Estate Agent asking me to do my own viewings.

[Bonitalazenia]

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....

Until I joined mumsnet I thought it was normal for the vendor to do house viewings. That said, the last time we sold a house we were living in (2003) it was normal for this to happen.

I feel that the vendor knows more about the house and the area than any estate agent, so if we were to sell our house to a family I would be able to give my personal experience of local schools and facilities.

We recently sold my late MIL's house, but as it was 150 miles away the estate agent did the viewings. This was discussed with them when we were looking for an estate agent though.

I’d much prefer showing my house, you can advertise it and talk about it in a way an EA can’t.

Strange, I see it as absolutely not normal!

I’ve seen a lot of properties over the years and I agree with whoever said when the vendor shows you round it’s hideously awkward. I don’t see why you pay someone else and then do this yourself! You might as well use purple bricks or the like. I think a lot of you are either estate agents or have been ripped off it’s like employing a cleaner and mopping the floors yourself because they are too busy with other clients.

We were limited with the times we could do and the estate agent couldn't fit us in. We really liked the house online and were FRB with a MIP so she asked the owner if he wouldn't mind showing us round as we were seriously interested so he did and we brought it. So point of the post I wouldn't be happy with a full day but the odd one is fine I think

You shouldn't have to, as the agent should have the skills to point out the strong points of your house and gloss over the bad things. But they may be potential buyers who can't make it on another day. If you need people through the door, I'd do it.

Don't point out the house's failings unless they are obvious, e.g. 'That ceiling stain was a leaky pipe - it's been fixed now and we'll redecorate before sale.' Or 'We know it needs a new kitchen. Thought we'd leave that up to the new owners, so it's reflected in the price.'

Tell them the good stuff - rewired/new windows etc or how sunny the garden is, school catchment, local parks etc.

Like FVFrog I also did the viewing which sold our old house. It is awkward at first but I like doing my own viewings. I can make people a cup of tea/coffee, offer a biscuit, make them feel at home from the start, and point out all the nice things about the house that the EA does not know, such as nice spots the garden, exposition to sun, proximity to really good schools (if viewers are parents) boiler purchased recently, real oak floors, if they liked the light fittings (I have a thing for design) I told them that if they worked for them we could leave them in, and things like that. One important message that I always conveyed is that we were serious about moving, had a plan in place and we were not time wasters.

However I realise that speaking to strangers is not for everyone so if you are uncomfortable definitely do not do it!

If you don’t feel comfortable with conducting the viewings tell your EA, if they don’t do what you are paying them to do say you will change to an agent that will.

We moved recently our EA did all the viewings, as I expected them too, I was paying a lot of money for them to sell my house. (£6,300!). they were completely rubbish on many levels, lying about our buyers chain, but they did sell my house. Would I recommend them to a friend, no way.

Here EAs advise on the value, prepare the particulars, instruct the Home Report, floorplans, video etc, take the photos, upload to websites, contact their list of buyers, field phone calls and arrange viewings with the vendor. They don't do viewings unless you pay an additional fee for each and every viewing.

I don't know how they would even have enough agents to do viewings, they have hundreds of properties on their books?

I appreciate it may be more normal in some parts of the country but I'm glad it's vendor viewing as the norm here as I much prefer that.

I've only had this once, where the vendor was using Purple Bricks as an agent (and the viewing was awful!). Conventional estate agencies, you'd expect the EA there and the owner out so you can comfortably look around imo.

I also think there's a difference between "This is the package we offer when we take you on as a client" and "Yes, we're normally full-service but we're ever so busy so could you just do our job for us pls thanx". Buyers have been wanting viewings at inconvenient/OoO times forever, that really shouldn't surprise the agent.

...but on the third hand, there are agents and there are agents. There are a few near me who have lived in the area for 30 years and know everything, sometimes having sold the same property two or three times over. There are some who are 20yo trainees despatched from head offices of national chains. If the alternative is the latter, it may well be better to deal with the vendor directly since the EA is basically there to open the front door and make mumbling noises about the direction of the garden.

I agree with whoever said when the vendor shows you round it’s hideously awkward.

I have never found it hideously awkward. I would find it more awkward having a complete stranger showing other complete strangers around my house.

Around here EA generally only do viewings if its an empty property. Other than that the vendors do them.

I’ve bought 3 properties in the last 15 years and sold 2. Agents have done the vast majority of all the viewings. I’ve never shown people round my own house. I hate viewings with the owner - I’d much rather an agent who is not personally connected to the house. Viewings with the owner are just plain awkward- you can’t discuss with your partner what you would change etc with the owner right there. That’s what you pay an agent for.

I did a mix last time I sold and the only offers came from the people we showed round which makes me think the agent might not have been doing such a great job of selling it! Some charge extra if you want them to do the viewings, my friend was quoted £30 per viewing plus expenses recently. I think due to covid they're also encouraging people to do their own.

Always do my own viewings. And I've sold every house on the first day of viewings. The homeowner always knows more than any estate agent.

I thought it was normal for the vendor to do the viewings? Unless the more upmarket houses have EAs doing them? Is that the difference?

I have always done my own viewings when selling a house. As far as I am aware this is perfectly normal in Scotland. I knew so much more than the EA about the houses and could answer any questions the viewers had. I never found it awkward.

It seems more normal for vendors to do the viewings now - what with both Covid and the ability of vendors to fit viewings in quickly.

My estate agent handled the buyers, validating them and booking them in to time slots I’d said I’d do. We showed the house to people (which meant I got a feel for them and am fairly sure who is serious and who is likely to mess me about) and we’ve essentially sold within a week (going to best and final right now).

I gave everyone a tour round the house, then sat In the lounge so they could poke about without me hovering. It worked well.

The agent is handling the whole final offer process, all I need to do is make a decision.

thought it was normal for the vendor to do the viewings? Unless the more upmarket houses have EAs doing them? Is that the difference?

Not around here. Last two houses we viewed were high end and marketed by Retries and Savills, both vender-shown. I think it must be a regional thing.

Retties not retries!

I would do your own viewings as the people looking won't be too nosey.

Tbh I wish the owners were out when I bought my house as I could have been a lot more thorough in looking for faults etc When the owner is standing behind you you can't exactly tap on walls/test things out/ open kitchen cupboards to see exactly how much space there is etc.

Next time I'm selling a house I'm going to do the viewings.

We've bought and sold in Kent, Essex and Edinburgh, and vendor doing the viewing has been the norm every time, unless the property is vacant.

just i think Id need to point out any faults

Well the house prior to yours might have had 60 faults that no one pointed out to them - remove stuff of value and let them wander on their own.

Have sold around 7 homes in UK and never done my own viewings. That is exactly what I pay the agent for and always made it a condition of them getting the listings.

I also hate looking around with the seller, so much easier with an agent.

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.
This^
We’ve looked at lots of properties before buying current house ( 2 years ago) . Only Purple bricks were showed by vendors and a few times a vendor was present ( sort of hoovering around). It’s very awkward. I hated it. Vendors usually use this positive approach described by Catttitudes which makes much more difficult to ask questions, discuss it with your partner or even re measure (in my experience EAs are very approximate with measuring). I was actually quite reluctant to go to the Purple bricks’s houses for this reason after the very first experience.

I’ve never heard of estate agents actually doing the viewings unless it’s a vacant house. We’ve always done our own.