What expectations do estate agents have of someone asking for a viewing?

RHemmings

Hi all.

What expectations do estate agents have of someone asking for a viewing. I've worked out that they have an expectation that the person viewing is ready to proceed with the property. 

But what else. I would say for us (myself + family) we are still learning about different types of properties and what works for us and doesn't. And, I'm not sure how we can continue refining that and having the chance to find a good property without doing viewings. 

I don't want to have estate agents deciding I'm a time-waster, and becoming reluctant to give me viewings. Or simply not taking me seriously.

But, if I'm looking at properties of different types, because I think that we as a family could be happy in different types of properties (e.g. no garden and apply for allotment, or nice garden), I'm a bit worried that they will think we're not yet ready to buy. 

Having had a near miss with a property (sold one day before we found out about it), I'm confident that I will pull the pin for the right property. But, the more viewings we do, the more I'm worried about estate agents losing faith. 

I'd say we've done six or seven viewings so far. So, it's still a small number in total. In half an hour the third one for one agent, probably the most important agent in our local area. 

Ksw3

In my experience they don't much care. If you phone up, they have space, you get a viewing. 

ETA: They are more picky when you offer bit viewings they didn't seem to care. 

Martico

Pretty much everyone has a list of
1. must-have / must-be
2. would-be-nice
3. Absolutely-not

Be honest with them about yours, they'll probably be glad in a way that your part 2. is more flexible than many. But that as a family, the number of bedrooms is probably a deal-breaker

Herzlos

I'd expect that someone viewing a property is at the stage where they'd be considering making an offer on it, with an Agreement In Principle in place by a mortgage provider.

With a viewing you're taking up a lot of time more than just the 15 minute viewing. The seller will need to prepare the place which could be time consuming if they live there with kids.  For our viewing blocks we spent a few hours cleaning/tidying and then drove around for an hour with the kids. I'd have been annoyed if someone was viewing just to get an idea of what they liked.

TheJP

Some EAs wont let you view/offer on a property unless you have a DIP/MIP and want proof. Some will let you view but will be suspicious if you view multiple differing properties with no 2nd viewing or offer made. 

Have you made any offers on the 7 properties you have viewed?

lika_86

Herzlos said:

I'd expect that someone viewing a property is at the stage where they'd be considering making an offer on it, with an Agreement In Principle in place by a mortgage provider. 

I think it depends on the estate agents really and the buyer's position. We didn't have an Agreement in Principle when we viewed and offered on ours but did have a broker lined up who had details of our finances (which the estate agent confirmed before our offer was accepted) and we knew there would be no issues with affordability. We were in a rental at the time though so were only seeing the odd property here and there when one came up we liked, perhaps different if someone needs to find somewhere asap.

housebuyer143

If you have something to sell many will expect it to be under offer before you view. 
After 7 viewings I would think you would have narrowed down the style of property you like, the layout maybe and your must haves?

Use Google maps and drive past the ones you are interested in first, you will be surprised how many you deem unsuitable just from that. I had a list of about 10. After driving by them all, I only viewed one.

Devongardener

I’d be pretty annoyed if I knew that people viewing my property were only there to see if they like that particular property type.  Have you any idea what it’s like when the seller has viewings booked and spend a lot of time and considerable effort getting the house ready ready in the hope of getting an offer?  

We’re finally just about to exchange after being on the market for 18 months and having had 3 sales chains collapse,  but in that time with many viewings it’s soul destroying when just glance around and leave in 10 minutes after we’d worked hard to present our property at it’s best.
When the market was hot last year I know that most agents wouldn’t allow viewings unless buyers were at least on the market and in some cases under offer.

MultiFuelBurner

Devongardener said:

I’d be pretty annoyed if I knew that people viewing my property were only there to see if they like that particular property type.  Have you any idea what it’s like when the seller has viewings booked and spend a lot of time and considerable effort getting the house ready ready in the hope of getting an offer?  

We’re finally just about to exchange after being on the market for 18 months and having had 3 sales chains collapse,  but in that time with many viewings it’s soul destroying when just glance around and leave in 10 minutes after we’d worked hard to present our property at it’s best.
When the market was hot last year I know that most agents wouldn’t allow viewings unless buyers were at least on the market and in some cases under offer.

I find, from he last two sales, that just showing the properties as they are without the frantic "ready, ready" works as well. But then we are a tidy family so perhaps that helps rather than a messy household.

It must be a lot of effort for those who aren't naturally, everything in its place and not too many Nik Naks.

RHemmings

Thanks everyone. 

I don't need a mortgage - I'm a cash buyer. The cash is ready. 

I haven't made any offers yet, that's true. But, these are all houses I could offer on. The house we saw second today, I really thought I would offer on. But, the exceedingly nice exterior hid considerable problems inside. 

BTW: I walk around nearly all properties I view before I view. It doesn't cut down the number a lot - too many parts of my city are pretty much all the same. The house I didn't like today looked absolutely fabulous from the outside and the area was fine. So, not having walked past that one wouldn't have prevented the disappointing viewing. 

Dustyevsky

MultiFuelBurner said:

Devongardener said:

I’d be pretty annoyed if I knew that people viewing my property were only there to see if they like that particular property type.  Have you any idea what it’s like when the seller has viewings booked and spend a lot of time and considerable effort getting the house ready ready in the hope of getting an offer?  

We’re finally just about to exchange after being on the market for 18 months and having had 3 sales chains collapse,  but in that time with many viewings it’s soul destroying when just glance around and leave in 10 minutes after we’d worked hard to present our property at it’s best.
When the market was hot last year I know that most agents wouldn’t allow viewings unless buyers were at least on the market and in some cases under offer.

It must be a lot of effort for those who aren't naturally, everything in its place and not too many Nik Naks.

Many people like that don't realise it. After all, it's how they've chosen to live, and why shouldn't they?

Also, those of us who can look past piles of carp, don't care how long people may have wasted time rearranging it!