doing house viewings with 1 yr old and 4 yr old?

[Twobusyboys]

How do people manage this?
Viewers normally like to do viewings after work. Do youhave to take them out to a cafe or something for dinner? Or say only viewings on weekends?

[WookieCookie]

We took the boys out but also stated no viewings after 7.30 pm. You can state daytask the agent to block book weekends.
Our flat was tiny though so viewings were 10 - 15 minutes max. So not always cafe- sometimes park / shop / library.

[shoom]

Ditto- have a specified slot for evening viewings, e.g. 6-7pm or whatever suits.

IME the agent will try to arrange weekend viewings together (which makes you look popular). Give the agent a list of days and times that are best for you.

Have a bag of special toys or new toys which only come out at viewings. My 2yo likes showing viewers his toy collection.

[AnotherWorld]

We always made sure we were out for viewings - but tried to be as flexible as possible.

[ShirtySocks]

Our dc were a bit older so if they were there we plonked them in front of the tv (which we just switched on when viewers were due)

Dh and I once viewed a house where upstairs, one of the rooms we were only allowed to view from the doorway while the room was in darkness as a child was napping in there (daytime) - it was awful, we felt intrusive and embarrassed (pre-children too), I can't recommend that!

[InsertUsernameHere]

This brings back memories of selling with a three year old and a six week old. We did no viewings after 7:30, and lots of popping out to the library or neighbours with the dc for viewings. During the day it was fine with the baby - if it was nap time would either have him in a sling or the pram as opposed to his cot for the viewing. By luck daytime viewings coincided with nursery times for 3yo. Hardest thing wasn't the viewings - it was keeping the place immaculate or the appearance of immaculate with lots of things thrown on the bed and the duvet then thrown over

[Twobusyboys]

Thnks for the tips. My two are in bath at 6 every night so we will have to change routine around a bit i think!

[minipie]

when I was buying I looked at lots of houses with small children in residence. Quite often it was after their bedtime, they were asleep and I would not look in their bedroom (would look at that room/those rooms at a second viewing if the rest of the house was promising). this worked well I think, however not many agents want to do viewing after 7pm so if this would suit you it's worth finding one that will.

It partly depends on who your likely buyers are. Are they mostly at work in the day and so need to view evenings/weekends/early mornings? Do they have young dc themselves and so can't do evenings?

[littlecrystal]

Mine were just sat on TV quietly. Worked well.

[Mum2Fergus]

I'm going against the grain I'm afraid...I wouldn't be dragging DS out to neighbours/library/etc. Agent should be made aware of circumstances and in turn let viewers know what to expect ie toys lying about, limited/no access to specific rooms.

[specialsubject]

toys are fine but you can't sell a house to people who haven't seen some of the rooms. So set viewing times to work round your routine.

[Mum2Fergus]

True, but I wouldn't expect anyone to buy a house after just one viewing (apart from the guy who bought my first flat, who never even viewed it personally...bought from viewing it online! But each to their own lol ... )

[cupcake78]

We get kids bathed and in pjs early on viewing nights. No viewings after 7 it's too disruptive and selling your house is bad enough. Go for weekends if possible and get block viewings if you can.

We don't take children out its still their house at the moment. Ds 6 gets to watch tv or play on laptop which is a rare treat. Baby comes round with me/dh and viewers.

Viewings only take 5 minutes max. Most people understand as they're selling their houses as well.

[NotCitrus]

As a viewer looking at houses for raising children in, I liked seeing all the rooms and usually there were a couple kids in pjs in the lounge. A few ran around the place chased by embarrassed parents, but I really didn't mind.

[littlecrystal]

Mum2Fergus where I am looking to buy viewers are invited in bunches and give offers straight after viewing.. so markets are very different!