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Original poster

Is this normal for a house viewing?

16 replies

Binglebong29 · 21/09/2019 16:23

Is it normal for house viewings to be so short? We've had 3 viewings and all of them have been super quick, probably 5 mins possibly 10. I can't help feeling disheartened.

We've been looking at houses ourselves and we also lool around quite quickly.

We are doing the viewings ourselves so not sure if it's maybe I'm not giving them enough time but I do always say at the end if you want to look around by yourself that's fine.

Just feeling like we will never sell. Property has only been on for 2 weeks and we've had 3 viewings, one booked for tomorrow and then one cancelled.

OP posts:

EskewedBeef · 21/09/2019 16:25

It doesn't take long to have a look around a standard house. They'll know very quickly either way, and it quickly becomes very awkward to keep looking at someone else's stuff.

superram · 21/09/2019 16:26

You need to stop doing them yourselves and get the estate agent to do it. They feel uncomfortable while you are there.

Cornberry · 21/09/2019 16:27

First viewing is typically quite quick. If you’re keen you’ll always go back and spend more time looking at the details. First one usually getting the lay of the land. Small tip, if you’re not getting much interest either your pictures aren’t good enough or you’ve overpriced. We had to drop dramatically and suddenly the viewings began to pile up.

inwood · 21/09/2019 16:27

Absolutely get the agents to do the viewings.

LL83 · 21/09/2019 16:27

It's awkward being in someone else's home. I have never been more than 5 mins viewing.

Also I can't have an open discussion with partner while in the house, we were usually excited to leave and compare notes to see if on the same page.

DirtyWindow · 21/09/2019 16:27

I don't really know about times, but I would suggest that you let the estate agent do the viewings if possible. It's a lot less pressured with an estate agents
and viewers can speak more freely to each other which I think helps.

Original poster

Binglebong29 · 21/09/2019 16:34

We're with purple bricks so we found pay extra for the viewings, we have 2 small children so its just not realistic for us to be constantly out the house so would defeat the point I guess!

Sounds like its not that unusual for them to be quick. We've seen a couple of properties where the owner has showed us round and I've never had a problem with it. But yes we were eagre to leave so we could talk about it!

Is 4 viewings and 2 weeks on the market not an OK amount? It hadn't really occurred to me that this might be rubbish.

OP posts:

Danglingmod · 21/09/2019 16:38

If you're doing the viewings yourself, go more slowly!

I've sold lots of houses and always done the viewings myself (or dh has). Just spend longer in each room, a decent spiel at the beginning or end about overall stuff or the area, show them round the outside and then let them look again on their own. Never had a viewing as quick as five minutes although if someone walked in and was obviously uninterested, I'd play it by ear.

longearedbat · 21/09/2019 17:02

I always find it amazing that such a big purchase, in cash terms, if often decided so quickly. I have probably spent more time dithering over a sofa, or a pair of boots, rather than a house purchase. However, having bought a few houses over the years, I have always known straight away if they are not suitable, so don't like to waste other people's time by prolonging the viewing. Of the four houses I have bought, I have also known almost straight away that they are what I want.
I have always done viewings myself, and have never found it a handicap. We sold my parent's house with agent viewings. I happened to be there one day when some people were being shown around, and the agents lack of knowledge (and apparent lack of interest) in the house was disturbing. Likewise, I have been shown round by agents and they often seem to know very little about the property they are selling. Being shown round by the vendor really doesn't bother me.

JoanLewis · 21/09/2019 21:39

We just sold our house doing the viewings ourself. I did a quick whizz round with them pointing out anything that wasn't obvious and then let them wonder back around by themselves. Some people were there for nearly an hour! Although the ones who ended up buying it only did one viewing for about 10mins. So go figure.

Disco3000 · 22/09/2019 00:24

I would suggest agent to do viewings as we viewed quite a few with home owners and it was horrible. I didn't feel I could openly ask questions and didn't want to offend.

The house we ended up buying was all through the agent as I felt more comfortable querying things and looking properly.

PickAChew · 22/09/2019 00:26

First viewings are fast. Second viewings are where you decide if it's the right house, 7nl3ss there's a really fast market

Ericaceae · 22/09/2019 12:17

Last time we sold, we had about 15 viewings, and we did them all ourselves. They ranged from 10-40 minutes, with everything in between.
The PP that said they like to rush out to chat with their partner - we did have a wee laugh with a couple who apologised for speaking to each other in Polish, and I told them not to be daft, I didn't speak Polish, and they could be honest with each other while I was there See also the family who switched between English and Urdu - cracking homeviewing advantage if you have it
In the end it was a couple who viewed once and stayed 10 minutes who got it (Scottish system; closing date, sealed, bids), and I was honestly really surprised. They had cracking poker faces!

fatfluffycushion · 22/09/2019 12:30

I like viewing potential houses and need time to look at what exists already and what changes I could make , but with a family there in situ I wouldn't want to linger
It's a buyers market with loads to choose from
Get the agent to conduct viewings , it's so much more professional

Appletreehouse · 22/09/2019 12:45

I hated when the agent did the viewings as they knew nothing about the property (in our area seemed to be paid by the hour generic house viewing staff rather than an estate agent themselves). I wanted to know when the boiler was replaced, about the neighbour's etc so I don't think that's always best. I'd expect your children and either you or DH to be out of the house though, so if you're not doing that (your comments aren't quite clear whether your all staying in?) that can make people feel uncomfortable. We did go and see one house that was rented and the tenant showed us round and it was awful as she had young kids and we felt like we were imposing on their home so ran round quickly.

Most of the viewing we did took 15-20 mins max, the house we bought we spent over an hour as it was new to market that day, houses were selling fast and we knew we'd make an offer without a second viewing.

Ilikewinter · 22/09/2019 12:54

We did our our viewings, had a quick chat when they first arrived, i showed them round, pointing out bits along theay, ie integrated kitchen units, and left them to look on thier own afterwards.

The house we purchased we viewed by the agents but i had lots of questions they didnt know the answer to so ended up doing a 2nd visit and requested the home owners to be there. We wouldnt have put in an offer on the showing done by the agents!

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