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Original poster

House buying etiquette - is it wrong to start viewing houses before your own is even on the market?

34 replies

Tinker · 05/02/2006 17:24

We have to move but house not ready to be put up for sale yet. But keep seeing houses that look interesting. Partly out of nosiness, want to view them. Wrong? Should we just wait a while?

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Auntymandy · 05/02/2006 17:28

no go view them. Yo need to see what you can get for your money.
I arent thinking of moving but if I saw a house I thought I might like I would go and see it!

crunchie · 05/02/2006 17:29

I don't think it is really bad to start veiwing the odd house first, but don't go back for a 2nd viewing as that shows real interest.

LIZS · 05/02/2006 17:32

I'm getting the feeling that a couple of viewers have done that to us so far, and given pathetic excuses rather than useful feedback to get themselves out of an awkward position. tbh it is p*ssing me off, sorry ! It is a real hassle to clean and get organised to be in for viewers, sometimes at short notice and incovenient times.

What have you got to do to ours that you can't market it already ? Ours is on the market , although there is work someone might want to do , but to their taste, and I'm still only looking at a selective few until we have serious interest.

WigWamBam · 05/02/2006 17:35

Wrong IMO; you are wasting their time and raising their hopes if you view when you are not in a position to buy. Doubly wrong if it's purely nosiness.

kalex · 05/02/2006 17:37

What about showhomes, is that wrong, to go and look out of nosiness, or empty houses that the estate agents let you into?

Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 17:37

Oh, was getting a bit excited until saw your poast Liz.

Yes, woudl be taking the p to go for 2nd viewings but would like to see exactly what we can get for our money.

House needs kitchen finishing, bathroom starting (!), tarting up outside, just tlc that will make teh difference from a real tip to a characterful tip.

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Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 17:38

x posts with a few there. Not pure nosiness wwb!!

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Cristina7 · 05/02/2006 17:38

We've been seeing a few houses although our flat isn't on the market yet. It gives us an idea of whether it's realistic to move now or wait a bit longer. We've decided we can move as soon as I get a new job.

Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 17:39

Exatly. Might give us a kick up teh ar*e if see really good one.

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LIZS · 05/02/2006 19:17

I'm sure people do it but you may not be so happy when your turn comes ! There are other ways to find out what you can get for how much in the area from sites like this and house details online often have photos and full details. Given this, even first viewings raise more hopes than they used to and I do feel it is rather intrusive to view with so little intention to buy.

Whizzz · 05/02/2006 19:23

No I'd just collect details from estate agents / internet & drive about. It sends out the wrong message to those selling or you might see something you fall in love with but are in no position to buy. You can get just as much info without going inside

Hulababy · 05/02/2006 19:33

Agree with those saying no, don't do it. Get brochures, drive round the areas and have a look from the outside. Maybe go see empty properties where the showing is done by the agents, and by all means see showhouses. Or find open house viewings - where everyone gets to go round between certain hours one day.

But it takes ages to get your house back into pristine showing state, as well as running around making sure you have changed your plans to be there at a set time on a set day. Bad enough when people are seriously looking but don't come back with an offer or feedback, let alone someone just looking to see what they can afford some time in the furture (near or not).

Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 19:35

OK, consider myself told off

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WigWamBam · 05/02/2006 19:39

We had to take time off work to show people around when were were selling our flat; it's galling to have to use holiday and then find that the viewers don't even have their house on the market or are just coming for a nosy. Think about how you will feel when your house is on the market - surely you would only want to be showing people around who were seriously in a position to buy?

twirlaround · 05/02/2006 19:47

You need to seriously research a big purchase like this. Viewing lots of other houses is vital to get a real feel for what the market is doing and what things are really worth. It will also help you assess what the strong and weak points of your own house are, what should be done before you sell it, and what is a realistic price to set.

I accept that it is annoying to show people around if you are a seller and they are not serious buyers, but a non-serious buyer can turn into a serious buyer. After all, you wouldn't expect a shop to throw you out if you didn't seem ultra serious about buying something, would you? If sellers are really annoyed by the number of viewings they should brief their estate agent to only allow vetted clients who have proved their proceedability. This will reduce your disruptive viewings but will also affect the likely time to sell and price achieved.

Start looking now, Tinker! Sellers should not expect to sell their houses for £100k plus with no effort. And you shouldn't be parting with £100k plus of your own money without doing some serious market research

twirlaround · 05/02/2006 19:49

BTW no one has to take time off work to be present for a viewing - estate agents are professionals at conducting viewings and can be left with a key - this is common practice.

Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 19:50

Oh no, conflicting views! Good points twirlaround.

Can you ask to always be shown around by the estate agent rather than the vendor?

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Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 19:51

x posts. Yes, don't want to show people round my house and don't want people showing me round theirs - want to see the house not them.

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crunchie · 05/02/2006 19:53

IF I were to sell my house I would expect the estate agent to do their job. Which means selling houses, eg showing people around. I would be available at times (eve/w/e) BUT I certainly would not expect to change my life as a seller. I would NEVER EVER take time off work to do it either

twirlaround · 05/02/2006 19:54

You can ask but generally vendors dictate this. It can be handy to ask questions of the vendors esp on a second viewing, but for a first viewing I think the estate agent is much better. You can tell them exactly what you do and don't like which will help them find you what you are looking for. No need to be polite or feign interest, or continue with a viewing when you know from when the front door opens you will never buy the house!

LIZS · 05/02/2006 19:56

Generally it will be the vendor unless he/she works, it is let or they are away although ours does have a key so theoretically it doesn't always have to be me - but we've done 6/6 viewings so far. Smaller agents may operate differently and both houses we have viewed with one agent(one empty, one not), staff have shown me around but these were very local to their office anyway and they had arranged consecutive appointments. I'd prefer it to be the agent, less pressure ot smile and say positive things, although it means they can't answer some questions so readily.

Original poster
Tinker · 05/02/2006 19:58

Good, that's what I was hoping.

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shimmy21 · 05/02/2006 20:12

We're in the same position. We aren't sure if the house we want to buy exists but if we find it we will put our house on the market immediately then. However until then I can't see how we can honestly put ours on. It's worse to pull out of a sale that you don't want to go through with than view a house you don't want to buy. Innit???

mszebra · 05/02/2006 20:16

In Norwich it's seller who piss you about. They put their house on the market, let you view, but when you offer say "I'm not in a position to accept any offers yet". Drove me crazy.

zippitippitoes · 05/02/2006 20:22

I think to be honest what goes aroud comes around, so look at houses which would be the kind you wanted

it will happen when you sell

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