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Original poster

Owner or estate agent for viewings?

16 replies

MessyBun247 · 08/11/2018 10:33

I’m trying to sell my house with ex-DP at the moment. Just wondering do more people prefer for the owner to do the viewings or the estate agent.

I personally prefer the estate agent as the viewer can be more honest and doesn’t haven’t to worry about offending anyone, and therefore less likelihood of the ‘Oh it’s lovely, I’m interested and will be in touch’ bullshit Smile

OP posts:
Thiswayorthatway · 08/11/2018 10:42

Recently bought and much preferred viewings with EA.

lastqueenofscotland · 08/11/2018 10:48

Estate agent
Viewings with owners are fucking weird, they’ll tend to go on about things I do not give a shit about like specific hinges on cupboard doors (yes really). And it’s harder to give honest feedback

AdamNichol · 08/11/2018 10:56

Now on house 30.
Deffo EA to do viewings. Nothing worse than being tailed by an expectant owner who prevents any of-the-moment discussion or constantly wants to direct your focus onto the bits they love*

*unless of course, you're like me and have no problem whatsoever telling your partner that you'd want to rip out prized feature with owner in clear earshot

oldsewandsew · 08/11/2018 10:58

Absolutely an estate agent! We looked around a few with the owners present and it was really hard to discuss things like ‘ooh, our curtains will look nice on that window, we’ll need to knock out that cupboard, etc’ One owner was quite put out that we measured something to check our furniture would fit (this was once our offer had been accepted), as his fitted fine!

GlasgowWorrier · 08/11/2018 11:02

Agent definitely, for first viewings at least. You generally know within the first few minutes whether it's going to be right, and it's very hard to extricate yourself quickly if the owners are there.

We also had a couple of viewings with divorcing couples - not saying this is you, OP! - in which they trailed each other round, firing evils constantly, as if they didn't trust the other to STFU about the rising damp or the wonky heating. Those felt very long half hours...

Second viewing, not so bad if it's the owner, as they often accidentally let slip about the total bastard next door with his 24 hour leaf blower, or the fact that no supermarkets will deliver this far out.

Original poster
MessyBun247 · 08/11/2018 11:37

Ex insists that it is better if we do the viewings. I’ve told him people feel awkward being honest if the owner is there. Sigh.

Obviously it’s his house too and if he wants to take time off work so he can do the viewings ramble on in a mansplaining fashion about things the viewers don’t give a fuck about and make them want to run away then technically I can’t stop him. I’ll just keep trying to persuade him it’s better if the EA does it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MessyBun247 · 08/11/2018 11:41

Oh God no, I don’t take part in any viewings since the time a couple came to view with their entire family, sighing and tutting the whole time, rolling their eyes and all family members started firing questions at me but not really listening to my responses.

There’s being honest and then there’s just being rude! Another reason why I would rather the EA do it Smile

OP posts:
Blobby10 · 08/11/2018 12:38

As a seller, I always preferred the EA to do the viewings - but on those occasions they couldn't I did them precisely because my now Ex was the same as yours Messy and waffled on about everything and nothing!

As a buyer however, I prefer the owners to do the viewings as you can ask them questions that the EA wouldn't know the answer to Grin

ohdearmymistake · 08/11/2018 12:49

Definitely the EA first because if it's not the house for you it's far easier to be honest.

Home owner is good for a second viewing as I'm interested in the house and can ask them things that the EA couldn't answer.

ileclerc · 08/11/2018 12:53

Agent. I hated viewings with owners.

kikashi · 08/11/2018 13:01

Another one for estate agent viewings. You are paying them for that as part of the service. Owner viewings are uncomfortable and take forever usually as the owners want to blether on and you may not be interested in their house but are too polite to say so. Does your ex want to sell your house with a good offer or not?

greendale17 · 08/11/2018 13:03

I prefer with owners- I can ask direct questions to them

EverardDigby · 08/11/2018 13:04

I also prefer to ask owners questions, I'm quite surprised so many people prefer EA.

Winegumaddict · 08/11/2018 13:19

Owners. I can play they game and says it lovely while re-decorating in my head. Also I refused to give the agents keys when we last sold as our rescue dog was very unhappy with strangers so I didn't trust them to take someone round while we were out and disturb the dog. We made sure we were both around so one of us could walk the dog and the other do the viewing. I wanted to move I didn't care if they hated things about the house and told me!

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 08/11/2018 13:23

A good estate agent should become very familiar with your house and able to answer questions. As kikashi says, that’s part of what you’re paying for. Prospective buyers are more direct with an estate agent and will tell him things they aren’t so keen on in your property. That feedback might be something you could change, to assist a sale.

runwithme · 08/11/2018 13:26

We once viewed a house with an EA but the owner was there. She and her ex were selling, although he wasn't there. She proceeded to bad mouth her ex and the profession that he was in. What she didn't know was that DH was very good friends with her ex, who he knew from work! It definitely put us off buying that,-and the dog crap in the garden. Felt bad as friend was desperate to sell but the house just had such a bad vibe about it, because of her negativity.

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