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Original poster

The difference between agent photos and viewings

19 replies

Hercy · 09/08/2018 11:36

So, we've just had agent photos done...jeez what an effort! And I think/hope I did a reasonable job of making the house look presentable/neutral/uncluttered.

But due to the fact it's a small house with not a lot of storage space, I boxed up quite a lot of kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff etc that would normally sit out, and had no where to put the boxes.

Obviously that's fine for photos, cos you can just move the boxes from one room to the other as photos are taken. But what about for viewings??

Do you go to the extreme of removing all pans from cupboard tops, kitchen caddy, all toiletries other than one or two posh items from bathroom etc etc for viewings? And if so where do you put them???

We don't have a garage. Shed is rammed full. And all cupboards are fully loaded.

OP posts:

FemaleDilbert · 09/08/2018 11:44

Do you have a car? I used to shove stuff in there and park it down the street

LaGattaNera · 09/08/2018 11:48

It is a pain OP but I think less is more and too much stuff never helps a viewing as you don't want viewers to think it is small and cluttered.

Do you have a loft?

JT05 · 09/08/2018 11:48

Have you a loft, or can you put things under the beds.
Spare duvets etc could go under the real duvet on the bed. Renting a storage unit might be the way to go.
We tried to keep everything as near to the phots as possible, but it’s not easy if you’re already cramped for space.

peachypetite · 09/08/2018 11:49

You need to get rid of the clutter, or you risk it looking like you don't have enough storage.

Ericaceae · 09/08/2018 11:54

We've just been through this - we had over 20 viewings in a week (near Glasgow, agent wasn't surprised but we were )
I kept a bag for life with a flat bottom upstairs that things like bubblebath and toothbrushes lived in inside boxes. Before a viewing I lifted that out to the car. Extra kitchen things like the coffee maker just went in a cupboard.
The biggest PITA has been washing - make sure your basket is empty before you start! Stuff that can go in the drier is fine, but stuff that needs hung was washed in the evening after viewers had gone, and then put in bags in the car before viewers if they were slightly damp.
We've rented a storage space for £14 a week to put extra bits and pieces in too. Well worth the money if you have one nearby.
The biggest trick with the car plan is not to then park the crap-filled car directly outside
If you don't have a car, you could try the ready-bag and then put it on a wardrobe or under a bed? I think clearly kitchens and bathrooms to look clean and tidy is key.
Good luck!

wowfudge · 09/08/2018 11:56

Start decluttering now - 3 bags or boxes: one for the bin, one for charity shop and one for selling. If you can't sell stuff you don't need then give it to charity. Let's face it, you want need or want to take every last thing to your new place. We did this over several weekends when getting ready to put the house on the market and carried on pretty much up until we moved.

Jenijena · 09/08/2018 12:02

We’ve rented a storage unit and it is about 80-90% of the ‘show-home’ look it is in the photos. This is not my natural style at all and I was very relieved when we had an offer within a week... but they’ve pulled out and we’re now back on the market so doing the whole palaver again...

ninabea3 · 09/08/2018 12:04

I think putting every single toiletry away is extreme, it's not a show home and I'm sure the people viewing it would understand? But I agree with wowfudge, the time decluttering takes is so under-estimated and is really an on-going thing up until you move, as you don't want to cart it all over to your next place. Be ruthless!!!

DownUdderer · 09/08/2018 12:04

I must say if you view a house that feels cluttered then it can be very off putting. I bought a house recently and viewed quite a few and one place had all the family toothbrushes in a wall mounted holder inside the shower cubicle. It really made me realise how small the bathroom was!

Kescilly · 09/08/2018 12:11

We had to leave some stuff as our place was tiny and we simply couldn’t cope day to day otherwise. But the rest of it got packed into the car down the street and one of us went with it for viewings. Our place was too small for us to both be in there with multiple people for a viewing!

Original poster

Hercy · 09/08/2018 12:37

That's really helpful feedback, thank you all.

I think my MIL (local) may get a call to ask if I can temporarily store some boxes in her garage! Most of the "clutter" I'm talking about is stuff we want to keep, but if I minimise our day to day stuff on a temporary basis, getting it viewing ready as and when should be a bit easier. The car for storage is a good shout!

