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Original poster

If your house is for sale, or you are househunting..

21 replies

EvenPhilip · 19/05/2020 13:04

Are you doing video viewings or would you rather wait and visit in person?
Our house is on the market but the estate agent got in touch yesterday and asked us to do some kind of on line video guide.
Dh doesn't want to, thinks as we have photos up any serious buyer will wait for a visit. We also would not do a video tour of any properties we are interested in because we think you have to see places in the flesh to get a vibe.
What do you think?

OP posts:
irregularegular · 19/05/2020 13:09

I think it is good to give as much information online as possible, including a video tour, in order to whittle down any in-person viewers to those or are very serious. You don't want excess viewings at the moment.

I've been considering buying a small flat in the city where I work for a combination of my own use and short term lets. Obviously now it is not a great time but I haven't ruled it out. I would consider buying on the basis of an outside viewing and a video tour if in person viewings were not possible (I thought they were now??). But I wouldn't buy our family house that way.

Shoxfordian · 19/05/2020 13:10

I think if you want to sell then you should do a video tour

Video tours are a good way to decide if you want to go see a house or not.

Likethebattle · 19/05/2020 13:10

I’d want to see it in person. We saw what looked like a lovely home online. It was a mess, straight inside the door the box round the electric meter was smashed, all the glazing was blown, it was damp despite them opening all the windows, the sockets were all loose (I would have had to get a full wiring check). The loft and bottom of garden was filled with junk.The bedrooms were tiny and the bathroom pictures had been done from a clever angle. Tiles were black with mould, there was a built in cupboard and the door was missing so they had put up a manky roller blind.,,if I’d went from pictures or videos only I would have bought it!

mindutopia · 19/05/2020 13:50

We had an offer accepted just before lockdown, and I definitely wouldn't have made that offer off a video viewing alone. But it will certainly garner interest and make your property more attractive so that people will be keen to get in there as soon as it's possible. I can't see why you wouldn't if you want to sell your house. If you're not bothered, not looking to move urgently, then of course, you can wait. I would want to get things going while people are sat at home bored and househunting though.

Likethebattle · 19/05/2020 13:51

You could do this twitter.com/bookwiseowl/status/1262280847203409921?s=21

snidgetowl · 19/05/2020 13:57

We're looking to buy and have been doing the online viewings. They are a useful way of making a shortlist of which properties we would like to visit once lockdown is lifted. We wouldn't make an offer based on the videos alone, but they show so much more than photos and have been useful in ruling out or adding properties to our list.

IllustriousToad · 19/05/2020 13:58

We are first time buyers and looking to buy. I would do an online video - then people can visit if they are really serious about it. We are keen to only visit ones we think have real potential as I'm high risk - so it would be helpful for us, definitely.

snowspider · 19/05/2020 14:04

My house sale agreed immediately in Feb above asking but fell through because of Covid19 as buyer was a professional sportsman anxious about his contract. Just going back to market today. However, it is fully furnished re-furbed and vacant so viewings should be OK. I am also now delighted that the agent I have uses Matterport which I thought might be a bit of a gimmick originally but now is brilliant. It is like a high resolution interior street view and lets you see everything. Highly recommend.

snowspider · 19/05/2020 14:05

You can even use it to take measurements to see how your furniture could fit!

Original poster
EvenPhilip · 19/05/2020 14:13

So do you just waltz around with your mobile phone and film all the rooms then? With commentary?Grin

OP posts:
Likethebattle · 19/05/2020 15:11

@evenphilip Try this twitter.com/bookwiseowl/status/1262280847203409921?s=21

IncrediblySadToo · 19/05/2020 15:15

Like others I'd use the video to narrow down the properties I wanted to view in person.

Video is different to just still photos.

IMO you'd be mad not to do it in this environment - can you really afford to narrow down your buying pool any?

Original poster
EvenPhilip · 19/05/2020 15:21

@Likethebattle Grin I'm hoping I can make ours a bit more positive

OP posts:
Likethebattle · 19/05/2020 15:24

@evenphilip I loved this though. The subliminal signs etc x

Fern204 · 19/05/2020 15:29

We made an offer based on an online viewing during lockdown. Managed to have a viewing last week when restrictions were lifted, and luckily loved it more then. Meant that we have a 3 week start on legal etc so can hopefully exchange next month.

Original poster
EvenPhilip · 19/05/2020 15:32

Yes, it did make me laugh.

OP posts:
snowspider · 19/05/2020 16:26

That is quite funny. the Matterport is a bit more technical, i.e. the agent sets up a special camera in each room and it takes a 3d scan so very high spec (and no commentary). You can then zoom in and poke your nose in all the corners (only really works in your favour as a seller if the house is dressed up for viewing as it allows you to see every mark and bit of mess)

applesauce1 · 19/05/2020 22:53

I viewed a house in person today. It was a vacant property. The estate agent asked a plethora of Covid related questions. I wasn't to touch anything and I had to wear PPE. The house was falling down and clearly dangerous so I was only I was there for around 5 minutes. It was fine.

granadagirl · 19/05/2020 23:00

I got send this this morning
Good Morning,

We are pleased to announce that the Government has now lifted restrictions on moving home, property viewings and how our estate agency can operate safely.

During the Covid 19 lockdown we trained and recorded moving video tours for most of our available properties to improve buyers engagement and experience when searching for properties online. We have introduced and trained the team in a new way of selling properties which is both safe and sensible for our clients and colleagues but which still concentrates on maximising the price we achieve.

I'm confident that over the coming months our position as the market leading agent will prove increasingly attractive in the local market as buyers seek additional reassurance regarding prices which we are in an excellent position to negotiate successfully on our clients behalf.

Please take time to read through our safety protocol for current and future dealings with PJK moving forward.
Government Guidance:

People are now free to move home
You can put your home on the market to sell or rent
You can start to look for properties you want to move into
You are free to make or accept an offer or reserve a property as normal
Physical viewings are now allowed, provided that strict social distancing is continued
Estate agents are permitted to visit properties to value them under the proviso of social distancing
Surveyors an undertake surveys of properties

FVFrog · 19/05/2020 23:23

We had a viewing on Saturday. We vacated the house, left all doors open and lights on. Agent turned up with mask and gloves but people viewing didn’t have either. When I went back in the house half the bloody lights had been turned off.
Next viewing I’m showing them round so I can see where they go and if they touch anything and I’m going to insist they wear masks and wash their hands with sanitiser at the door before they come in. The impression I get is that the estate agents all talk the talk about following guidelines but it’s bullshit as usual when it comes down to it. I’m not happy with mine, it’s a divorce and complicated or I’d probably be looking to move agents after Saturday’s experience

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