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Original poster

House viewing (people viewing our house) worries

23 replies

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 16/07/2021 13:48

Does anybody else have anxiety over people viewing their home?

I feel its really intrusive - which of course it is! People are coming to basically judge your house! I can get over this.

The main concern though is theft. We have quite a large house with a lot of things in it. Do people even steal things from others homes? Am I just being daft?

We are having an open day next week. So lots of viewings back to back.

OP posts:

Wombat36 · 16/07/2021 13:49

That's the point of accompanied viewings...

Itscoldouthere · 16/07/2021 14:04

Well the whole process is a bit weird, but you have to try and detach a bit and remember that it is actually a business transaction which is hard if you are emotional involved in your home.
I felt really weird selling our house (the one the children grew up in) so my husband did the viewing and I went out, but after we’d sold I was fine and happily sometimes past it without any regrets.
Our last house was big and rambling and we had quite a few back to back viewing, we always let people have a wander on their own after first showing them around, it never entered my head that someone might steal something but of course it is a possibility.
I think I’m the current rather crazy market your estate agent should have checked that all viewers are genuine buyers so you shouldn’t have people who just want a nosey around.

Mosaic123 · 16/07/2021 14:08

I took some "good" things e.g. silver to a friend whilst viewings were going on. I also said the agent had to be in the same room as the viewers at all time.

Original poster

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 16/07/2021 14:15

Thanks I have asked the agent to always be in the same room. I am not hopeful though they will adhere to that. I chose the best agent on trust - but I am still not hopeful.

I will move anything valuable / precious - but a house contains a lot of stuff.

OP posts:

Original poster

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 16/07/2021 14:16

the agent should have done due diligence and the viewers should already have SSTC.

From my experience of estate agents, I am not hopeful though.

OP posts:

DappledThings · 16/07/2021 14:30

No, I didn't worry about people nicking things. Seems pretty unlikely.

Insisting on viewers never being left alone is crowding them. I would have resented not being able to discuss freely my immediate thoughts on a property with DH without an agent breathing down my neck. Would have made me less likely to make an offer.

Blue5238 · 16/07/2021 14:43

I agree with Dappled... I want to discuss with my partner whilst we are there, without an agent breathing down our necks. It would very much put me off if the agent followed room to room

DappledThings · 16/07/2021 14:47

@Blue5238

I agree with Dappled... I want to discuss with my partner whilst we are there, without an agent breathing down our necks. It would very much put me off if the agent followed room to room

Standard procedure I've always had is guided tour then agent or owner has told us to go for a wander back to any rooms we want to see again on our own.

Making people feel uncomfortable is not likely to be helpful to you getting a sale.

Itscoldouthere · 16/07/2021 14:53

In my buying experience (currently on house no 5) this time looking at houses has been very different due to Covid.
Most viewing were 15 mins, often with others waiting outside for the next 15 min slot, I was usually shown around by estate agent then given a few minutes to look again on my own, a quick pop back upstairs but that was it. No openening of cupboard or trying showers etc
I viewed 25 properties and only saw/spoke to 1 vendor (outside in garden after viewing) the rest of the time it was just me and the EA.
Maybe things are getting more relaxed now, I was viewing between April-June.

SweetPetrichor · 16/07/2021 15:08

We’ve just been through it from the other side - the buyer side - and honestly, I felt really awkward cause it’s someone else’s house, so I feel a degree of awkwardness and nerves just comes with the territory.

Are you conducting viewings yourself or is an agent doing the tour?

We’ve viewed two properties, the first one the owners weren’t present at all and the agent stayed in the living room and let us wander around ourselves.
The second property has no agent present, just the owners and they showed us around, talked through the property etc, which was far better. We just had our offer accepted in that one so all going well, that should our last viewing! Having the tour from the owner was a great way to do it.

It’s still quite strange though. All doors are open during the viewing and you mustn’t touch anything. Times are limited to 15 minutes, etc. It’s quite rigid.

Original poster

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 16/07/2021 15:27

The agent is doing the viewings.

For second viewings I would expect more time, space etc. But not for first.

We are also in a situation where very little on the market near us. We wont struggle to get a buyer. Finding a house to move to is another story though.

OP posts:

senua · 16/07/2021 15:28

I will move anything valuable / precious - but a house contains a lot of stuff.
Someone said on here previously:

You need to declutter to show the house, not your possessions, so pruning stuff is good. Either getting rid of it or putting it in storage.
If the house looks too comfortable/normal then you don't give off the vibe that you are a serious seller. You need to look as if, mentally, you are already half way out the door.

Good luck with the viewings.

