Estate Agents and Viewings

[Puddlet]

Hi
Just wanted a bit of context - we're trying to buy in the NE, so market fairly slow moving. I've been talking to an agent about setting up some viewings during the rather limited time that DH and I are both available and it seems to depend on the vendors being at home to do the viewing. Is that normal? I would have hoped that the agent could do the viewings if necessary. Wondering whether to try different agents or just accept that it's normal.

I think that's unusual. We're in the process of buying in North Yorks. DH and I managed to look at 6 houses in one day, 3 with agents, 3 with vendors. It wasn't a problem. Have you sold, or do you have anything to sell? We had SSTC at this point and everyone seemed pleased to accommodate us.

We've just sold our property and the estate agents did about 75% of the viewings for us, the viewing we did we're in evening or on Sunday's when the estate agents office was closed.

I guess it depends on the individual, I'd rather the estate agent did the viewing, but some people prefer to do it themselves.

I agree, it depends on the vendor. When we last sold our house, I did all the viewings, wouldn't have been comfortable having agent and strangers wandering around my house. Also, I thought that it was an advantage to be on site to answer any queries about the house / local area / schools etc that a potential vendor might have.

Puddlet - who is the agent?
It might depend on the agent (some up here never seem to be open or do viewings) or the vendors wishes.
We bought in the NE this summer - we looked at a lot of houses but one house actually in the same road as we bought in couldn't get their act together (mainly the agent I think) and so we ended up just not seeing it. Funnily enough it's still on the Market.

We did viewings ourselves because the agents wanted £15+vat per viewing for them to do it and we were too tight (and skint) to pay.

We did make ourselves as available as possible though. Our main issue was having ds1&2 out of the flat when viewings were happening and that would have limited the times whether an agent did them or not.

We were lucky to sell quickly, but if we hadn't I would have certainly been as accommodating as possible to viewing times, including taking time off work if that was the only time they could manage, or getting the agent to do it and sucking up the cost. Depends on the situation I guess.

Normal round here (West Mids). We've done every viewing - the agents said they would do them at a push, but so far none.

I'd tell an agent to take a walk if he expected me to conduct my own viewings. From an agent's point of view too, it seems pretty pointless when he can't guarantee potential buyers access to the property.

it's normal round here - more or less every agent gets the vendors to do the viewings. We got 5 quotes and all of them said the same.

It all depends on what you want from your estate agent. Some offer viewings and some don't, normally it doesn't come at a charge but obviously you have to give them a set of keys.

If there won't be many viewings i'd recommend doing them yourself because you can answer questions which leaves buyers feeling more satisfied so less in the way of making an offer.

Some people aren't comfortable with a stranger in your house, but if there's going to be one there i'd personally rather be there as it's my stuff.

A lot of people aren't happy letting the agents have keys to show their property when they're not there.

sold darn sarf where the estate agents do the viewings, as I would expect. Bought in the West Mids and yes, two-thirds of the agents seem to leave the office.

the owners do know more about the property and fortunately I could view at flexible times.