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Original poster

Selling house: how long should it take to get viewers?

28 replies

Tothecuntry · 01/09/2020 19:46

Hi. I'm not sure if I'm panicking, but how long should it take to start getting viewers once the house has gone on the market? It's been 4 days and the estate agent has had not one query. Is this reasonable or is the house priced wrong?

OP posts:
Smidge001 · 01/09/2020 19:56

It's end of August and a Bank Holiday weekend, tradionally the slowest time. I wouldn't worry yet. If no-one has made any enquiries by the middle to third week of Sept then think again, maybe it's priced too high.

Original poster
Tothecuntry · 01/09/2020 20:03

Thanks! I'll give it another week!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tothecuntry · 01/09/2020 22:23

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Mischance · 01/09/2020 22:30

I think you are getting worried rather too soon!!!!

My property has been on the market since January - it took a couple of weeks for the first viewers to appear. Two of my buyers dropped out after the Covid stuff got going; and my third buyer is proceeding at the moment - but who knows what may happen - I am not counting my chickens. Fingers burnt too often.

I know how frustrating it is when you have made the decision to sell, gone through all the motions to set the sale in train, tidied the house and then..........nothing! It is how it is with house selling. When you get to the point where I am now the next frustration arrives.......solicitors moving at 0.5 miles an hour.

Prepare yourself for being patient........very patient indeed.

CatAndHisKit · 02/09/2020 01:05

Depends on what's happenning in your area.
I'm looking to buy and you HAVE to phone agents same day (as early as poss after a house appears on rghtmove) to be in with a chance to view within days. Tgis is a region, not jst one town.
But if it's a flat or a very quiet area - may be normal! If the area is active, then it's the price.

Original poster
Tothecuntry · 02/09/2020 05:37

Thank you! I think it's because we priced it higher, thinking that people would knock us down. We've also found a lovely property that we know we will lose Sad

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 02/09/2020 06:57

People have Rightmove alerts set up to be informed when something comes onto the market so you usually get a few bookings in the first 48h. If you haven’t, then either your local market is very slow, you’re selling a less popular property (eg small flat without a garden) or your price is way too high and has put people off viewing.

Original poster
Tothecuntry · 02/09/2020 10:39

@JoJoSM2

This is what I think too!

OP posts:
elfofftheshelf · 02/09/2020 12:50

We have been on the market just coming up on 2 weeks. Properties are moving fast in our area. Within hours of our listing going on RightMove we had 3 viewings booked. Last week we had nothing, and the agents told us they literally had only 1 enquiry for all their properties, but not to worry as it's August bank holiday. This week we've got 2 booked in for this Saturday. Like you we were really despondent last weekend, but I think you have to stick with it for a couple more weeks and then be realistic about a price drop. That's certainly our plan if the coming viewings don't come to anything. Good luck!

GreyishDays · 02/09/2020 12:51

We found we had viewings for the second weekend after it went on. So 10 days. I think people ponder a bit.

JaJaDingDong · 02/09/2020 12:53

Properties are moving fast. Our neighbour put their house on the market, sold it, and had an offer accepted ona new house all within a week.

Figmentofimagination · 02/09/2020 13:28

I put my house on the market 2 weeks ago. Had 1 viewing within a day and then 1 cancelled viewing for bank hol sat. That's it. Houses are selling fast in this area so it's not good enough.
I've contacted my estate agents, requested some photos be re-taken, and said I want the price dropping as obviously it's too high.

FAQs · 02/09/2020 13:46

I’ve just sold mine and looking for somewhere, have actually offered on one but the sellers are tricky so keeping options open. Anyway I have to check RM and Zoopla twice a day because as soon as a house comes up there are viewings booked but it’s a busy market and housing are selling quickly in the area.

Oguh · 02/09/2020 14:05

I know that estate agents are inundated at the moment and the market is absolutely buzzing due to the relaxation of stamp duty.

8 out of 10 properties I have viewed recently has been £100k overpriced in my opinion.

An estate agent told me that houses on at £600-800k were selling very fast.

When a house first hits the internet, I would have thought that there should be keen activity unless it doesn't have the competitive essentials (en-suites, kitchen diner, outdoor space) or of course if it's not competitively priced.

We had viewings before ours went on the market because the agent contacted clients from their database

Findahouse21 · 02/09/2020 14:07

Depends on the type of property. Our EA said that first and second time buyer type homes are flying out of the door, but flats and also bigger homes (4 bed plus) are much slower

Baxdream · 02/09/2020 14:15

We had 11 viewings and were sold in under 2 weeks. That's for a 4 bedroom house (not for FTB). Personally I'd question why it's taking so long.

LividLaughLovely · 02/09/2020 15:43

Round here stuff is flying off the market in a week. The only property languishing over a fortnight is the really awkward stuff.

So far out of desperation we have viewed a house with a huge subsidence crack, and TRIED to view a house with elderly shielding vendors and one with a separating couple (where the vendor refuses to engage with the agent as he doesn’t want to move) — plus anything else even remotely viable.

Also, round here you can’t view unless you’re under offer yourself due to Covid so people aren’t time wasting.

user1471538283 · 02/09/2020 18:33

You should be getting viewings really quickly in the beginning. You may need to reconsider the price

Original poster
Tothecuntry · 02/09/2020 18:44

Aarrrggghhh! Nightmare! We'll give it a few weeks...

Thanks everyone for giving a good insight.

OP posts:
Roowig2020 · 02/09/2020 18:49

I've recently sold. 6 days on the market, 2nd person to view offered on it and were FTB so we accepted. I think with technology and alerts etc people will still be looking online even if it's a bank holiday weekend. I know that I was checking several times a day. I also now have sale agreed on another property which was on the market for 8 days. I would give another few days then speak to the EA about whats going on. By your own admission it may be overpriced which may be impacting.

Original poster
Tothecuntry · 02/09/2020 19:02

Thanks. Well done with yours! We were thinking we'd be knocked down, not that it was a literal asking price. Plus we were in no hurry so were prepared to give the higher price a go. Of course now we've found somewhere we love so want to move fast!!

OP posts:
NewHouseNewMe · 02/09/2020 19:20

Where are you @JoJoSM2 that your market is booming? I'm seeing a lot of price drops (Herts/N London borders) and very quickly too. A couple of months ago it was insanely busy.

PurBal · 02/09/2020 19:22

Every market is different. A friend had 15 viewings booked within 90 minutes of going online. My mum had no enquiries for 2 months.

Pipandmum · 02/09/2020 19:27

I would expect viewers the first weekend for sure. If you have none coming up then definitely ask your agent about their marketing - are they ringing around people on their books or just waiting for phone calls to come in? If they are being proactive and still no interest then look at your pricing.

JoJoSM2 · 02/09/2020 19:37

@NewHouseNewMe I’m in the SM2 postcode (outer London). The market is still very buoyant here (for houses and not flats).

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