Small children and house viewings

[runlikeagirl]

We're selling. We have a viewing booked. So far most people want to come after 6pm on a weekday. We have a 2yo and 5yo who go to bed around 7pm.

So obviously we've said we'd need viewings before 7, although we've explained we wouldn't kick anyone out at 7 on the dot.

They could come later, but then not see kids rooms? Argh. What do people do? It's not possible to ship them off anywhere as no family nearby (it's why we are moving)

You just have to keep them up a bit later on those days if that's the only time viewers can come.

Or one of you takes the Dcs out (even just a short drive in the car) for the duration.

I remember dh taking Dcs and dog in the car to a nearby carpark (300 m away? ) during viewings - got them out of the way and freed up a parking space near the house.

Our estate agent told people they had to come in the day. They told me that most people coming at night always want to see it in the daytime anyway so they may as well come then first. We did have a couple of viewings at 6-ish. Our flat sold in a week though so it wasn't a long term hassle. A Saturday was also good as then we just went out for the day.

I explained to the estate agent that we had young children so viewings during the day time were preferable and offered weekends too including
Sunday's as an alternative. This did not present as a problem for most people as they understand that the owner has a life too!

I thought that if people were that unreasonable I would not want to sell my house to them anyway as I thought it a likely predictor that they would demand things during the sale process!!

We got the agent to do the viewing and got DC out of the house.

We went for walks, or soft play, local sports centre, garden centre served food at awkward times to DC without expecting adults to eat too. A lovely friend also invited us round to eat. Mine were 1 and 3, it wasn't easy and it was one of the reasons we priced realistically so that we sold quickly.

Viewers need to see all the rooms.

We did a couple of open days on a Saturday and made it clear to the estate agent that weeknights were really difficult.

We had one or two on a weeknight which we rolled with (DS was 13 months) but we got offers within 2 weeks.

I think it depends on the market where you are - how quickly do things tend to sell?

Years and years ago, my parents sold a house with 2 of the 3 bedrooms glanced into with sleeping children in (me and my brother). Lights not required to be switched on. I don't remember it, but my parents still tell the story. No second viewing either.

Think I'd try for before 7 / weekends, but if I really wanted to sell, and there was no other time, I'd say that the lights were off in kids bedrooms, but they could look in.