SweetPetrichor · 16/07/2021 15:37

I guess there is differences between areas - I’m in Scotland - but there was no second viewing…you need to see it all first time. The property went on sale on a Monday with a closing date of the following Wednesday! We won’t see inside again until we either use our opportunities to visit and make measurements, or when we get the keys.

2bazookas · 16/07/2021 16:11

I never let the agent do the viewings; I know the area and my property better than they do. I take viewers round every room in person; then invite them to take a second look round on their own..I've shown my properties to many hundreds of viewers and never had anything taken or damaged.

Before hand, anything small/very tempting is put away out of sight and out of reach ( phone, wallet, KEYS, silver snuff boxes, that thing by the sink that holds your rings). Just common sense.

Livingintheclouds · 16/07/2021 16:32

I think it's more likely little kids that come along who see something and slip it in to their pocket.
But it only makes sense to put valuable things away. I've sold tons of houses and have never had anyone take anything.
I never like the owners to show me around. Though from my point of view they can't help but 'spill the beans' about the flaws of the house and why they are really moving. But I want to tear most houses apart and can't have a proper look/talk out loud if the owners are standing there. A.good agent should know everything about a house they are showing anyway, plus the local market, though often they know surprisingly little beyond where to insert the key!
You have to emotionally move out of your house before you actually physically move, packing up your very personal things and photos now may help you do that.

DespairingHomeowner · 16/07/2021 17:44

My experience as a buyer (pre & during Covid) is that even if they are meant to be watching/accompanying agents will allow you to wander a bit

Which is positive for a sale, but I’d still get valuables /personal documents locked up or better yet out of the house (eg with trusted friends)

I also agree that removing a lot of personal items /clutter presents house in best light and makes you look serious about moving

callmeadoctor · 17/07/2021 08:48

If you are serious about moving, then surely start packing and moving any valuable stuff away. It may have to even go in storage, but its got to be packed up anyway, why not do it now and then you don't have to worry?

LawnFever · 17/07/2021 09:19

I’ve never heard of anyone having stuff stolen during a house viewing, they’re there to see if they want to buy your house not burgle you!

This honestly sounds quite paranoid- if you’re serious about wanting to sell it’s completely normal to allow people to have a look round alone, with the agent still in the property.

CasperGutman · 17/07/2021 09:56

@2bazookas - I see your point re. knowing the house and area better than any agent would but as a viewer I really dislike being shown round by the seller. I feel awkward and as if I have to be on my best behaviour/be polite about things I dislike rather than discussing them openly with my partner - who might have persuaded me there wasn't an issue if I'd spoken up.

As a seller, I found I got better feedback if the agent did the viewings too. If I showed people round they'd just say how lovely it was, go away and not offer. If the agent showed them round then they could speak to me and say e.g. they liked the kitchen but were put off by the size of the spare room as they weren't sure it would fit a full sized single bed. This gave us opportunities to think about how to stage the house better for future viewings.

Sandrine1982 · 17/07/2021 10:13

I honestly do not think people would steal stuff. Buyers are people who are about to splash hundreds of thousands on a property. What on earth do you think they would steal a necklace for?

Bumpsadaisie · 17/07/2021 10:16

@Scramblinghealingdreaming

Does anybody else have anxiety over people viewing their home?

I feel its really intrusive - which of course it is! People are coming to basically judge your house! I can get over this.

The main concern though is theft. We have quite a large house with a lot of things in it. Do people even steal things from others homes? Am I just being daft?

We are having an open day next week. So lots of viewings back to back.

They aren't judging your house they are seeing if it's right for them?

thekaratekid · 17/07/2021 10:17

We recently sold our house. Didn't have anything stolen, as far as we know. However, at our buyer's second viewing they must have fiddled with some of the electrical switches...as we found the switch which powered the garage had been turned off! The switch was in an area which was impossible to accidentally knock etc. We had a freezer in the garage...£70 worth of food defrosted as we didn't notice for several days. We were livid.

Agent completely denied leaving the buyer alone, but we doubted that. Funnily enough before that, after their first viewing, we found the conservatory ring main switch was turned off as well. After both viewings the buyer was asking a lot of questions via the agent about electrics

Probably a slightly unusual case, but would recommend checking anything like that after viewings (boiler, freezers, kitchen switches)...people are odd

Pinknoise · 17/07/2021 10:20

It wouldn’t cross my mind that anyone would take anything although I suppose it’s sensible that things like cash, jewellery, smaller technology is out of sight.

I find agents do let you have a wander on your own after they have shown you round. In pre-covid times people would look in wardrobes, cupboards etc to see storage space although I expect people aren’t allowed to touch anything at the moment.

If you have very valuable things, I would pack them away and put them in a safe/storage.

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