What questions to ask Estate Agent about viewers?

lookstraightahead

Skiddaw1 said:

lookstraightahead said:

"You, you and you are worthy of viewing my castle ... I know all about you and you're circumstances. However, I'm not prepared to put myself out for ten minutes for you and you. Even if it means throwing away a perfect opportunity"

I really can't wait for the market to return to some sort of normality where vendors don't see their properties as more than average.

Hmmmm..... thing is, it isn't just putting yourself out for ten minutes is it? If you're really taking viewings seriously even if you're keeping the house in a state where a sudden or unexpected viewing isn't too much of a problem (which can be stressful in itself) there's a significant amount of prep involved (not to mention absenting yourself if the EA is conducting the viewing). I'm really not one for insisting on a strict vetting system but by the same token we found viewers who were obviously tyre-kickers irritating. I agree with you about the market hopefully returning to some sort of normality however.

How I always see it is that I'm selling an Xk property and the more potential viewings the better. Most vendors (or EAs for that matter) aren't marketing experts, psychologists, or don't do behavioural analysis fir a living. Therefore it's quite easy to make huge errors. 

The other problem is that buyers cannot tell whether a house will suit them, especially when marketing material is over-hyped. Houses where photos are taken without the pylon in the garden, or the chicken farm next door. Yes a buyer should do their research, but often they're moving area, and the pictures are done with the intent of drawing in everyone.

I'm sure there are some window shoppers, but we're all guilty of that in all purchases. And selling a house is a business transaction.

it's horrible getting your house in order for viewings, but surely that's part of the selling process.  If there was a lack of buyers, vendors would be quite happy to put themselves out more. 

Skiddaw1

lookstraightahead said:

Skiddaw1 said:

lookstraightahead said:

"You, you and you are worthy of viewing my castle ... I know all about you and you're circumstances. However, I'm not prepared to put myself out for ten minutes for you and you. Even if it means throwing away a perfect opportunity"

I really can't wait for the market to return to some sort of normality where vendors don't see their properties as more than average.

Hmmmm..... thing is, it isn't just putting yourself out for ten minutes is it? If you're really taking viewings seriously even if you're keeping the house in a state where a sudden or unexpected viewing isn't too much of a problem (which can be stressful in itself) there's a significant amount of prep involved (not to mention absenting yourself if the EA is conducting the viewing). I'm really not one for insisting on a strict vetting system but by the same token we found viewers who were obviously tyre-kickers irritating. I agree with you about the market hopefully returning to some sort of normality however.

I'm sure there are some window shoppers, but we're all guilty of that in all purchases. And selling a house is a business transaction.

it's horrible getting your house in order for viewings, but surely that's part of the selling process.  If there was a lack of buyers, vendors would be quite happy to put themselves out more. 

We sold our previous house in a buyer's market hence my comments about the amount of work to make sure the place was as well-presented as it could possibly be when we had viewings. I quite enjoyed it actually (I'm one of those people who find cleaning the house therapeutic ) but I did find it irritating on the (admittedly not frequent) occasions when we had viewers who were clearly just out to have a jolly. How I'd cope in these current days when sellers are swamped with viewers I dare to think. My brushing the stair carpet paranoia would know no bounds....

gozaimasu

Tatters26 said:

 we had a mortgage in principle for more than we wanted to use. =

Did this not get the EA trying to force you to make higher offers? So if you had £200k AIP but offered £155k on a £160k house, they'd try to get you to the max simply because you could borrow more?

Slithery

gozaimasu said:

Tatters26 said:

 we had a mortgage in principle for more than we wanted to use. =

Did this not get the EA trying to force you to make higher offers? So if you had £200k AIP but offered £155k on a £160k house, they'd try to get you to the max simply because you could borrow more?

It doesn't matter what the EA tries. 'No' is always a perfectly acceptable answer.

rexmedorum

lookstraightahead said:

peterhjohnson said:

Okey00001 said:

It is not about the type but time wasters! Please read my email, I have had so many in the past and wondered why the agent ever sent them to my house.

Many years ago when I was an FTB, I got agents ringing me up and urging my to view "fantastic" houses that were unsuitable but in those days, you had to wait for the post to deliver particulars - there was no website you could preview on

I've also viewed "fantastic" properties that were anything but. If agents continue to promote like that it is the vendor/EA who is the timewaster.

You don't get a feel for a property until you see it (naturally). I remember years ago where the kitchen was quite literally in a cupboard, and more recently less obvious things that the vendor doesn't want to mention, like the road being a rat run, or leaving info out.

op, you might want to ask the EA if they're over enthusiastic about your property when marketing it.

