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Original poster

Odd viewing

40 replies

Greenqueen203 · 22/01/2021 12:01

Hi all, so selling my house for the first time. Estate agents confident it will sell, competitively priced and a very similar house in the same area priced 5k more sold in 2 days.

First viewing, estate agents had someone already on the books before the advert was published, had just missed out on the house above, first time buyer. All good.

He arrived 10 mins late to the viewing ans brought his mum. I left him with the estate agent to get on with it and literally within 5 mins left the property. Am waiting on feedback, but I’m just wondering is this normal behaviour for viewers?!?! I spent all morning tidying and cleaning seemingly for nothing and he didn’t spend more than 5 mins looking around. I don’t even think he went upstairs as my cat was sound asleep on the bed and usually she makes a run for it...

OP posts:

mountains76 · 22/01/2021 12:12

Sounds like there was something about your place that fundamentally put him off. When you say a similar house sold for more, how much better was it than your place?

ComtesseDeSpair · 22/01/2021 12:23

Sounds like he wasn’t impressed by downstairs and didn’t think it was worth looking any further. If he was looking for something in particular in a house and yours didn’t have it, that’s just how it goes.

However, I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than about ten minutes viewing a place, if it’s what I want then I’ll know that at a glance and the survey is what tells me if I should go ahead. And I never notice whether people have spent hours cleaning and tidying or not: it just needs to look presentable, I’m not buying their decor or vacuum cleaner.

BornIn78 · 22/01/2021 12:30

Don’t read too much into it.

Hopefully your estate agent will be asking for feedback from viewers so you’ll know soon enough if there’s an issue.

I can tell from a few minutes viewing whether I’ll buy a property or not (landlord). I’m having a quick look at layout, storage space, the boiler, and the state of general upkeep.

PowerslidePanda · 22/01/2021 12:36

Yeah - he probably just wasn't interested. We've got motion sensors that gave us a good idea of how long our viewings lasted and the ones that were only 5 minutes were the ones that we got feedback weren't keen. But yeah - frustrating to have gone to all the effort of preparing for a viewing in those circumstances! We eventually told the estate agent we only wanted viewings from people who were proceedable (we had a lot from people who were waiting for their own place to sell) - but with covid, I think this has become standard now anyway.

Original poster

Greenqueen203 · 22/01/2021 12:38

I’d say the other house was very similar to mine, layout, size, decor etc. Literally the same just on a different road.

I suppose I’m just going on my own experience, even if I don’t buy I spent at least 20 mins looking around?

I guess l just have to have a thicker skin?

OP posts:

eurochick · 22/01/2021 12:43

Is the listing correct? I once wasted a morning going to see a house listed as detached. It wasn't. It looked detached from the photos and satellite map view (the latter due to trees). Very annoying!

Desmondo2016 · 22/01/2021 12:46

Or maybe he had looked at the other one a couple times and knows exactly what yours was like so was just paying a cursory visit

lurker101 · 22/01/2021 12:47

Oh it’s on a different road, that may explain it. He may have specific reasons why he likes the other road - light, upkeep of neighbouring properties, access to amenities, distance from stations/bus stops, street parking etc. Which would have become apparent on entry

Original poster

Greenqueen203 · 22/01/2021 13:03

Yes the listing is correct, and the road is just the next one up from ours so same area etc. Nevermind, onwards and upwards !

OP posts:

Comps83 · 22/01/2021 13:11

Are you sure the ea wasn't in a rush?
We went to see a house last year
We were 5 mins late due to trouble parking and then the ea told us we had 5 mins as he needed to be somewhere else!

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 22/01/2021 13:14

OP, maybe his mum put him off! Or estate agent needed to be somewhere else. Don't overthink it.

Original poster

Greenqueen203 · 22/01/2021 14:04

You’re right. Thanks all. I guess it’s because I have a house in mind already and I don’t want to lose it. Will chill out a bit.

OP posts:

CremeEggThief · 22/01/2021 14:06

He must have hated it on sight and decided not to waste any more of his time. Try not to take it personally.

Better luck with the next one!

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/01/2021 14:16

@Greenqueen203

Hi all, so selling my house for the first time. Estate agents confident it will sell, competitively priced and a very similar house in the same area priced 5k more sold in 2 days.

First viewing, estate agents had someone already on the books before the advert was published, had just missed out on the house above, first time buyer. All good.

Yep. I had 1 buyer who was in and out in 2mins. He was the one whose offer we accepted lol. Apparently he was on the market for so long he knew exactly what was fair in terms of prices and what he wanted and our house ticked all his boxes.

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/01/2021 14:17

We were convinced he hated it

Silkiechickscat · 22/01/2021 14:50

Normally anyone very quick isn't interested but it is very annoying if you've cleaned / tidied for them and I would never be super quick as its rude. You do have to emotionally detach a bit, maybe worth asking estate agent if any clue as to why.

There'll be other buyers and sounds like will go quickly.

Finfintytint · 22/01/2021 14:55

We had a viewer who spent very little time in our house. He didn’t want a second viewing so I thought he wasn’t interested. He offered full asking price half an hour later.

Original poster

Greenqueen203 · 22/01/2021 14:59

Well I’ve had the feedback. The seller really likes the property but he has 2 more to see tomorrow and will make a decision then apparently?

Very confused !! I guess time will tell but as a pp said i will try and emotionally detach for a bit.

OP posts:

HouseyHouse21 · 22/01/2021 15:02

I don't think it means anything. I usually have a really clear checklist of what I want in a house and it doesn't take me long to determine whether it ticks my boxes. No way of knowing unless you ask the agent for feedback.

WhereYouLeftIt · 22/01/2021 15:02

Don't be so sure that he hated it because he was in and out so quick. I once decided as soon as they opened the door that this was the flat for me - and went on to buy it!

You say he was pipped at the post for a very similar house a couple of streets away. He may well have come to see yours knowing the layout etc. and just came to check it wasn't a wreck. And now he's seen it isn't.

Good luck!

HouseyHouse21 · 22/01/2021 15:03

Ah that's good news, there you go. And yes, try not to overthink things (I know it's hard). The house selling process is stressful enough already!

Gottalovesummer · 22/01/2021 15:09

We decided to buy our current house after walking into the front room!

We did look around the rest of the house but my point is, people can decide very quickly. We could have hated it I suppose and then would have only done a very quick viewing.

Be patient, your buyer will come along I'm sure.

Pipandmum · 22/01/2021 15:10

I've got my house on the market and it's a big house with teenagers and dogs so always a hassle to tidy and get everyone and dogs out of the house. But that's what you have to do! I live on a busy street and it's coming down to whether people like the house enough to compromise on that. I have a viewing tomorrow and the cleaner hasn't been since Christmas so spending the day cleaning! And cleanliness does count - I want people looking at how wonderful living here can be, not wondering why I don't have enough storage to put things away, or not respect them enough to vacuum the carpet.

Ariela · 22/01/2021 15:18

I 'd imagine he didn't want to hang about due to Covid, he knew the layout of the property from the one he missed out on, and merely wanted to check size of plot and approx condition of decor, windows and doors, look at roof from outside, plus perhaps kitchen/downstairs layout: he already knows the size of rooms and is happy with that, and bedrooms are just, well bedrooms! if he proceeds his survey will tell him if anything needs attention.

evouk · 22/01/2021 16:38

You will have oddballs and very strange feedback

Our three bed semi clearly has a garage that is not attached to the house, in fact we have a little courtyard between the two. This was clear in the photos, description and on the floor plan

One viewer gave a reason for not making an offer being down to the garage not being joined to the house

You will be messed around but you'll get a sale eventually

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