Viewings-home owner or estate agent?

[Pastnowfuture]

Looking for opinions on whether it's better to conduct our own viewings or whether we should let estate agent do it. My husband would like to let estate agent do it but I think buyers might be put off if they don't get a chance to speak with us? When I was buying I preferred to hear directly from the vendors about neighbours and why they were moving etc.

I preferred to view with an agent. Any viewing with an owner I felt under pressure to say I like it and like I couldn't look around freely without them constantly following me.

Estate agent for a first viewing perhaps owner for second.

We went to two viewings conducted by the owners, because of Covid, and even though the owners were friendly (in fact one couple were really lovely) it was still really awkward to basically appraise someone's home when they were right there, and DH and I couldn't discuss properly.
It wouldn't have put us off offering if we'd been keen, but it was more of a hindrance than a help.

Agent, as helps to have a bit of distance in this process.

I did my own. It was exhausting but I loved it. The house sold itself though tbf.

Most agents know naff all about the houses they are selling especially at the moment when properties are flying off the shelf.

I prefer the owner. They know the answers to questions whereas the agent either doesn't or says any old nonsense.

I also think when selling it is nice to see who the buyer might be. Indeed one time this worked in our favour as we reminded them of them when they were younger and accepted our slightly lower offer than another one.

Where I live agents do block viewings. Book everyone in on same day and you go for a relaxing stroll and leave them to it. Far less disruptive if the demand for viewings is there

Agent. I absolutely hate doing a first viewing with the owner. You can’t speak openly to your husband and you feel like you need to say nice things even though the house turns out to be hideous in person.

Owners tend to say stupid things like “we love it here, we don’t know why we’re leaving really” which just makes me think they’re going to be flakey vendors.

We also viewed some houses whilst going through a miscarriage and one owner wouldn’t stop droning on about how great the schools were and about her children despite a few terse comments from us about not knowing if we would have any. I left that viewing nearly in tears as I just wanted to focus on the house without being reminded of all the other things we were not getting right.

Agent every time. I don't want to risk offending an owner. Plus it feels awkward poking around - they are emotionally invested and always ask what I think and I have to say something noncommittal. Only benefit is owners often can't help but tell you all the faults with the property too!

I guess a bit of a mix. Estate agent doing first viewing and us doing a second seems like it could be a good compromise.

I definitely prefer the owners to be there, estate agents never know the answers to anything I want to ask.

Please let the agent do it. We viewed 21 houses last year, 4 of which were done by the owners or relatives of the owner. All of them were very awkward for us, at a bare minimum as we felt unable to say how we really felt about the house to each other or to discuss any changes we'd want to make to layout or decor etc. The worst was definitely the last one, the owner wouldn't let agents do the viewings (after our post-viewing feedback to the agent they shared that with us). She greeted us at the door saying she'd had an offer fall through last week, she only had a week to find a new buyer or else she'd lose her onward purchase and was having a mental health breakdown over it all. She then literally begged us to make an offer, all before we'd stepped over the threshold. She then spent 45 minutes following us from room to room telling us how direly the stress of not selling was affecting her. True I'm sure, but so awkward for us. I actually noticed last week that her house still hasn't sold 10 months later.

Honestly, please let the agent do viewings and trust them to pass on any questions that a potential buyer may have.

We’ve bought and sold loads. I don’t mind either, as long as the owner lets you explore by yourself and then be ready for any questions after.

Last time we sold, it was just after first lockdown lifted. We sat outside in our caravan to give space them to look around and talk to each other in private.

I absolutely hate it when owners show you every unnecessary detail and witter on, as if you can’t work out where cupboards are.

Agent every time for me. I actually cancelled a couple of viewings once i was told it would be the owner showing me around. I need to be able to talk to dh honestly about what we are looking at and with an owner there don't feel able to do that and so potentially miss important things.
I also just find it generally off putting and awkward.
Questions etc about the house can be asked afterwards if you feel interested. Most buyers would have researched the general area and schoold etc beforehand anyway.
My mother on the otherhand always wants the owners. That is because she is incredibly nosy though and a huge people person unlike me.

Let the estate agent do it. That's what you are paying them for. I was shocked when our agent asked us if we wanted to show people around. My idea of hell! Also hated viewings with the owners, as previous posters have said. It feels so awkward.

Agent every time. How can you say "this kitchen will definitely need replacing" to your DH if the owner is with you!

Agent. You pay them enough.

Agent every time. I always remember two embarrassing moments...very in your face pushy guy and sad old couple with a disabled son. Both thought "viewing equals sale". Er,no. (do you still get people like that?)

I prefer the owners in general. I had a horrific viewing once with an owner who I can only describe as trying to bully me into buying his house. We left and were like “wtf was that?!”

I’ve got indoor cameras, and when I was selling my house and using agents because I was away I was shocked at what they were telling people! Local estate agents, and no clue on resident permit parking and advised the nearest car park.

Final straw was when they commented what a nice quiet area it was despite being so central and the estate agents response was “oh yes, but it gets noisy at 3am when the clubs kick out”. Never heard a club kicking out in a decade there and my jaw hit the floor as I watched him saying all this bull!

If you love the house then do the viewings yourself, big up the house and local area.

If you don't like the house or don't think you can gush about it to a customer then use the EA.

We tried both options but the highest bidders were the ones we showed around.

Definitely agent. I’m so put off by owner viewings.

We had a viewing with the owner where they’d converted the garage in to a hobby room and the owner absolutely chewed our ear off about his hobby (sorry can’t say what, it’s too outting*) and had no real interest in talking to us about the house

*cycling, of course

Agent. For the reasons people have said.

I've looked at a lot of houses last year and the one where the owner was there felt odd. Actually more difficult to recall detail afterwards.

The agent is more detatched.

From the pov of being the one selling, I'd have thought not having to answer some awkward direct questions (which the EA can say "I don't know" to, could be an advantage ?

From a buyers pov, I agree with everyone else that it is good to be able to go in and say "We could do X, Y, Z" and start knocking on walls etc. which is a bit uncomfortable when it is a home that someone has created that way and presumably likes that way.

Agent all the way! Hated making awkward conversation with vendors when we have house hunted in the past

Done a few viewings with dd recently and most were with agents. They couldn't answer any of our questions. It really put her off. Although I do understand what you say about owners showing you around