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Original poster

We just had our first viewer...

29 replies

Dottydotthehalls · 10/12/2006 18:21

...and they only stayed about 10 minutes. Don't think they'll be putting in an offer. I was really nervous and didn't really know what to say or do - I 'introduced' each room, tried to think of something to say and then left them to it.

They had a baby with them so I did appropriate amounts of cooing and mentioned my 2 ds's (who I'd shoved off to their grandma's house for tea).

Any tips on how to be a more polished house seller?!

OP posts:
jampots · 10/12/2006 18:22

at least you've had one - ive still had none!

invite them over for xmas dinner?

Original poster
Dottydotthehalls · 10/12/2006 18:25

If I thought it would have helped I would have..! I nearly asked them if they wanted a coffee, but thought that would be too forward! And they were half an hour early so I was still doing all the finishing touches (as Ann Maurice says). Flipping heck - hope it's not always going to be this much of an effort - I'm exhausted... Still, they weren't due until 6.30pm, which means my Mum isn't expecting me to pick up the kids until 7pm - 30 mins of uninterrupted Mumsnet!!

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RubberDuckWithCranberrySauce · 10/12/2006 18:26

We bought this house on the basis of only a 10 minute trip round - it's incredibly difficult to hang about (ime) when it's the owner showing you around rather than the estate agent. You're desperate to get out so you can say to your spouse "I'm not sure I could live with that kitchen.... liked the big rooms upstairs though... yeah, but that peach suite in the bathroom WOULD HAVE TO GO!" without mortally offending the owners

It's worth offering at the end of the "tour" to say "would you like a look round on your own? I'll be here in the kitchen/living room/garden (delete as appropriate) if you have any questions" and then chew your fingers nervously as they poke around upstairs unsupervised.

Original poster
Dottydotthehalls · 10/12/2006 18:31

ooh - wonder if she's a Mumsnetter??! Hello, by the way, if you've just got home - wasn't our house lovely

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carolcoles · 10/12/2006 18:36

Agree with Rubberduck, give them time to look around alone, I used to work for an estate agent doing viewings, if poss get agent to do viewings, that's what you pay them for. Try to be relaxed and friendly and if you want to offer them a drink go ahead cos I bet not many people offer and if they've been viewing all day it'll be a positive thing to remember even if they say no to the drink. Good luck

Original poster
Dottydotthehalls · 10/12/2006 18:49

Right, yes, will offer a coffee next time. I really wanted to and tend to go with my gut instinct, but didn't want to seem silly. Also didn't want them to realise they were the first viewers!

Will be drumming my fingers all day tomorrow - do you think I can phone the estate agents and get them to ask for feedback?

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RubberDuckWithCranberrySauce · 10/12/2006 19:04

Of course you can Don't rely on the feedback though - we (and I'm sure many viewers are) were fairly non-committal with the estate agents (especially when we still had a fair amount to view in the area and weren't really sure what we were looking for)

santasbaby · 10/12/2006 19:06

Are you selling with an agent? Just wondering why they're not showing people around.

Good idead to give them time on their own to look round after you've shown them round - that way they're free to talk without you hearing them, they may think of questions to ask you at the end too. Try to find out a bit about the viewers before they come, i.e do they have children, where do they work etc. That way you can try and bring things out that will appeal to them.

Good luck.

Tinker · 10/12/2006 19:10

Oh weird, saw a house in the paper yesterday that I was sure was yours but didn't it was up for sale! (Bought your bumbo, am not mad stalker )

Crackle · 10/12/2006 19:14

I used to get the agent to do the viewings whilst I sat in my neighbours kitchen listening to the viewers over the baby alarm. Bloody fascinating.

QuadropheniaonIce · 10/12/2006 19:19

Coffee would put me off to be honest, too familiar would make me uncomfortable.

