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Original poster

Estate Agent asking me to do my own viewings.

98 replies

Bonitalazenia · 05/05/2021 17:25

Apparently they are too busy on Saturday morning. Also some requests are for after 5pm. I'd feel awkward I think.... So I'm reluctant....

OP posts:

sueelleker · 05/05/2021 17:27

What are you paying them for then?

BarbaraofSeville · 05/05/2021 17:31

That's normal isn't it? When we sold we did our own viewings and both times that we bought, it was the current owner that did the viewing in 90%+ of cases.

Only time the EA did the viewing was if the current owners no longer lived there, and the owners still did the viewing in those circumstances too.

I don't understand what difference the time makes either. If you want to sell your house, you need to make it available when people can come and see it.

YummieMummyof3 · 05/05/2021 17:32

Have you asked estate to handle viewings? If so, they are having unreasonably. If you are living alone or are alone with a child I would be reluctant to handle viewings alone.
If the agent is busy on Saturday could they arrange for another appointment convenient for all concerned?
I feel you need to be firm with the estate agents and remember that they are working for you.

MadMadMadamMim · 05/05/2021 17:33

I think I'd be looking at another firm, to be honest. Surely this is pretty much part of their job?

purplecorkheart · 05/05/2021 17:36

I would change firms immediately. The fact that they even suggested this is unprofessional and I would equally wonder how professional they would be in returning prospective clients queries.

muckypaws · 05/05/2021 17:48

We have done this sometimes when selling a house rather than the EA have to do it another day. Just get them round, I would. I used to start by chatting about the weather or any old crap to break the ice, then show them each room without much comment unless there was a dog or child in there or some such, then ask them if they had any questions. I think it's reasonable to do this if there's no other way though obviously the EA should do most viewings. I've always found that the EA earns their money more once a buyer has been found, rather than in the viewings.

lostlife · 05/05/2021 18:01

That is totally normal here.

AC12theletterofthelaw · 05/05/2021 18:10

Totally normal here plus they may well be busy doing other viewings for other clients. Do you expect them to cancel those to accommodate you? At least they’ve given you the option. You can always say no.

Original poster

Bonitalazenia · 05/05/2021 18:19

I do absolutely want to sell. So I would reluctantly do some of my own viewings... just i think Id need to point out any faults etc and apologise for them...
Thanks Muckypaws for the advice
Barbaraof seville are you in the UK?

OP posts:

osbertthesyrianhamster · 05/05/2021 18:20

I'd sack them.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/05/2021 18:22

The Estate Agents can’t accompany 24/7, I’d just do it myself.

Historytoo · 05/05/2021 18:22

I do wonder sometimes what is the point of an estate agent other than to get the house on Rightmove....They sound very lazy.

RosesAndHellebores · 05/05/2021 18:23

I have always expected the EA to do the viewings. Agreed in advance.

FVFrog · 05/05/2021 18:29

The one viewing I did as estate agent too busy I sold the house! You know your house and the area better than anyone. Think about why the people want your house and to live in your area and then sell it!

Cattitudes · 05/05/2021 18:31

I did some of the viewings and actually sold the house! It meant we could fit people in at short notice to maximise chance of a sale. I would do a practice run (in your head). Physically go to each room and come up with a positive point about each room e.g. smallest bedroom- here is my son's room, he loves that it is always so warm in here... Don't go into the room yourself if it is small, stand at the door and indicate for them to go in.

Think about the positive points about the area that you enjoy- I love that there is always something going on, my children have really enjoyed the local scout/ brownies. The estate agent might be able to tell you if they are new to the area or not. Mention the neighbours if they are nice, even better if you know their names!

Practice your positive reason for the move which is to do with you, not the house. 'We have really loved living here but it is too big for us now/ need bedroom on ground floor/ moving closer to work/ want a new challenge etc.'

Cattitudes · 05/05/2021 18:37

The reason I practiced one positive thing is that otherwise I would go to the room and say 'oh here is the smallest bedroom'.

LadyBugg · 05/05/2021 18:39

I thought the ea would do the viewings too, they didn't. They said they could but it would cost more and they had very limited availability and if we did it ourselves we could be more flexible and more last minute. Whereas if their books were full the viewer would have to wait longer for their appointment.

When we viewed it was mostly sellers doing the viewings too unless the house was empty and being sold as an executory sales or for a btl landlord. So seems pretty normal around here.

SapatSea · 05/05/2021 18:46

Depends what you are paying them. However, I've only ever had owners show me around when they specifically didn't want the EA to do it and I found it awkward, especially if I didn't like the house and wanted to leave. It was also harder to have a good look and assessment of what needed doing and to to point issues out to my H.

i thought the bulk of the cost that the EA charges you is taken up with viewings.

Justajot · 05/05/2021 19:02

When we sold our first house we got low offers doing our own viewings and better offers when the estate agent did the viewings. After that experience I wouldn't agree to do my own viewings, but would be clear about this when choosing an estate agent.

WorkWorkAngelica · 05/05/2021 19:06

In this neck of the woods estate agents would not do the viewings unless the house was empty and/or the seller was specifically paying for it. I used to show people round houses for an estate agent and they charged £25 per hour 10 years ago. This was on top of the EA fee. A lot of them were executries (which is why they were empty) and the viewing fee would be paid by the executor.

I would much rather show my own house than have an estate agent do it!

QforCucumber · 05/05/2021 19:09

We did our own viewings end of 2019 and yes we live in the UK..

Estate agent didn't do much to sell it tbh but we're bloody brilliant and definitely earned their money when the buyers solicitors were holding everything up

idontlikealdi · 05/05/2021 19:19

Awful. I would refuse a viewing with a vendor.

tanguero · 05/05/2021 19:20

Totally normal here. And, why would you want an Estate Agent to do the viewings ? They are clueless - and never know the answers to even basic questions, 'is the water metered ? ', 'where's the stop-cock ?', 'who are the neighbours ?', 'what's the service charge ?

ArtfulScreamer · 05/05/2021 19:33

Really surprised at the answers on this thread I've always done viewings or been to view houses without agents unless the house has been empty. Who better to sell your house than you.

Archiduchesse · 05/05/2021 19:36

Completely normal. Bought five times, sold four. EA has never done viewings apart from one when we were on holiday. Have viewed over 50 houses and only had an estate agent show us around once.

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