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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:
WorkWorkAngelica · 05/05/2021 19:37

Awful. I would refuse a viewing with a vendor

I hope this is a joke?! If not it's absolutely crackers

DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo · 05/05/2021 19:45

What would you do if the viewer could only do 8pm, for example?

Estate agents do much more than show people around your house. Once they've turned up for a viewing, that's the easy bit.

bilbodog · 05/05/2021 20:00

Some areas are very busy at the moment - im sure they would do the viewings if they could but saturdays are always the busiest. If you want to sell your house do the viewings - you dont have to say much at all - in fact on a first viewing say as little as possible but obviously answer any questions they have and if you dont know the answer then just say you can find our and let the agents know.

Good luck.

Chocoqueen · 05/05/2021 20:01

We finally moved after 2 years on the market last year so saw a lot of houses, and had a lot of people viewing ours - the EA did all viewings on mine and we only saw one where the vendor did it (which was with purple bricks). It's what you're paying them for!

Starseeking · 05/05/2021 20:25

Our EA did all but 1 of the viewings for our house, which is going through the sales process now. The only reason they asked us to do that one viewing was because the people wanted to come at 7pm and they were closed at that time!

I wouldn't have gone with an EA who wanted us to do the viewings ourselves; I like the distance it keeps between buyer and seller, so things are less personal.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 05/05/2021 21:33

A good EA will take the time to get to know your property and will be able to answer questions about it. Smaller local firms are better in my experience because they have one person dealing with your property, rather than national chains, where they have someone taking bookings, someone else to do viewings, someone else to give feedback, so none of them have any investment in selling, or know what they’re being asked to sell.

tanguero · 05/05/2021 21:49

allFoxyloxy1plus1 Wed 05-May-21 21:33:35
A good EA will take the time to get to know your property and will be able to answer questions about it.

That's not my experience, when viewing flats - the two most basic questions one asks are 1) how long is the lease 2) what is the annual service charge. I've never had an answer yet. You might as well, ask 'who won the cup final in 1927'.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 05/05/2021 21:52

We never had an estate agent show our home and I wouldn't be comfortable letting a stranger show a stranger around. When we were viewing houses estate agents only showed the empty homes. Lived in homes were shown by the owners. I assumed that was normal.

pinkywinks · 05/05/2021 22:02

Totally normal here, we bought and sold a few months ago and every single house we viewed we were shown round by the owners, and we did the viewings first our own house. 70miles away my PILs are selling and it seems the norm in their area is the estate agent does the viewings!

JackieTheFart · 05/05/2021 22:11

I did all my own viewings but I also said no when I did a full Saturday and then there was a request for more. First was at 930, last was at 430. That was enough for me tbh!

Fountainsoftea · 05/05/2021 22:15

It's so busy here at the minute, the ea asked if we'd do our own. Dh was out with a mate all day, so I did 8 of them. I talk to strangers a lot in work, so it wasn't an issue. I led with:"so this is us, been here x years. Here's our kitchen; it's shit but serviceable." Quite enjoyed myself.

Sstc 2 days later. Full asking.

Honeyroar · 05/05/2021 22:16

I’ve never been shown around a house by an estate agent or had them show mine when I’ve sold. I’ve looked round rentals with estate agents and found them unhelpful. I’d much rather see the owner and have questions answered.

Thisnamewasnttaken123 · 05/05/2021 22:18

Honestly we had alot of viewings when the estate agent did them but it wasn't selling, when we started doing them ourselves we had one set of potential buyers trying to sell their house to buy ours and then the next set bought it.
I agree with PP they are pretty clueless.

Fixitup2 · 05/05/2021 22:18

Totally normal in my part of England. Only one of the numerous EA’s did the viewings, we did our own and it was fine. Quick walk around highlighting selling points then leave them to wander around before answering any questions and showing them the door. On second viewings we used to sit in the garden and leave them to it.

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 05/05/2021 22:22

The estate agent did 80% of our viewings, OH did three..two of these turned out to be the highest bidders!

Itstheprinciple · 05/05/2021 22:24

Normal to do your own here in my part of North West England unless house empty. Do you have to go out so people can look around? Or do you just sit there while the agent shows them around?

20viona · 05/05/2021 22:37

Totally normal. I did all our viewings all after 5pm and sold within 48 hours.

carriemathisonshandbag · 05/05/2021 22:43

I've lived in a few different places in England. In some you are expected to go out while the EA does viewings. Somewhere else both the vendor and EA were there. Where I am now vendors do the viewings. It's a weirdly passive system here, as the EA doesn't seem to do much except arrange viewings and take offers. Rarely did I get a follow up call to see what I thought of a property I'd viewed, and they never wanted to register me or suggest other properties I might like. As a purchaser it was great not being hassled, but it was difficult to get in with them to find out if something suitable was coming up. I don't think I would use a high street agent if I ever sell, as they don't seem to do anything I couldn't do myself.

NeonStones · 05/05/2021 22:47

It's interesting how much it varies. We did barely any viewings when we sold our place, only when the estate agent really couldn't. We did go out for the viewings, I spent a lot of time walking round the park with my baby son hoping that this time it would turn out to be worth it!

donquixotedelamancha · 05/05/2021 22:50

Awful. I would refuse a viewing with a vendor.

Eh? Why?

Generally I find owners are better than EAs at doing viewings- they know a lot more.

Sarjest · 05/05/2021 22:54

Have you paid them to do the viewings? If so, it’s a bit off but they are pretty busy right now. The EAs don’t always put the best person on the job anyway. It could be a retired person supplementing their income who knows nothing about your property. You’re best placed to answer questions about it. I’d just get on with it.

MrsBroccoliBigHead · 06/05/2021 07:07

It is entirely up to you but I would suggest that there are two of you in the house, just from a safety point of view

newnortherner111 · 06/05/2021 07:42

I understand your reluctance. If they cannot or are unwilling to provide the service, I think you should ask for a discount on the fee. If it is in any contract you have signed that they do the viewings, strengthens your case.

Agree about having someone else in the house. There are no doubt some people who will be viewing houses for a nose or because other indoor activities are not available.

Starstruck2021 · 06/05/2021 07:47

I’ve bought and sold many times over the years and never known the vendors do the viewings. I would assume you have a contract or agreement with the agency about how it works. As a one-off I wouldn’t personally mind but otherwise I think it’s best for the agent to do it.

DinosaurDiana · 06/05/2021 07:48

The only time I sold a house we did our own viewings, and I’d be doing them again if I sold.