Tinker · 10/12/2006 19:20

Agree, trying a bit hard. Offer a drink on 2nd viewing maybe.

paulaplumpbottom · 10/12/2006 19:24

You may think it silly to offer coffee and what have you, but its worth a go. I my SIL bought a house, I swear because she was offered coffee and she and the owner got on like a house on fire. The house is nice, but I think part of the reason she bought it was because she liked the former owner so much.

Pruni · 10/12/2006 19:27

Message withdrawn

worcestercaroline · 10/12/2006 20:05

I did all my viewings, had over 90 in the year. U know within a matter of seconds whether u like the house or not, so would not worry about amount of time they spend in yr house, I found that all the ones who stayed for ages and commented on what an amazing house it was blah blah blah were the ones who never put in an offer or would give agent feedback like, well it was much smaller than I expected, it only had 2 bedrooms (had they not read the details!!!)
I had 1 guy who kept coming to view it every saturday morning for 5 weeks, I would give him a cup of coffee and biscuit and he would sit on sofa for over 1hr and half chatting saying I really feel at home here. He never put in an offer think he just liked to come for a chat. 1 couple that put in an offer said we had to laugh cos u pointed out the obvious "this is the bathroom" " and this is the kitchen" they said it was comical

Original poster
Dottydotthehalls · 10/12/2006 22:49

Hi Tinker - yes, I remember you as lovely smiley person with eeny weeny baby - who's probably walking by now??! And as person who I scowled at (by accident) at that pub when I was stressed out having to try and crowd control our two ds's..!

Right, so coffee on the second viewing - if we get that far.

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LIZS · 11/12/2006 15:03

lol at crackle, excellent idea. The people who are buying ours didn't stay long afaik (agent showed them round)nor have they had a second viewing (investment buyers)and we've not met. Perhaps they had done several and were shortlisting the possibilities for a 2nd viewing ,the baby was getting irritable or they felt awkward at your kids havign been displaced ? Don't despair , we had 20+ viewings before we got an offer ! Your agent should be chasing feedback by tomorrow morning though.

Original poster
Dottydotthehalls · 11/12/2006 15:06

The baby was fantastically well behaved ! The estate agents have phoned and left a message asking them for feedback - but they've not phoned back and made an offer for the full asking price so I suppose I'll have to keep the house tidy for a while longer..!

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sandcastlesforanaussiexmas · 13/12/2006 13:46

Why do so many do the viewings themselves? What are you paying the estate agents for? You pay them enough, make them work for it!!

I did 1 veiwing when we were selling, it was OK. When the estate agent rang asking me to do another, I asked for a reduction in the fees & they 'suddenly' could do it...

beckybrastraps · 13/12/2006 13:49

I did all my viewings (12 in 10 days!).

And I was desperate to talk to the owner of the house we bought.

I hate going round with estate agents.

sandcastlesforanaussiexmas · 13/12/2006 13:51

I spoke to our buyers. The estate agent just arranged another veiwing & they asked me to be there.

I just don't what you get for your 1 to 2.5% if they sit on their bums all day!!

beckybrastraps · 13/12/2006 13:53

Good God. 2.5%?!

ComeOyefaithfulVeneer · 13/12/2006 13:54

We did some of the veiwingsourselves and the agent did some. A lot ofpeople could only do evenings after work or Sundays when the agent was closed so we did them. The saturday and weekday ones they did. I was happy to do them as otherwise there could be a missed opportunity to sell.

sandcastlesforanaussiexmas · 13/12/2006 13:59

beckybrastraps, we had three quote when we were looking to sell 1% 1.5% & 2.5%!! The 2.5% charged 4% for two agent & 5% for more then 2. Guess who we went with!

CoV, I did the evening veiwing. I don't like looking at houses with the owner & I don't like being there when they are looking around..just a personal thing I guess!

beckybrastraps · 13/12/2006 14:02

Blimey. We paid 1%. And thought that was a lot! And the house we sold was NOT expensive.

Why DO they charge more for more expensive houses BTW? We bought through the same agent we sold with, and we certainly got a fancier set of details than they produced for our house. But an extra £1000 worth? Hmmm!