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House Viewing -AWKWARD!!

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Comments

  • MaxiRobriguez
    MaxiRobriguez Posts: 1,780 Forumite
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    With all due respect, surely there's not much you missed on a first viewing on a house worth £100k?

    What are you planning to do, look through their drawers?
  • vacheron
    vacheron Posts: 1,600 Forumite
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    All the houses we viewed here (North East) we were shown round by the owners. The only times we had an agent show us round were when the property was unoccupied.

    If the owner understands the psychology, then they should show you round and then leave you to yourselves. The ususal way we experienced was the "why don't I make us all a cuppa in the kitchen while you take a look around and I'll see you in there whenever you're done".

    However, if they followed you round like a hawk and then didn't take the hint, then it possibly could be awkward.
    • The rich buy assets.
    • The poor only have expenses.
    • The middle class buy liabilities they think are assets.
    Robert T. Kiyosaki
  • amieloustew
    amieloustew Posts: 57 Forumite
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    RelievedSheff wrote: »
    We showed all of the potential buyers around our old house. It is the norm where we are based.

    We did try and show them each room first and then let them have a look around again themselves while we made ourselves scarce.

    We must have done an OK job as the first people of the five to to view it on the Saturday ended up offering and securing it on the Monday!

    Amazing well done!!

    It was just odd as it was our first one like this and I;m unsure of how many viewings the property had prior to this - I imagine it was very few if any at all.

    I will try again and be more confident!

    Thanks :)
    First Time Buyer (Scotland)
    DIP 13/02/2020 ~ Offer Accepted 02/03/2020 ~ Full Application 19/3/2020 ~ Valuation Booked 19/03/2020 ~ Mortgage Offer Issued 20/03/2020 ~ Completed 15/05/2020
  • amieloustew
    amieloustew Posts: 57 Forumite
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    davidmcn wrote: »
    Think the OP just needs to be brave enough to nose around as they wish. If of course the sellers are actually preventing them from doing so, beware!

    I think confidence is my issue here as I am very new to this and kind of doing it all myself. I need to remember that they should be trying to sell the house to me. The sellers did lat us look around but as it's a flat, there wasn't anywhere private for them to be while we looked that wasn't outside the flat itself.

    Thanks!
    First Time Buyer (Scotland)
    DIP 13/02/2020 ~ Offer Accepted 02/03/2020 ~ Full Application 19/3/2020 ~ Valuation Booked 19/03/2020 ~ Mortgage Offer Issued 20/03/2020 ~ Completed 15/05/2020
  • amieloustew
    amieloustew Posts: 57 Forumite
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    borkid wrote: »
    From my experience people usually ask for a second viewing and often bring another family member often mum. You could always ask to be left to look around by yourselves so you can 'discuss things in private'. When viewing I've even taken photos, asked first, we did have a 2 hour journey to view though so couldn't pop back easily to check.

    Thanks for your advise, I think I will arrange a second viewing and take my mum or my partners mum as it might make them feel more comfortable. Maybe the age difference threw them.
    First Time Buyer (Scotland)
    DIP 13/02/2020 ~ Offer Accepted 02/03/2020 ~ Full Application 19/3/2020 ~ Valuation Booked 19/03/2020 ~ Mortgage Offer Issued 20/03/2020 ~ Completed 15/05/2020
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    Deleted_User wrote: »
    ....
    Its not uncommon to have a second viewing so i'd arrange another one but approach it with a bit more confidence this time. Have a written list of questions you'd like to ask, & list of things you want to look at/check (eg the attic). If theres something you'd like to see more of then tell them.
    After they've walked round with you, ask if they mind if you go round again alone so you can discuss your plans("It's a lovely house but we will be making a few changes")


    Nothing wrong with a 2nd or 3rd viewing. How long were you there the 1st time? 10 minutes? 20? To consider a £X00,000 purchase?


    When buying a dress (£100-£200?) for a special occasion, how many times do you try it on and how long do you spend!?
  • amieloustew
    amieloustew Posts: 57 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    MaxiRobriguez wrote: »
    With all due respect, surely there's not much you missed on a first viewing on a house worth £100k?

    What are you planning to do, look through their drawers?

    I wanted to look through fitted wardrobes and I know now I should have just asked. Hopefully the confidence will come the more viewings I attend.
    First Time Buyer (Scotland)
    DIP 13/02/2020 ~ Offer Accepted 02/03/2020 ~ Full Application 19/3/2020 ~ Valuation Booked 19/03/2020 ~ Mortgage Offer Issued 20/03/2020 ~ Completed 15/05/2020
  • stripeyfox
    stripeyfox Posts: 474 Forumite
    amieloustew wrote: »
    I think confidence is my issue here as I am very new to this and kind of doing it all myself. I need to remember that they should be trying to sell the house to me. The sellers did lat us look around but as it's a flat, there wasn't anywhere private for them to be while we looked that wasn't outside the flat itself.

    Thanks!

    Don't worry about it. It can be an awkward experience. British politeness and manners I think getting in the way of being frank and uprfront. At the end of the day you are walking around someone's home silently judging it whilst politely smiling and saying "that's nice".

    Chances are the owners are feeling equally as awkward, wanting to sell their house, and hoping you "like" it and wondering what the correct amount of guidance to give you is? They may be thinking "do they want to be shown around or left alone?". Go back and just ask nicely if they mind if you can have a few minutes to look around.

    I think when you know, you know. I've spent longer choosing what to have for dinner than at least two of the houses I've brought in the past. Much of the decision making is based on the area, schools, shops, transport connections, price etc - the actual viewing of the house is only a part of it in my opinion,

    Good luck with it
  • Mutton_Geoff
    Mutton_Geoff Posts: 3,817 Forumite
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    Niv wrote: »
    No its not 'standard'. I have only ever shown around a perspective buyer if the EA was not available. It was just part of their service.

    Or the vendor is marketing via a cheap online agent? In which case, pay particular attention to the pricing as it may be “optimistic”.
    stripeyfox wrote: »
    I've always showed people round my house when I'm selling it. To be honest, I think I do a better job than any estate agent could. But I agree it can be an awkward ordeal for both parties. I normally give them the quick tour and then ask them if they want to look around some more then field any questions they may have.

    Thing I've found is it is all very polite and you don't get much real feedback. I suppose no one is going to say to your face "I hate your house, I wouldn't live here in a million years".

    I have a lot of experience in sales and marketing. I’d say vendors are the worst people to sell a house (from a sellers point of view). They are generally too open and honest and talk too much.

    The OP should use this to their advantage. Make another booking and probe the heck out of the vendors. Why are you selling? Where are you moving to, how far advanced are you. How are the neighbours, how much are you paying for utilities, any antisocial behaviour nearby, how quiet at night, what issues have you had. If you were staying, what changes/updates would you do? Etc etc.

    An agent will always give you a non committal answer but vendors will open up. And if necessary, just say to them “can you give us some time on our own”.

    If I’m selling, I always let the agent do all viewings and go out for an hour. If I’m buying, I want to see the whites of the vendor’s eyes.
    Signature on holiday for two weeks
  • Paully28
    Paully28 Posts: 289 Forumite
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    I feel your pain. I once had a viewing where both owners were present, and although the wife was nice and showed us round, the husband couldn't have been more rude if he had tried. I subsequently found out they were not planning on being together after the sale, and I told the estate agent that I didn't want the house, partly as I didn't want to give any of my money to the husband :-)
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