their chest).