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Hosting viewings

22 replies

ConcreteUnderpants · 27/01/2021 15:51

Hi
I’ve got viewings on my house at the end of the week.
Do I just show them round, witter in about how fabulous my home is, then make them a cup of tea and leave them to wander themselves?
And is it really rude if I ask them to take their shoes off (new carpet!)?

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Chumleymouse · 27/01/2021 16:14

I always do viewings, I just show them around , then sit in garden ( We usually sell in summer ). And let them have a nosey about themselves. If they look a bit shifty and look like they might half inch the family heirlooms then I just show them around. 😀. They only get tea after a good offer on the second viewing.

Chumleymouse · 27/01/2021 16:16

No asking to take shoes off is fine, or get some of those plastic shoe cover things in case they have stinky feet and don’t like taking them off 🤭

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/01/2021 16:18

Do you have the option of an estate agent doing the viewings? As a buyer, I’ve always felt very awkward if the seller is present in the house during or actually carrying out the viewing. I feel like I have to be polite and interested and can’t note or discuss anything negative or which puts me off or that I’d like to follow up because it’s their loved home (and of course the owner is going to say how fabulous their home is, so being there to do so adds nothing positive.)

When I sold my previous house we were “on hand” for viewings because it was a listed church conversion and we had a biomass boiler and knew that many viewers would have questions about the conversion and boiler which only we could answer. We sat in the car or hid in the basement where the boiler was, so viewers could do their own thing with the agent indoors. I’d suggest doing that, if you do anything.

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/01/2021 16:20

Shoe coverings are the way to go. A lot of people wouldn’t feel comfortable taking their shoes off in a stranger’s house.

hunsnet · 27/01/2021 16:21

Definitely do not offer them a cup of tea. Social distancing and all the covid related stuff still applies at the moment with viewings.

Invite them in and give them a brief tour.
Mention or point out anything that has recently been done to the property, or any of it's main selling points that aren't otherwise obvious. For example if it's had a new boiler in the last couple of years, or if windows are still within guarantee period etc

When you've shown them everything, ask them if they'd like you to have a wander about on their own. Some people will, some people wont. If they don't want to, or when they've finished looking around on their own, ask if they have any questions and let them be on their way.

There is nothing worse than an overly chatty home owner who wont just let you leave Wink

In my experience most people will volunteer to take their shoes off, or will automatically do so anyway when they come in. But if not, it's definitely not rude to request it, especially at this time of year when it's a bit wet and muddy outside anyway.

WwMILd · 27/01/2021 16:31

Current advice - scroll down to 2.

ConcreteUnderpants · 27/01/2021 17:07

Oops, obviously I knew about cleaning everything after they’d gone but didn’t realise the cup of tea was a no no!

Thanks for all your advice. Am doing the viewings myself as it’s cheaper that way, and working from home a lot of the time, I thought it would be feasible.

Need to sell ASAP. I’ve managed to keep the house clean and tidy for 1 day so far, but it’s such an effort with the kids!

OP posts:
Mumblechum0 · 27/01/2021 17:08

Personally I really don't like it if the owners are there, can't you get the agent to do it and take yourselves out for an hour or two?

ConcreteUnderpants · 27/01/2021 17:09

And shoe covers ordered!! Grin

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WwMILd · 27/01/2021 17:23

You would be charged for viewings!!??

ConcreteUnderpants · 27/01/2021 17:26

Yeah. As part of the package, it is extra money if they host viewings. I’m going with an online agent.

OP posts:
hunsnet · 27/01/2021 17:38

I know often people don't like viewing with owners, but sometimes I do prefer it. As long as they're not overbearing I usually get a lot more information from a viewing than with an agent.

When we view with agents and ask questions it's usually met by a blank face and "I don't know, but if you phone the office they'll find out and get back to you" whereas I can ask the vendor the same question and get an answer there and then.

Essentially, if it's a house we're interested in, viewing with the owner has always been more beneficial for us. But it's definitely better to view a house you don't like with an agent as you don't feel quite so bad if you immediately realise it's not for you Blush

fastwigglylines · 27/01/2021 17:43

I did viewings myself.

I totally agree, first of all show them round and then let them go round themselves.

Also, spell it out that you are going to do this beforehand so they know what to expect.

A great tip I got - and which works well for covid, handily - is to let them go in the room first. Walk past the doorway, then invite them to go in. You don't even need to go in the room, you should hover by the door.

This is important for two reasons: it makes the room seem smaller and more cluttered if you're all in their together. Also if they walk in first, they can see the rooms properly without you in the way.

Also for each room, think of a selling point you can tell them about, so you're not just stating the obvious e.g. "this is the kitchen"

Instead, perhaps say something that's not obvious from looking or which suggests how they might use it.

For example "the sun comes through this window in the morning, it's a lovely light".

Or, in the kitchen "this boiler was new just a year ago" or "we have these french windows open a lot in Summer, we like to eat out in the garden on summer evenings. This part of the garden gets the evening sun and is totally private."

Or "we've got a single bed in here now but we used to have a double here, there was plenty of room for it".

Maybe write your notes on a piece of paper, if you forget things in the heat of the moment like I do!

HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur · 27/01/2021 17:44

I hope it works out for you, but I would say that being shown around by owners always feels a bit awkward. Try to give them a bit of space if you can to let them properly look. Also, don't use Purple Bricks (just in case you consider them) as I had a few problems with viewings for them and in the end ruled out any homes marketed by them.

fastwigglylines · 27/01/2021 17:44

When they've been round, ask them if they have any questions.

fastwigglylines · 27/01/2021 17:45

There not their, gah!!!!

Yesterman1 · 27/01/2021 17:52

The people who eventually bought our house spent an hour here on first viewing and another hour on second viewing. I don't think they'd have tried that if the viewing had been with the agent but we were stuck doing our own viewings because agent refused due to Covid!

If I had the choice I would always choose with agent, can be very awkward when someone is upstairs in your house for an hour doing god knows what whilst you pace downstairs Grin

fastwigglylines · 27/01/2021 17:54

When we were doing our own showings, we realised that something was missing - no sheet of paper with particulars!

But when we were house hunting, these were important to us as after seeing lots of places they could start merging into each other!

So we made our own, using the professional photos and adding our own descriptions. We just printed them out and gave them to the viewers.

nicknamehelp · 27/01/2021 17:54

Contact and chit chat should be kept to a minimum they should be in and out in 15 minutes. Hasn't your agent given you COVID viewing guidelines?

ConcreteUnderpants · 28/01/2021 19:19

Had my first viewing. Went ok but a lot of chit chat and nattering on both sides. Here for 45 mins. Will cut it down for tomorrow’s people.

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pilates · 28/01/2021 19:25

I think they recommend 15 minutes for viewings and no cups of tea and chit chat.

fastwigglylines · 28/01/2021 22:53

@ConcreteUnderpants

Had my first viewing. Went ok but a lot of chit chat and nattering on both sides. Here for 45 mins. Will cut it down for tomorrow’s people.
Do cut it down if it's Covid you're worried about but otherwise, chit chat is great, and helps you sell your property.

Is your garden nice? If so, chatting outside is a very low risk activity, assuming you keep your distance.

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