Second viewing request - they haven’t sold yet!

[R202020]

A couple recently viewed our house. Their flat is on the market. They want to come back next week for a second viewing - they haven’t sold yet. Is it fairly common to request a second viewing without selling first?
I’m dreading all the cleaning/ tidying/ hiding!

I would always allow viewings, even if they are a pita. Whilst they might not have sold now, they could sell very shortly. They might be considering a reduction in price and want to ensure they are keen enough on yours to do so.

I always went on the understanding that if your house is on the market, you should never need to do more than 30 mins work/tidy up to facilitate a viewing.

When I sold our last house I was a bit off about two viewings. One who turned up on a Sunday on spec to view who I turned away straightaway and another who wanted to view at an inconvenient time (eg kids bath time). Just why, they both made offers and it went to the first viewer as they were in rented.

The biggest fuss pots who nosied in kitchen cupboards etc never made offers and I think you can sniff out time wasters.

Let them have a second viewing and good luck.

I think I've been doing it all wrong then. I spend 4 hours on average cleaning every inch of the house. Declutter and dump half the house in the garage or in the car. I clean everything - Inside wardrobes, kitchen cupboards etc. Don't people see inside the wardrobes?

That might be a little over the top!!

Don’t hold yours though or take it off the market if they do make an offer until you know they can proceed. If they make an offer it might raise a bit of competition from other buyers depending on the market in your area.

Honestly, a bit of mess doesn't matter!! Clutter and things in the way would matter because not everyone can visualise the space without the clutter. But a bit of mess is fine, as long as we're not talking hazmat filthy.

Fitted wardrobes, yes. But just a quick measure and look to see if it's shelves, shoe racks, hanging rail etc. It really doesn't need to be perfectly organised! How messy can cupboards and wardrobes actually get?

Yeah, that's way overboard. Unless (and until!) you're desperate to sell, just have the place vaguely shipshape. Definitely don't re-clean inside cupboards and the like, that's anxiety/obsessive tendencies.

De-clutter a bit - but even that can be more "ram stuff into a cupboard" than "Japanese fold everything and put it away". The viewers need space to visualise hollowing the rooms out and replacing the content with theirs, they're not going to go round with white gloves looking for ketchup on the radiators.

You spend four hours cleaning before every viewing? Did I read that correctly? Your house is not being forensically examined for traces of DNA you know!

You don't need to do a deep clean. I have light coloured grey carpet and I don't hoover for viewings. I hoover when I have the time. Same with dusting. I clear away all clutter and children's toys in a cupboard. Most people don't sniff around your cupboards and even if they do then so long as the impression is you have storage and there's no clutter you should be fine,