Anyone else struggling to get onto viewings? Please help!

[Starfish789]

Hi Everyone,

We are first time buyers looking to buy a house in the Midlands. The only issue is we can’t seem to view any houses. Whenever we have called the estate agents, they say that they are fully booked. Most times because the vendor has so many offers from the first viewing they do not bother with a second.

I am always looking on the usual apps Zoopla/RM/OTM. I am prompt with calling them up as soon as they are listed. I am wondering if I am missing something?

The other thing I was going to try was going directly to the estate agents. We tried this with Dixons and they said in a very round about way, that we need to sign up to their broker service to be the first to know about new properties as soon as they become available.

Please help! I would honestly appreciate any advice.

Do you have alerts set up with right move etc. These can help with finding out about new listings quickly. A lot of potential buyers will also get a heads up from agents if they have sold with the same agent if that makes sense so as a ftb it is good to be speaking directly to agents and make sure they have your details and know what you are looking for. We found properties often were listed on Friday afternoons and some agents are open Saturdays so don't wait till Monday to phone.

How prompt are your prompt phone calls to the agents? At the moment round here, you need to call within an hour or two of the listing going live and you have to be able to view on the one day they have set aside (usually a Saturday). Otherwise, forget it.

@shineysides

Do you have alerts set up with right move etc. These can help with finding out about new listings quickly. A lot of potential buyers will also get a heads up from agents if they have sold with the same agent if that makes sense so as a ftb it is good to be speaking directly to agents and make sure they have your details and know what you are looking for. We found properties often were listed on Friday afternoons and some agents are open Saturdays so don't wait till Monday to phone.

Yes I have alerts set up pretty much everywhere. Seems like a good idea, I will start calling around. I didn’t know they were open on saturdays thank you!

@umbel

How prompt are your prompt phone calls to the agents? At the moment round here, you need to call within an hour or two of the listing going live and you have to be able to view on the one day they have set aside (usually a Saturday). Otherwise, forget it.

I think this is the issue I normally call the same day however I am not sure if its within an hour or two. I usually check my phone often but I think I am just not quick enough!

It's almost impossible all over the country. I'm buying and selling now and only managed to get my house because it had sold and then came back on the market a few weeks later. I called and offered asking price as soon as the alert popped up, having viewed it when it first listed. The first time I missed out.

Maybe try more estate agents for pre advertising notice? We sold our house before it went on the market to a buyer that our estate agent had shown a similar property to but they were outbid. If this hadn't happened then the agent suggested we do an open house day and would expect the house to receive multiple offers. So second what PP said about availability. You could try emphasising your proceedability to agents when you call .

I’m getting really worried about this crazy housing market, we are looking to move next year but will be relocating 150 miles away so won’t be able to view at short notice. I hope things have slowed down a bit by then!
I feel for anyone trying to move at the moment.

@superfairy we are also relocating,200 miles away and to be honest if we saw somewhere we really liked, we just dropped everything, took annual leave for a day and drove there and back to view. If there was more than one we liked and could view same day then bonus. We secured our house on our second visit which was really fortunate. Lots of agents are doing virtual tours which are quite good for weeding out the ones you thought you liked, but looked better in the photos!

@InpatientGardener I think we are going to have to do the same, we are also considering selling, renting and then looking once we are in situ in the new location. Doing that we’d also be cash buyers 🤷‍♀️

Back to the OP, I think you need to visit all the EAs and go on the charm offensive to see if you can get into that magic book of first viewers!

For both our last two purchases, we had to build relationships with all the local estate agents directly. A few months and failed bids in, they knew us well enough to alert us directly before suitable houses went on the market. Even then this time, we missed out on a few before finally jumping in with a high bid hours after hearing about a house potentially going on the market and asking if this is enough for it not to hit the market at all. Very pleased with where we are now but it was mega stressful for months... good luck!

Get registered with all the local estate agents because as soon as a house becomes available they will send it out to everyone on their list and this sometimes happens before the property is put on rightmove. I wouldn't worry about having to speak to their broker - you dont have to go with them if you dont want to.

thank you everyone for your replies. I hadn’t realised there was a pre advertising notice. Looks like it’s all about getting in there first and being on good terms with EA. I am making it a point to call all the local EA today.

I've contacted estate agents to be on their lists. But I've noticed that they are much more likely to call about my enquiries now. I think the tide is turning here.