What questions to ask Estate Agent about viewers?

lookstraightahead

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.

Exactly my point and exactly why some viewers might be seen as timewasters. Figuring everything else includes viewing - that is the whole point of viewing, is it not. To see if you want to buy it. And if you know as a buyer that the vendor does not have to tell you stuff, when more reason to view it. And even more reason why people might be seen as timewasters. 

Example. House has a kitchen in a cupboard (my experience of viewing one years ago in London). Details left off the doors and just showed the cooker area. Went to see it, ran a health and safety mile. Am I a timewaster? 

RS2OOO

I've never viewed a house and not made an offer.
I struggle to understand people who have to view house after house before committing, but I accept that everyone is different and there could be a multitude of reasons.

LittleMissDetermined

Hi, we were making some final mods to our house before putting on the market, whilst we were viewing potential properties.  There was a fabulous home, in an area we loved but because our house wasn't yet on the market, our viewing was declined by the owner. 

Later our completion on another home was looking unlikely (fortunately it did go through in the end) so we had to start looking at potential homes again. The 'fabulous home' was still available and whilst we had a FTB for our property we didn't even consider it due to the refusal of viewing. 

We got our completion and I'm so glad we did, but I think the more viewings the better and don't alienate potential buyers who may have valid reasons for not being 'ready' at the point of viewing.  Our sellers didn't and that worked for them! 

LMD x

Gavin83

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.

This reminds me of a house we looked at. Stood in the kitchen I asked the EA where you’re meant to put the fridge freezer. I enjoyed watching the look of “stupid question” appear on his face, quickly replaced by panic as he realised there wasn’t anywhere. He ended up blurting out “In the cupboard” which was also an entirely inappropriate place.

We didn’t buy it.

trailingspouse

My experience of house viewing - I looked at 5 houses, and made an offer on the 5th one. I viewed these houses over 2 visits to the area, which is new to me and a 2 hour drive from where I currently live - so no option for a drive-by (although Google Street View has its uses)

House 1 - double yellow lines outside, so parking was always going to be an issue. Pub opposite and takeaway 2 doors down.

House 2 - much smaller than it appeared from the plans

House 3 - manky. Wipe your feet on the way out. EA photos carefully avoided showing the carpet (how can a pink bedroom carpet get that black??

House 4 - new build. Looked great, but no outside space at all.

House 5 - my own parking space, nice garden, freshly decorated with decent carpets, not huge (I can't afford huge) but not teeny weeny either, quiet cul-de-sac. Where do I sign?

Was I a time-waster at the other properties? Or were they the time-wasters? Neither, obviously. It's just a process that we have to go through.

Okey00001

Uriziel said:

You honestly sound like a complete moron.
People have the right to view the property whether they have any intent to buy it or not. Essentially you seem to have gotten excited about getting a viewer and then felt upset they didn't go ahead with the purchase. Do you seriously believe that people tell the estate agent exactly why they are not interested..? They probably simply did not like your property and said literally anything just to get away from the estate agent. Stop being obsessive and let the agent do their job. How exactly is it going to benefit you if you bombard them with random questions about viewers? Can you explain in detail how it is going to help get rid of the property you seem to want to lose urgently? Get a grip.

Uriziel, you don't have to be so rude about it.  It was merely a question about a situation where it has been known that people just want to be nosey, no mortgage set up, no intention to buy a house. It is known that people acutally do this and EAs do have a reputation too and not a good one. It is good to hear what other people's experience are.  Why do you think that I would bombard them with questions?  Just thought I would have a right to know. We chose the wrong EA and it is communication which makes the difference and not nastiness which is what is in your case.

Okey00001

trailingspouse said:

My experience of house viewing - I looked at 5 houses, and made an offer on the 5th one. I viewed these houses over 2 visits to the area, which is new to me and a 2 hour drive from where I currently live - so no option for a drive-by (although Google Street View has its uses)

House 1 - double yellow lines outside, so parking was always going to be an issue. Pub opposite and takeaway 2 doors down.

House 2 - much smaller than it appeared from the plans

House 3 - manky. Wipe your feet on the way out. EA photos carefully avoided showing the carpet (how can a pink bedroom carpet get that black??

House 4 - new build. Looked great, but no outside space at all.

House 5 - my own parking space, nice garden, freshly decorated with decent carpets, not huge (I can't afford huge) but not teeny weeny either, quiet cul-de-sac. Where do I sign?

Was I a time-waster at the other properties? Or were they the time-wasters? Neither, obviously. It's just a process that we have to go through.

No, you are not a time-waster as you are genuinely looking because I have done the same too.  I have heard that are people with no intention of buying at all and that was my original post. 

Snookie12cat

lookstraightahead said:

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.

There is a thing called Google Street view. Distance wouldn't stop you doing this. I would especially think someone would do this if they lived that far away so as not to waste their time.

lookstraightahead

Snookie12cat said:

lookstraightahead said:

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.

There is a thing called Google Street view. Distance wouldn't stop you doing this. I would especially think someone would do this if they lived that far away so as not to waste their time.

So why even view a property then? A video with suffice. In fact, you could just live virtually in it. And you can really see how busy a road is just by looking at a photograph of the road ...

the reality of moving far away is that it's good to rent first. But if you don't, you tend to view a few on the same day. You don't have the knowledge locals have. 

gozaimasu

Okey00001 said:

Uriziel, you don't have to be so rude about it.

I've had posts removed by moderators that were absolutely nowhere as bad as this! Some moderators are over-zealous, nothing better to do with their life than trail these forums looking for posts to be offended by but which don't actually contain offensive language. The moderators on this particular board seems to be ok with Uriziel being a swearword.