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Original poster

Viewing before we are on the market?

13 replies

Cindi85 · 13/10/2021 12:14

We aren't on the market yet - have had our property valued and are ready to go with an EA but unsure whether to go on now or wait until after Christmas.

Our decision could be made by a couple of houses on at the moment that look good. One is empty and has just been reduced, the other is occupied and has been on since July.

Would it be OK to view these or should we wait until we are under offer or at least officially on the market? Would an Estate Agent even ask at this stage? Personally, I wouldn't mind someone in our position viewing our house, the more it gets seen the better. But would like to know the general consensus.

OP posts:

timetochangeagainforever · 13/10/2021 12:15

I've recently sold and bought. EA wouldn't let us view until we were under offer

Cattitudes · 13/10/2021 12:17

Going back a few years this would be absolutely standard, especially if the agent gets a sniff of the possibility of a double sale. Especially as both houses have been on for a while I would conact the agents and ask. What do you have to lose?

ChicCroissant · 13/10/2021 12:18

Depends on the house vendor really. I would expect the EA to ask where you are up to with your own house, you can say it's been valued but there are some vendors who might not take you seriously if you haven't got your own house on the market yet.

If houses are moving very quickly in your area there is a chance you'll miss out if you see one you like but can't offer because you can't proceed with the purchase. That would be more of an issue for me, the thought of missing out! Good luck with the property search and sale OP.

WhereIsMyOnesie · 13/10/2021 12:18

I've just been disappointed by falling in love with a house before mine was on the market. I've just instructed to go ahead and market to hopefully improve my position. In fairness, the house sold in less than a week.

DelurkingAJ · 13/10/2021 12:20

We’ve found it all depends on the vendors. Houses locally are often selling within two weeks so are not allowing anyone who is ‘not proceedable’ to look round.

friendlycat · 13/10/2021 12:21

As these haven't been snapped up yet you may be able to view if you tell the EA your position that you are all ready to go onto the market.

In other circumstances it's normally a no but these two have been hanging around a bit.

mummabubs · 13/10/2021 12:27

Personally I would be cautious for a couple of reasons - we began house hunting in Jan 2020 and agents were more than happy for us to view without being on the market as our house was in a popular location so theoretically a quick sale, but we didn't really see anything we liked. Then covid hit, market exploded etc. We started up the hunt again in September 2020 but no agents would let us view without being on the market (and some wouldn't if we hadn't already sold ours, even if it was on the market). So we listed our house for sale, it didn't sell as quickly as anyone had expected. We offered on three houses we liked that we lost in bidding wars, then we found our "dream house" in a village where property rarely comes up, offered asking price and lost it to someone who offered less but were proceedable. Losing this one hurt to the point that we took our house off the market. We eventually relisted again in March this year, sold on the first day of viewings with multiple offers and just happened to get first viewing on a house on the same road as our dream house that we lost.

So your main blocks are a) Will vendors or agents let you view without being on the market yourself as these days it's less likely. And b) Say you view a house and really like it, how will you feel about likely losing it?

Original poster

Cindi85 · 13/10/2021 12:28

@ChicCroissant thank you!
@WhereIsMyOnesie I'm sorry to hear that- wish you luck with your sale.

Thanks all for replies. Houses on my road seem to be selling fast at the moment. I think how they are being priced means they are accessible for FTB and people selling flats to buy houses. The 2 we have our eye on have been on a while, which is what got me thinking. Worried about selling but not being able to find anything, but appreciate the opposite could happen too.

Perhaps I will contact the estate agent and just be honest and see what they say.

OP posts:

icedancerlenny · 13/10/2021 12:29

Around here you have to be under offer before they allow a viewing at the moment. It’s a very strange property market right now.

statetrooperstacey · 13/10/2021 13:06

They’re very strict here and won’t let you view if you’re not at least on the market.
They won’t even pass on offers if your not in a position to proceed in some cases , so if they get multiple offers they will only pass in the ones that have already sold or are cash buyers . It’s quite cutthroat atm ! We only got ours because we were first through the door and it hadn’t gone on rightmove yet and because it was with our estate agents. Most estate agents prioritise their own customers so if you are up for sale you will get first dibs on their other properties . Which is something to bear in mind .

Georgist · 13/10/2021 19:25

Whenever I've gone to open days, the EA hasn't really checked who I am, so I think you might be able to sneak in even you hadn't make an appointment.
If the EA has a gap of 15-30 minutes and you are there, maybe they'd let you in even if they had refused your request on the basis you weren't yet proceedable. What's the harm?

PurBal · 13/10/2021 19:28

@timetochangeagainforever

I've recently sold and bought. EA wouldn't let us view until we were under offer

Ditto this. I thought it ridiculous to be honest but we needed to provide evidence, in one case both our selling agent and our broker.

Georgist · 13/10/2021 19:48

@statetrooperstacey

They’re very strict here and won’t let you view if you’re not at least on the market. They won’t even pass on offers if your not in a position to proceed in some cases , so if they get multiple offers they will only pass in the ones that have already sold or are cash buyers . It’s quite cutthroat atm ! We only got ours because we were first through the door and it hadn’t gone on rightmove yet and because it was with our estate agents. Most estate agents prioritise their own customers so if you are up for sale you will get first dibs on their other properties . Which is something to bear in mind .

Estate agents are required to pass on offers. They can - and should - provide information on the status of the buyer, but they aren't allowed to choose which offers are likely to be suitable.

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