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Original poster

Why so many viewings but no offer?

25 replies

Putthatbookdown · 08/11/2013 16:01

Our place has been on sale for 2 weeks and we have had a deluge of viewings but no offers yet. I am beginning to feel like we are a museum or somethings

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 08/11/2013 16:02

Any feedback from viewers?

camwombat · 08/11/2013 16:06

Have you asked your agents for feedback for each of the viewings. When we sold they gave me info from each viewer, at least we knew rather than wondering. Are you doing the viewings yourself or is the agent doing them? As I did several and found it really hard to sell my own house, a bathroom is a bathroom....

cupcake78 · 08/11/2013 16:08

Erm 2 weeks! We've had over 200 viewings in 18 months and 2 cheeky offers. I think you have very high expectations tbh!

camwombat · 08/11/2013 16:12

It does depend where you are in the country as to how quickly houses move too. Ours sold within a week (sought after area with very few houses oming up), but where we were moving to had a slower turnover of houses.

orangepudding · 08/11/2013 16:12

I had 17 viewings in three weeks. 1 person was interested but had to sell first, the final viewer offered low (about 14% below asking price) and we accepted.

Our main problem was a small garden and for some people wanted either a cheap wreck to do up or a perfectly presented home - ours is in-between!

AnotherWorld · 08/11/2013 16:12

Watching. In same boat as OP.

Original poster
Putthatbookdown · 08/11/2013 16:14

The Agents do the viewings We have only had feedbck eg "some like it others don't" which is rather vague They did report people who were interested and came back for a second viewing. I think they may not be vetting enough We had 2 offers in the summer but one lost his job so he pulled out -These 2 offered within 3 days

OP posts:
camwombat · 08/11/2013 16:22

Thats a bit too vague imo, we asked for specifics of what they didnt like. eg really wanted 3 bed & hoped they could make study/utility into 3rd bedroom, layout not right for them, garden too big, top of their budget and they would be pushed to stretch that far, no scope to further extend....

We gave honest feedback when we were looking, apart from one house, because my reasoning for not liking it would have been considered barmy by the agent.

Are other houses in your area selling?

Original poster
Putthatbookdown · 08/11/2013 16:28

Only 2 lots of proper feedback so I assume they were potentially serious buyrs T here is no clear feedback as these people are just poking around seeing what is on offer but are not actually looking to buy now I assume Just nosing about

OP posts:
struggling100 · 08/11/2013 17:05

2 weeks is no time at all!

I think a lot of people sold places at the height of the market, when they could go the same day they were advertised, and expect that to be the case now. But the economy is in very different shape, so it's likely to take a more average time now, i.e. a few weeks. Also, we're now in the run up to Christmas, when people tend not to look. Patience! It will happen. :)

PastaBeeandCheese · 08/11/2013 19:07

My own experience was the time wasters came first. Made the right noises but probably weren't serious buyers.

The serious interest for me came after a few weeks on the market.

That said the average time to sell a house at the moment is 4 months!

Helliecopter · 08/11/2013 19:39

Remember that some people view EVERYTHING in their area because they're nosey, so when something new comes to the market there's usually a flurry.
I'd push your agents for more feedback, but TBH if it's nothing you can change about the house (i.e. it's about what the sellers are looking for rather than a problem with your house that you can fix) then there's not much point in getting the feedback, frustrating as it may be! You can't magic up a bigger garden or another bedroom or whatever.
Some people view before theirs is on the market, some might look because they're wondering whether they can live with x or y as a compromise etc.
As long as your agent keeps getting people through the doors (and don't forget it will slow right down before Christmas) then don't worry. The right buyer will come along eventually.
Good luck

woodlandwanderwoman · 08/11/2013 19:47

We are in SE and market is booming, there are SO many buyers around and not enough decent houses. I think the more people you can get through the door the better, not all buyers tell EAs everything as it can be a waste of their time too and often people will make a compromise. I'm sorry to say though that since good houses put on market at realistic price round here are going like hotcakes, your prob is likely one, some or all of the following:

  1. price is too high
  2. it's not a great house, people will wait for something better
  3. the agent has mismanaged your expectations about how buoyant the market is / how quickly is will sell
woodlandwanderwoman · 08/11/2013 19:51

However to be more positive... It only takes one buyer and they don't necessarily walk straight through the door! Where are you?
Good luck :-) x

BrownSauceSandwich · 08/11/2013 20:02

What hellie says.

To be honest, cupcake, I think it might be your expectations that are too high. Every house has its price, and if you haven't accepted anything after 18 months and 200 viewings, maybe you've been badly advised by the estate agent.

I wouldn't be losing sleep over it at this stage, but you're right to be reviewing it sooner rather than later. Do push your EA for more feedback ( from viewers AND from their own knowledge of the market). You're paying them plenty for their service... Make bloody sure they earn it!

I'd hope to get more viewings in the first month than later, but you'll probably get a second wave when new buyers join in the new year. If the estate agent has anything to advise on the presentation or price, or if they could be marketing it better, this would be an ideal time to work that out.

MrsSchadenfreude · 08/11/2013 20:08

The price is too high. Estate agent over valued my flat when I was selling it years ago. Dropped the price by £10K and it sold that week.

PastaBeeandCheese · 09/11/2013 07:36

You can ask your EA for your Rightmove stats which will show you how many people are viewing your house on line and how that stacks up against other houses in the area.

PoppyInTheFog · 09/11/2013 07:59

Have you got dodgy DIY, a small garden as someone else had, main road, next to an electrical substation something like that?

RCheshire · 09/11/2013 09:32

With that many viewings I'm going to guess at one of the following:

  1. the house has a clear negative that isn't clear in the listing/brochure but is when you visit, or

  2. the house is overpriced but people are having a look in case it's better than the listing/brochure, there's something that justifies the price

With 2) people may not feel able to make a low offer yet when you've only been for sale a short period, or more worryingly they may think it's so badly overpriced that it's not even worth an offer.

Of course it may just have been the wrong buyers and the next is the right one!

RandomMess · 09/11/2013 09:34

Post a link and we'll help Grin

RCheshire · 09/11/2013 09:35

The listing is unlikely to be the problem though as people are coming through the door.

Original poster
Putthatbookdown · 09/11/2013 12:52

I think it is the time of year Lots of pepole are jst having a look around to see what is what In the summer we sold within 3 days but not for the price we wanted

OP posts:
nkf · 09/11/2013 12:59

Is two weeks long? I would suggest the house is appealing enough in the listings to get people through the door but feels overpriced when they see it.

MrsJohnDeere · 09/11/2013 13:01

My estate agent said the average here is 16 viewings before an offer.

2 weeks is nothing!

ICameOnTheJitney · 09/11/2013 13:10

2 weeks is nothing I agree! It can take a long time especially if your house is overpriced or if it has some obvious negatives. I'm in a rental which is up for sale...we've been told that the house is overpriced for what it is...small semi, modern, no work done since it was built in the early 90s...it's about 40 grand more than you'd expect and in a crap school area...nice general area though.

The agent told me that in his experience the house might go in the Summer...but there's a glut of houses on sale here and people don't want the modern ones...when for the same price they can have a lovely period home.

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