All these listings with key pictures missing are really annoying. Like you see houses with an ensuite but no picture of it for example. As potential buyer you end up assuming it must be either tiny or horrible. I also so wish the listing would just include floor space (like is common in other countries). For example we now have a small 4 bed. A 3 bed would also have worked worked provided the home office was big enough to also have a guest bed in it, but it ca be har to tell on listings and is certainly impossible to filer by.

lookstraightahead

rexmedorum said:

lookstraightahead said:

peterhjohnson said:

Okey00001 said:

It is not about the type but time wasters! Please read my email, I have had so many in the past and wondered why the agent ever sent them to my house.

Many years ago when I was an FTB, I got agents ringing me up and urging my to view "fantastic" houses that were unsuitable but in those days, you had to wait for the post to deliver particulars - there was no website you could preview on

I've also viewed "fantastic" properties that were anything but. If agents continue to promote like that it is the vendor/EA who is the timewaster.

You don't get a feel for a property until you see it (naturally). I remember years ago where the kitchen was quite literally in a cupboard, and more recently less obvious things that the vendor doesn't want to mention, like the road being a rat run, or leaving info out.

op, you might want to ask the EA if they're over enthusiastic about your property when marketing it.

All these listings with key pictures missing are really annoying. Like you see houses with an ensuite but no picture of it for example. As potential buyer you end up assuming it must be either tiny or horrible. I also so wish the listing would just include floor space (like is common in other countries). For example we now have a small 4 bed. A 3 bed would also have worked worked provided the home office was big enough to also have a guest bed in it, but it ca be har to tell on listings and is certainly impossible to filer by.

The floor space is an interesting one. We've just bought an old house that is long and narrow from the front. So it doesn't have much appeal as a 'grand' dwelling, but is a good size for three bedrooms. There is one close by which faces the road, so it's effectively the same shape but wide with limited depth (if that makes sense). It looks much bigger, but had less floor space. That one sold for £80k more than what we paid - in a worse condition. It just looks bigger.

TheJP

You don't get a feel for a property until you see it (naturally). I remember years ago where the kitchen was quite literally in a cupboard, and more recently less obvious things that the vendor doesn't want to mention, like the road being a rat run, or leaving info out.

I don't see why a vendor needs to mention that the road is a rat run. They don't have to mention anything about the house, its the buyers responsibility to figure everything out. They just have to answer the questions that are asked.

Snookie12cat

TheJP said:

You don't get a feel for a property until you see it (naturally). I remember years ago where the kitchen was quite literally in a cupboard, and more recently less obvious things that the vendor doesn't want to mention, like the road being a rat run, or leaving info out.

I don't see why a vendor needs to mention that the road is a rat run. They don't have to mention anything about the house, its the buyers responsibility to figure everything out. They just have to answer the questions that are asked.

I tend to think a buyer who hasn't driven by the house or even Street viewed it before going is not serious as this would be evident and wouldn't need to waste everyone's time

Okey00001

lookstraightahead said:

I was turned down from looking at a house once because I couldn't prove I had funds 10% above the asking price. I had a 40% deposit though and a (useless) DIP.  I said I probably wouldn't want to pay over asking. The agent said there was so much interest that I didn't meet the criteria. The house was reduced a month ago and is still for sale. It really upset me at the time, I couldn't understand why I had to have negotiation funds, but meanwhile I bought a much nicer house.
I hope they can see how greedy they've been.

Good to hear you bought a house that you liked.  The vendor selling a house may seem 'greedy' to you.  But the vendor feels justified that his house price is right. Houses are compared unfairly at times - there is a lot more involed - some houses that appear similar but considerably cheaper would - most likely need to be sold quickly - in flood warning zone - remote area with no public commuting services, etc.  All these things and more are considered to the price of a house.

lookstraightahead

Snookie12cat said:

TheJP said:

You don't get a feel for a property until you see it (naturally). I remember years ago where the kitchen was quite literally in a cupboard, and more recently less obvious things that the vendor doesn't want to mention, like the road being a rat run, or leaving info out.

I don't see why a vendor needs to mention that the road is a rat run. They don't have to mention anything about the house, its the buyers responsibility to figure everything out. They just have to answer the questions that are asked.

I tend to think a buyer who hasn't driven by the house or even Street viewed it before going is not serious as this would be evident and wouldn't need to waste everyone's time

Except maybe if you're moving 4 hours away not round the corner. Not everyone lives within a two mile radius for the whole of their lives. Hence renting as well, I should add.