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Original poster

I have a crush on a home near me

32 replies

homecrush · 01/09/2018 18:25

I am obsessed with a property fairly local to me! I cannot afford the place but obviously if I won the lottery I would immediately put an offer in. I actually live in rented accommodation and have never bought a property... would I BVU to book a viewing? I assume I probably would... but just in case I thought I'd ask here if it's possible to not too unreasonable to literally snoop in while it's up for sale?!

OP posts:
Huskylover1 · 01/09/2018 18:29

No, don't do that. It takes ages to get a home ready for viewing, and that would be awful when you can't afford it. Time Waster.

Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 18:31

Oh how disappointing, I assumed it wouldn't be a done thing. From the photos I don't think anyone actually lives there currently and it's set up as a "show home" but still... I guess Sad

OP posts:
Bluelady · 01/09/2018 18:31

Oh go for it. Ours is on the market now and I really wouldn't mind. We've lived in an artificial state of viewer readiness for months now.

Rebecca36 · 01/09/2018 18:32

Agree, don't do it. Apart from reasons given above you would be obvious, I've known people who have put houses up for sale who have had to entertain obvious time wasters. Don't embarrass yourself, your time will come.

CoolCarrie · 01/09/2018 18:35

Do it, especially if it’s a show home, nothing wrong with having a look.

Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 18:36

When I say "show home" I mean they have renovated it and it is dressed and renovated definitely for selling rather than living in... so it's likely owned by an individual who wanted to renovate not a big developer etc

OP posts:
Huskylover1 · 01/09/2018 18:38

Oh, if it's a Showhome, then that's different! I thought you meant it was someone's home.

When I was selling a previous property, we had numerous time wasters view it. I would clean top to bottom, they would arrive and nose around, and then say something which made it obvious they couldn't afford it. Soul destroying. All that time tidyup up, and setting time aside to show people, only for them to be Time Wasters. Uurgh.

Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 18:42

Hmm... I'm very tempted, but would feel awful if the photos have lied and actually it is lived in and like Huskylover1 I had caused them lots of work, and feel bad for the estate agent too as I'm sure they'd get a lot of commission on it if sold. It looks very "dressed" no personal belongings etc in the photos and everything beautifully matching the colour scheme etc

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 01/09/2018 18:45

Honestly don't book an appointment. Tidying and sorting stuff out eg kids and pets is really stressful before a viewing.

Bluelady · 01/09/2018 18:46

The amount of work is exaggerated. If you're serious about selling, you keep it ready all the time. Our house is currently immaculate all the time. I'm quite enjoying living in a show home.

peachypetite · 01/09/2018 18:46

Please don't waste time.

Kathulu · 01/09/2018 18:50

I've just sold my house, (fingers crossed as it's all still going through,) and I would hate someone coming in "for a nosy" although the house was always clean it had to have a special tidy round before viewing. We had a few people who came round "just for a look" and, to be honest, it really pissed me off. This was still my home, with my things and it was so invasive. You can't relax, the kids had to be either quiet or elsewhere, nobody ever seemed to be able to view through the day so I would have to do the viewing rather than the inept Estate Agents I was paying to sell the bloody thing. Selling a house is stressful enough in this climate without people coming round without any intention to buy. If the house is empty and awaiting sale that's different - whack away.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 01/09/2018 18:51

The amount of work is exaggerated

Surely that depends. If you've got a large house that needs hoovering and tidying, numerous bathrooms that need cleaning, pets that need to be out of the way and children that have lots of stuff, it takes time and effort to get the house ready.

Smellbellina · 01/09/2018 18:52

God I would

Bluelady · 01/09/2018 18:57

Oh come on, Duck, you keep on top of it all the time. No way do you need to do all that stuff just before each viewing if you're serious about selling.

JustLurk1ng · 01/09/2018 18:58

It's up to you. But I have a young child and prepping was a nightmare. We'd have to clean the entire house (an hour of our time in the evening) - also was timing often interfered with my sons naps and bed time so had a really shit time dealing with a grumpy child.

I'd say if they do an open house - fine. If there's a chance you could/would buy it - fine. But if they live in the place and it's not even possible you could ever afford it then just don't be a time waster. I don't see how you would feel any better for being shown round a house you love but can't buy

JustLurk1ng · 01/09/2018 19:02

@Bluelady - surely you're more likely to clean before each viewing if you are serious about selling. We were and we did. For 6 months - typically 2 viewings a week. I also did some of the viewings myself and it's not just the cleaning, the prepping, the time out of your day and organising child care - it's how you get your hopes up when you show someone round the house who clearly loves it but then it comes to nothing because they're not in a position to buy. I just don't see the benefit for either party here

Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 19:04

I probably won't, I'm quite shy and probably don't have the balls unless you'd all said do it, everyone does that etc

I am fairly sure no child. It's small (2bed flat) and nothing about it suggests a child inhabits it though I can totally envisage how mine could live there. The decor suggests older person if at all lived in or unlived in and renovated for selling, no clutter (AT ALL) and all nick nacks are very obviously to dress the home

OP posts:
Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 19:07

Just supposing I did win the lottery though (humour me) how fast can you buy a home? I think I would be devastated if someone got there just before me and I had a sudden windfall in time 😂

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MrsTerryPratchett · 01/09/2018 19:08

This is why I like the Open House thing they do in Canada. Everyone can have a nose and the real buyers all see it together. You can spend Saturday driving around, examining people's decor.

HairyHiker · 01/09/2018 19:10

Don't do it.

Why waste everyone's time? Just so you can literally snoop

Whether you think so or not you'd be raising someones hopes that they might have a potential sale.

Time wasters are a bloody nightmare when you're trying to sell a property.

Kathulu · 01/09/2018 19:19

Just a wee aside about the photos and how it looks "unlived" in - before our photos were taken we were advised to put away clutter and personal items. This helps people visualise their take on things apparently.

Scuzzlet · 01/09/2018 19:21

Are there any pics on rightmove?

Original poster
homecrush · 01/09/2018 19:22

@Scuzzlet tons but I won't out myself by posting the link, I've practically stalked the place since it went on sale on rightmove back in June!

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 01/09/2018 19:22

I absolutely did need to hoover before every viewing because I've got a dog and cat! Same with cleaning the bathrooms properly.
If you've got a family living in a house you cannot keep it looking like a show home all the time, it's impossible!

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