Selling House. Viewings Advice Please

r3l

Hello. 
I’m hoping someone can advise. 

I’m selling my property, it’s now listed and viewings need to be asap. 

It’s gotten complicated as my estate agent who knew the situation has left the company and now I’m dealing 3 different people on different days. 

The house is not so straight forward. It was unoccupied for a number of years but now due to circumstances I’m living here. 

It’s evident and has been marketed that it’s in need of modernisation and is a property that offer’s potential. 

However there are issues, the bathroom light does not work, or the shower. There was a leak in the toilet cistern which was patched up and is now covered in vinyl wrap, but works and has for years now. The kitchen tap leaks so the valve is shut off. And the oven does not work either. Also I cancelled the broadband when it was unoccupied so I can’t connect to the combi boiler, so no heating on radiators but warm water works. 

I’d like advice on viewings please, how important are these problems, I can’t afford to fix them right now. Should I tell one of the estate agents to inform viewers? 

Also I have mostly cleared the house but there are valuable and personal things in wardrobes and cabinets. Which I do not want people opening/looking etc. would it be acceptable for me to secure wardrobes, maybe put dust sheets over? 

They are furniture and not fitted wardrobes/cabinets etc

Any advice or suggestions would be so appreciated. 

Thank you

r3l

Oh also my previous estate agent said that she’d arrange viewings on certain days in advance but now the new ones have asked for keys.
im not comfortable with giving keys and viewings taking place without my knowledge, so I can just clean and clear up personal items etc. 
if someone could just let me know what’s normal/acceptable practice for viewings that would be great. 

Thank you

tealady

What is acceptable is what is acceptable to YOU. It's your property, you decide who enters it.
Write (old fashioned pen and paper) to the agent stating that you will allow viewings at set times (list these) as you wish to be present. Or negotiate an open day(s). Remember the golden rule, he who has the gold  makes the rules.

kimwp

Would your personals and valuables fit in shoe boxes or similar? Then they are hidden from view, but it looks like it's a storage choice rather than you trying to hide something.

david29dpo

tealady said:

What is acceptable is what is acceptable to YOU. It's your property, you decide who enters it.
Write (old fashioned pen and paper) to the agent stating that you will allow viewings at set times (list these) as you wish to be present. Or negotiate an open day(s). Remember the golden rule, he who has the gold  makes the rules.

This.
Plus, dont worry about the problems, the house is being marketed that way. Any genuine buyer wont care.

FlorayG

Nobody should be wanting to open wardrobes and drawers ( except where fitted such as in kitchens). You're taking those items with you, so they are not relevant to the sale.

HouseMartin567

tealady said:

What is acceptable is what is acceptable to YOU. It's your property, you decide who enters it.
Write (old fashioned pen and paper) to the agent stating that you will allow viewings at set times (list these) as you wish to be present. Or negotiate an open day(s). Remember the golden rule, he who has the gold  makes the rules.

Genuine question, but why write pen and paper? Is it not better to email and ask for an emailed reply so you have a singular audit of the whole conversation? Also quicker! I sent a card recently and it took 8 days to arrive!

gwynlas

As above and you could store personal items in suitcases which no one is likely to open.

The jobs that need doing would be part of the renovation process so do not worry about them.

Whilst you are living in the house it is important to keep it as clean and tidy as possible to enable viewings at short notice.

If you want to be there fine but do not accompany viewers room by room just wait in one place.

r3l

Thank you all so much for your advice! 

I’m worried because the house doesn’t necessarily look like these things don’t work and I don’t want to mislead/ end up having offers withdrawn etc. 

Unfortunately no, the personal items are not just my own and take up an entire wardrobe. But I also don’t like the idea of people opening any wardrobe or cupboards. Especially as I won’t have time to sort them. 

Would it be strange to put a dust sheet over the wardrobes? Obviously I’d make it look neat!

Thank you for your help with viewings. I chose the EA because she said she’d be doing everything and now they’re wanting me to give keys without meeting/discussing anything. I do not want to be here for viewings but I’d have thought pre arranged days would be standard rather than whenever? 

Thank you all again

Albermarle

Can you not get the heating working manually ?

r3l

I’m sure it’s possible, I did try to figure it out online and even called the company but they said it would be a call out charge. The weather has picked up now so I’ve not bothered since.