What questions to ask Estate Agent about viewers?

Okey00001

How can I ask the Estate Agent if the person viewing the house is seriously looking to buy and what their status is?

(Are they selling their own property, first time buyers, etc).

Estate agent has been vague about viewers and when the prospective buyer viewed the property, I was informed afterwards that they weren't ready to buy yet/just looking/didnt like the area!  What was the point of them being there?!

**Maybe I am wrong and would be grateful for advise  about what to ask the agent about a viewer's status - (will I offend them by asking this question or do I have a right to ask them?)**

user1977

Offend an estate agent?! Just ask them. It's a perfectly normal question. 

canaldumidi

The real questions arise when they make an offer, not when they view.

Of course, if viewings are an inconvenience eg you work from home or similar, then it's fair enough to want to limit viewings to serious prospscts, and you can not only ask such questions, but instruct you EA not to arrange viewings without first vetting the buyer to your criteria.

The agent works for you, though bear in mind that he is focussed on getting a sale and earning his commission, and the more viewers, the better his chances.

eddddy

Are you saying you want the estate agent to phone you with details of each viewing request...

... so that you can say "yes - tell them they can view" or "no - tell them they can't view"?

If that's correct, I can see why the estate agent won't agree to that.

(Put yourself in the viewer's shoes, when they're told "I'm sorry but the seller has assessed your situation and decided that you can't view his/her property.)



I'd suggest that you handle this differently.

If you have requirements about the types of viewers you'll accept, tell the Estate Agent in advance what they are. 

For example, tell the estate agent to only arrange viewings from proceedable buyers, such as:

• FTBs
• People with no property to sell
• People whose own property is already under offer

It's much less offensive to prospective viewers to be told that there are 'blanket rules' about who can view, rather than suggesting that they will be personally assessed.

Tatters26

eddddy said:

For example, tell the estate agent to only arrange viewings from proceedable buyers, such as:

• FTBs
• People with no property to sell
• People whose own property is already under offer

It's much less offensive to prospective viewers to be told that there are 'blanket rules' about who can view, rather than suggesting that they will be personally assessed.

I back this up. My partner and I are hoping to exchange very soon and we are both FTB, living with family so no chain and we had a mortgage in principle for more than we wanted to use. and when any EA found this out they sat up and more than one told us we are prime buyers for that reason. And the house we got (or so we were told) had a seller who picked us over a very similar level offer (£1000 in it I think, but I'm sceptical as everyone lies) because our situation was far more attractive than the other buyer who was locked in a chain.

So yes target people like us once the offers come in, if you have multiple offers, but I do agree you can't do much about viewings, but yes by all means quiz them about the people once an offer is in.

jkrbec

it was pretty well known in my area that EAs were making sure people had DIPs in place etc before arranging viewings so I don’t think it’s an issue to have some criteria prior to the EA arranging a viewing.

verytired11

I was turned away from every single potential viewing until my house was under offer.  Then I would give the EA details of my buyer and chain so that they could assess the strength of any offer I might make.  As others have said - instruct your EA about what type of buyers you will and won't accept for viewings, but do take their advice too.  If the property is harder to sell the EA may advise booking as many viewings as possible to generate interest.  If your property is highly desirable, they may advise vetting viewers first.  You need a decent strategy in place, and hopefully your EA has one.....

theartfullodger

You could ask for the truth at all times.

Snookie12cat

Okey00001 said:

How can I ask the Estate Agent if the person viewing the house is seriously looking to buy and what their status is?

(Are they selling their own property, first time buyers, etc).

Estate agent has been vague about viewers and when the prospective buyer viewed the property, I was informed afterwards that they weren't ready to buy yet/just looking/didnt like the area!  What was the point of them being there?!

**Maybe I am wrong and would be grateful for advise  about what to ask the agent about a viewer's status - (will I offend them by asking this question or do I have a right to ask them?)**

You can ask the agent to only show around people in a proceedable position, but even then you will still get timewasters who, do not look at the photos?!, do not drive to the area or even look at it before seeing the house, have no clue what they want. Then you get the ones who offer, and then change their mind because they didn't think it through first.

It seems to be part of selling that non serious buyers just come around to browse. Personally, before I view, I have driven to the area, looked at all the photos, the council tax, the room sizes. I am confident I will like the place and buy it if it matches what I expect.... turns out most people do not do this.

trailingspouse

Why wouldn't you want all and everyone who was even slightly interested in your property to view it? It's the single biggest chunk of money anyone will ever give to you. The more the merrier say I!!

Yes, there are time wasters - but proceedable buyers can change their minds.

And sometimes viewers are too polite - when asked if they like the property they'll say they're not quite ready to buy when what they actually mean is the house stunk of cigarette smoke and dog and they couldn't get to see one of the bedrooms because the adult daughter was still asleep at 10 in the morning (I speak from experience...)

TheJP

Tatters26 said:

eddddy said:

For example, tell the estate agent to only arrange viewings from proceedable buyers, such as:

• FTBs
• People with no property to sell
• People whose own property is already under offer

It's much less offensive to prospective viewers to be told that there are 'blanket rules' about who can view, rather than suggesting that they will be personally assessed.

I back this up. My partner and I are hoping to exchange very soon and we are both FTB, living with family so no chain and we had a mortgage in principle for more than we wanted to use. and when any EA found this out they sat up and more than one told us we are prime buyers for that reason. And the house we got (or so we were told) had a seller who picked us over a very similar level offer (£1000 in it I think, but I'm sceptical as everyone lies) because our situation was far more attractive than the other buyer who was locked in a chain.

So yes target people like us once the offers come in, if you have multiple offers, but I do agree you can't do much about viewings, but yes by all means quiz them about the people once an offer is in.

FTBs are great on paper but can often be difficult as they don't have realistic expectations of buying a house (granted not all FTBs are like this as i wasn't).

We had an FTB view our last house, when i arrived back they were chatting to the EA on the drive and i said hello upon which they continued to tell me the house has potential when its fully re-decorated. They made an offer £25k below asking as they stipulated all rooms need to be repainted (they didn't just not their taste), bathrooms replaced to a modern standard and a complete rip out of the kitchen. A caveat they also added was completion in 12 weeks no later and that i would have to have the kitchen units removed so that the kitchen company could come in on completion day.

I will always look at other offers before i consider an FTB.