The spare room on the other hand is a different story! It looks presentable, but it has a big built in wardrobe which is stuffed full of boxes and bags and all sorts. It's not quite at the level of all tumbling down the minute you open the doors, but it is close.

In your experience, do viewers look inside built in wardrobes, cupboards etc? Do these also need to be neat and presentable?

OP posts:

Ericaceae · 09/08/2018 12:48

I dunno if it's "extreme"; it's just a bit of depersonalisation. We left towels, candles, artwork, and a few ornaments. But we took out photos of us, nameplates on the kids' doors, toothbrushes and showergel, etc. We cleared the kitchen worksurfaces apart from the microwave, kettle, toaster and fruitbowl. So it was a mix between looking lived in, but not lived in by anyone in particular, iyswim.
Yes, folk looked in storage cupboards and inside the kitchen cupboards that had the boiler and fuse box in them. They didn't look in wardrobes, but they're not fitted. Only a handful wanted to see in the loft. No one looked in the hut.
Our closing date was 45 minutes ago, and we've just accepted 1 of 3 offers. So relieved this bit is over.
It's not easy to keep on top on it, but it was worth it I think. Who knows - they're maybe hiring a skip and vats of magnolia paint as we speak

Ericaceae · 09/08/2018 12:52

Oh and yeah, only one of us did the viewings, and the other took the kids out. We also cleared the cat bowls and scratching post away, and put the litter tray in the hut. The cat was just sleeping in a corner each time because she's a housecat that doesn't get out after an accident. No one seemed fussed, and quite a few folk spoke to her and petted her.

Original poster

Hercy · 09/08/2018 14:29

Might have to clear up the spare room cupboard of shame then!

We're planning on letting the agent take all viewings, and I'll take the dog out. Will remove dog bed, which is an arse as it's bloody massive and heavy and needs to go down a flight of stairs and the up again. But needs must. Hopefully it will squash into my boot!

OP posts:

Ericaceae · 09/08/2018 14:46

We did all our own - we were asked lots about schools, nurseries, where the sun came in, when floors were put down, shops, the station, roads... so make sure your EA knows the area/your house.
Sounds like a good plan re the dog. We even thought about when we'd feed the cat so the smell dissipated!
And yeah, I'd probably tackle the cupboard of doom. We viewed about 6 houses, and always looked in built-ins.

ACatsNoHelpWithThat · 09/08/2018 15:01

I had viewers looking in my built-in wardrobe which was crammed higgledy piggledy full of clutter - I'm just relieved nothing fell on anyone! They also opened my kitchen units. So yes, have a clear out.

JustLurk1ng · 10/08/2018 06:58

The best thing we did was to get rid of our large wooden coffee table. We'd already decluttered and we're puzzled why everyone was banging on about how small the place was. Mum pointed out the large coffee table took up most of the living room. I took it out and pushed the sofas right into the extremes of the room and voila... spacious living room everyone suddenly liked. Suddenly I understood why show homes have scaled down furniture!

User5trillion · 10/08/2018 07:06

We had just had a baby when we sold our tiny tiny 2 bed starter home. In the living room we had a big cupboard that I chucked loads of stuff in and then instructed the EA to not open😁 I also used to.put the big baby stuff that cluttered my living room in the car. We had only one storage cupboard in the whole place, thankfully the place sold quickly!

MovingThisYearHopefully · 10/08/2018 15:06

Both mine & DH's cars have been crammed full of stuff for over a year now, there is stuff in the attic & before every viewing I take out everything that is on my small table in a bag for life (& the table) & put it in our garage or squeeze it into the car. I remove all washing, the airer, all toiletries, any clutter whatsoever so there is a clean space to view the house. Takes about 20 minutes to move the bags & items of stuff we have to use on a daily basis to the garage & car for each viewing. We have been doing this (minus a break when we were under offer) since April last year. I don't know where a damn thing is in my house. We didn't even have a Christmas tree or any presents last year because theres simply nowhere to put them! Its been a tough time. If you have anything you don't need on a daily basis finding somewhere to store it indefinitely, like your MIL's house, storage unit or the attic is a good idea.

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