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Original poster

Is it normal to not hear back from a viewing?

60 replies

mondayfeels · 30/07/2020 16:13

Hey, first time seller here. We had a viewing yesterday which we were really excited about, but it's been 24 hours and we've heard nothing back. The estate agent has apparently called and left a voicemail and there's just radio silence from the viewer. AIBU to think the viewer is a bit of a CF after we have opened our home to them, they've strolled around it mid-pandemic whilst we stood outside for 20 minutes, and they don't even have the courtesy to say 'no' if they aren't interested? Or is this normal with a viewing for people to post-viewing drop off the face of the planet?

Think I just feel a bit disheartened but would feel better if this is the sort of rubbish we should be expecting.

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 30/07/2020 16:20

Completely normal. Some of the shit that goes on with house viewings is insane. Honesty brace yourselves.

HalloumiSalad · 30/07/2020 16:24

Lots of people would think like you, but there are also lots of absolute nutters out there who do all kinds of weird/selfish stuff. Try to reign in your enthusiasm, it's rubbish when you get messed about. That said, the last house I sold was to a young couple who could not have been more lovely and getting the house sale through felt like being on a team! If have let them have it for free if I could they were so nice. So it can happen but some people are shocking.

JellyBelly78 · 30/07/2020 16:24

You’re lucky they even turned up. I prepared the house for a viewing last week and agent had to ring viewer when they were late. They just said they weren’t coming. Bloody rude...hate selling!

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:25

I'd be more surprised if I had heard something that quickly tbh.
We have had about five viewings and usually hear something after 3-4 days once the estate agent has given them a call
after a day or so. Holly is right though, Grace yourselves for the shit show that is house selling.

maxelly · 30/07/2020 16:26

Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately it is normal. My worst experience was when I was selling our last place, the EA called and asked if a lady could come and view it in 15 mins as she was in the area. I said yes, cue mad dash round tidying away clutter and getting the place 'viewing ready'. The woman turned up, asked if she could use the loo (this was pre-Covid), duly did so and then left without saying another word. Never heard back from her so couldn't establish if she'd just already decided she didn't like the place from the outside or if she was caught short and just used the house as a public convenience Grin

I think when selling a house you just have to leave any precious-ness about your home and/or expectations that people will be particularly polite at the door as it's a purely business transaction with no ongoing relationship for the buyer, so they can be rude about your house/decor, mess you around, make unreasonable requests and/or ghost you with impunity!

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:27

Obviously I meant brace yourselves, although it probably wouldn't do any harm to chuck a prayer around either.Hmm

herewegoloobyloo · 30/07/2020 16:28

Sadly more common than you would think. We are in the process of selling - we've had last minute cancellations, viewers not returning follow up calls from estate agents, viewers turning up late and wandering in as if you have all the time in the world. Keep your expectations low and you might be pleasantly surprised.

PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 30/07/2020 16:29

You’ve opened your home and let them stroll around?

You’re not doing them a favour, you’re trying to sell the house.

LST · 30/07/2020 16:33

Are you meant to get in touch and say no? Whoops. We viewed 5 and only rang the estate agent of the one we wanted.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:35

Why did you have to stay outside OP?
I was in when we had our last viewing, just sat in the kitchen on MN while the estate agent did the honours.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:36

LST did the estate agent not contact you for feedback? That's pretty shit.

LST · 30/07/2020 16:37

Nope. I think there were 5 estate agents as well. We had to ring the next day to put an offer in on the one we were interested in!

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:38

Blimey that's slack of them.

37KAT · 30/07/2020 16:39

It is normal. Some people just like viewing houses even when they're not under offer or in a position to move. The EA should be feeding back.
You could request they only allow people to view who are in a position to offer to eliminate the complete time wasters.

Bumble84 · 30/07/2020 16:41

Unless the estate agent contacted me for feedback I wouldn’t call to say ‘no I’m not putting an offer in’ don’t really see the point. That’s always how it’s worked when I’ve sold as well. Agree with pp, some people won’t even turn up, cancel last minute and then when you do actually get offers in the amount you could potentially get messed about is unreal!!

ikus84 · 30/07/2020 16:42

Completely normal. They might have 4 houses lined up to look at before they make any decisions.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/07/2020 16:43

We had an offer for £50,000 less than the asking price from someone who hadn't even viewed the house Grin

TooManyDogsandChildren · 30/07/2020 16:47

TBH I have always operate on the basis, when both buying and selling, that a viewing followed by silence means people are not interested. If they are, you normally hear something within 24 hours and the purchaser is chasing you, not the other way round. Its a bit like dating!.

I also don't understand the obsession with feedback, surely you are able to assess your own property? If they don't want it, they don't want it.

LockdownQ · 30/07/2020 16:51

@LST

Are you meant to get in touch and say no? Whoops. We viewed 5 and only rang the estate agent of the one we wanted.
Agree - buyers aren't expected to follow up proactively to turn you down!
AnnieMaul · 30/07/2020 16:58

Oh wow. If you think it's bad not hearing back from a viewing within 24 hours you're going to have a fun ride with the rest of the selling process. It only get's more frustrating i'm afraid!

With selling you need to really take everything in your stride and not let things bug you, because it'll get very old and very stressful very quickly.

If someones interested you'll hear about it and if you don't hear anything assume it's not the right property for them. Agents will ask for feedback and if they get multiple comments saying the same thing they'll raise it with you.

FattyBoom · 30/07/2020 19:09

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

LST did the estate agent not contact you for feedback? That's pretty shit.
When we bought not one of the agents called us afterwards to see what we thought, which I was surprised about. Even following the second viewing of the one we eventually bought we had no contact from the agent (I initiated all contact)
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 30/07/2020 19:11

Whats the rush? Are you ready to move yourself?

cantstopsinginglittlebabybum · 30/07/2020 19:19

Least they turned up!

museumum · 30/07/2020 19:24

Of course they’re going to look at more than one house, compare them, think it over, discuss.... then decide if they’re still interested.
It’s not really an on the spot “yep we’ll take it” kind of decision.

LST · 30/07/2020 19:27

@Fattyboom bad isnt it really. If I was selling I'd like the think the estate agent I was paying was trying to push the sale at least slightly!

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