to request to view a house without the owner's presence?

[nightowlmostly]

We want to see a house for a second viewing, and would prefer it if the owner wasn't there this time, as they were there last time and it's just not as easy to have a proper critical look around when you are also trying to be polite about someone's home. I'd like to see it with just the estate agent before committing, as it is a lot of money obviously!

My DH asked the estate agent on the phone and he said she seemed a little surprised, as if it was on odd request, is it? I would have thought it was quite common for people to want to see houses without them there, everyone in RL that I've mentioned house hunting to says it is much easier to look properly without the vendor present.

Just wondered if IABU!

When we were selling we were made the feel crap when we asked that the EA show people round. I hated doing it. We didn't move in the end but when we do move, they will do what we are paying them for.

Well, 2 viewings today of great houses, at good prices in good catchments. Both been on less than a week, both rejected offers already so desirable houses...and no owner in sight. I actually asked the agent if he ever had vendors do viewings, he looked at me like I was nuts and responded "errr, nooo..."

Either way as long as everyone is happy, it just really isn't that unusual to not be present. I never met the owners of the house we live in now, and accidentally bumped into the buyers of our last place as I was vacating for the viewing...he was very surprised to see me and wouldn't enter till I'd gone.

Pmsl at the idea you should walk away from buying a property if the vendor is at home when you are viewing! How bloody precious. Btw, the easy part of selling a house is preparing it for the market, photographing it, advertising it and showing it. The difficult part is keeping the chain together after the sale is agreed.

I know, the vendor of the first house we looked at just had their chain fall apart just as they were about to sign. Their buyer changed their mind, gutting.

It is precious for anyone to be laying down the law-the person selling the house is perfectly free to do it their way. It is their house-either you want it or you don't and if you are the sort of person to stamp your foot because you mind who shows you the house then I don't think I would want to sell to you-bound to be other problems IMO.

Why is it an issue - it's the house and the structural survey that matter.

Flat one: Viewed alone, vendors had moved out - no-one to ask questions. Sold it 4-1/2 years later. Two viewings, one shown round by me, one during the day by agent. When I bought it, it had been on the market for many many months, sold it in about 24 hours.

House one: Viewed with owner present - lovely chap - his purchaser had dropped out and he had committed to bridging loan to keep next house. Eight years later five viewings on a Saturday - some accompanied by agent, some not - I was in and showed/answered questions where necessary. We had two offers by the end of the day and accepted the one at the asking price.

House two: Viewed empty property with agent. Had just been redeveloped and reduced in price (was 1994 and market difficult). In a road where houses rarely come up and where people tend to want to buy. Offered asking price on basis taken off market for 72 hours to allow us to secure a sale on our own property. Sale of House one and purchase of house two took just under six weeks.

I cannot imagine ever managing to buy/sell as part of a chain again but I will not allow viewers in without the agent present and will not expect to show the house myself again. If potential vendors want to ask me questions that will be fine. Present plan is to sell this house in the next couple of years and already know which agent and solicitor we will use.

House buying/selling really does bring out the worst in people.

I am bemused that people worry that potential buyers would steal stuff - I mean would you seriously follow them round every room?

But the property market is hard in most places nowadays and if I was selling well I'd do everything possible to make selling my property easy and appealing to potential buyers.

Mrs CampbellBlack, I would be seriously worried that potential buyers would be casing the joint to come back later and steal stuff. That's why I would need them vetted by the agent first and to have shared quite a lot about their circumstances before they set foot across the threshold. I understand agents nowadays do quite a lot of vetting and having talked to friends neighbours who have sold in recent years it's now a very important part of the process.

That is why I have an agent and also to do the negotiation and handle the sale. I do not have them to show the property, which I can do much better.

I'm happy either way. We've viewed a house before where the vendor admitted they slept downstairs as they couldn't get their bed up the staircase. Very helpful, though not in the way they intended I think. I don't say much on a viewing so no problem to me if they are there.

When selling I like to be in once, out of the way but able to hear how the EA is selling my property. Would happily be out of the way though if requested. Thinking back I have tended to be in when we sold as work from home but would answer door, then retreat unless agent came to ask a question.