Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Viewing before selling own place

47 replies

kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:39

I would instantly know the answer to this question but rumours of the market slowing have made me wonder.

Are EA letting people who haven't already sold their places view? We have a large deposit and an AIP already but haven't put our place on the market yet (although are very close to doing it).

SE London if that makes the question easier to answer.

OP posts:
MarianneVos · 16/09/2022 09:44

Before selling, maybe, before even being on the market, unlikely.

Mooserp · 16/09/2022 09:46

Some properties I have viewed I was told that they'd had offers from people who still had to sell theirs - so they must have let them view.
Doubtful if they'd allow you to if you're not even on the market though.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:47

@MarianneVos

That is what I thought and totally fair enough. We are so close and a place on a road we love within our budget has just come on. I've asked DP to try and finish off the things that need to be finished so we can get it on the market but I doubt he will have time before the other place sells.

OP posts:
Quizzed · 16/09/2022 09:47

Yes they are I have my house currently up for sale and I've viewed a few properties. I've not made an offer on one although I possibly will before mine has sold as I'm not getting to many views at the moment as I think the market is slowly down. My ex made an offer on a property before ours was even on the market and they expected his offer.

Raul57 · 16/09/2022 09:48

The bottom line!
When we have sold we insist that we will only sell to chain free or as a last resort those that have an offer on their property and they have accepted - cuts out a lot of the time wasters.

Never forget, you are employing the EA, they are not your mates and they will only make money when you have sold. So it is your choice re criteria of who views your property

Sally99 · 16/09/2022 09:49

My sister is viewing loads of houses without hers being on the market. She's a cash buyer so maybe that makes difference

BraveMaeve · 16/09/2022 09:49

We managed to view a few houses before we put ours on the market, except during Covid when it was a bit more restricted. We had a small search area so really wanted to get a sense of if the move would work for us before going on the market. I think if you're honest it's fine, they'll say if not.

Whinge · 16/09/2022 09:51

kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:47

@MarianneVos

That is what I thought and totally fair enough. We are so close and a place on a road we love within our budget has just come on. I've asked DP to try and finish off the things that need to be finished so we can get it on the market but I doubt he will have time before the other place sells.

If you really like the other property and want a decent chance of buying it, then forget the jobs that haven't been finished and get your property on the market ASAP.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:51

I think I'll ask. They can only say no.

To be fair, in a sellers position I wouldn't allow it either.

OP posts:
bellamountain · 16/09/2022 09:52

I think now you could. For two reasons, one being that properties are hanging around much longer (because they are over priced and they've gone past reasonable limit) and two, sellers still haven't found anywhere themselves. Even if they accept an offer, it could take them a long time to find something and their buyers could go elsewhere.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:53

@Whinge

DP is moaning about wanting to get fencing up in the garden before we do because he thinks it'll devalue the property if it is only partially done (which is the case at the moment). Surely a buyer can look past that...

Going to have to work on him over the weekend.

OP posts:
bilbodog · 16/09/2022 09:54

Depending on what jobs you are doing before putting on the market - if this house is the one for you, you can always sell as is and be prepared to accept a lower offer accordingly? We moved 3 1/2 years ago having found our dream home and didnt do any of the things we were going to do before selling such as re-painting some rooms - had to drop the price a bit but moved into this house 6 months later.

Whinge · 16/09/2022 09:56

kirinm · 16/09/2022 09:53

@Whinge

DP is moaning about wanting to get fencing up in the garden before we do because he thinks it'll devalue the property if it is only partially done (which is the case at the moment). Surely a buyer can look past that...

Going to have to work on him over the weekend.

Some buyers will overlook it, and those who think it's a problem may offer less to reflect the work that needs to be done. But even a slightly lower offer on the table is better than no offer, and being on the market will put you in a better poisiton to offer on the other house.

sevenbyseven · 16/09/2022 09:58

My brother has viewed a couple of houses and his isn't yet on the market (south west).

Hotandbothereds · 16/09/2022 09:58

I’d just call and ask, worst they can say is no.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 10:05

Thanks all. We've just contacted a company about the fencing as that would at least placate DP.

I'll give the EA a call too.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 16/09/2022 10:07

London here. We viewed properties before ours went on the market, wasn't an issue at all.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 10:08

mynameiscalypso · 16/09/2022 10:07

London here. We viewed properties before ours went on the market, wasn't an issue at all.

Ooh interesting!

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 16/09/2022 10:10

Most won’t or will ask the seller how they feel about it.

I wouldn’t want a viewer who wasn’t even on the market yet.

Crikeyalmighty · 16/09/2022 10:22

If the buying market is anything like the rental market (higher end of rental market) 3 and 4 bed rented houses in desirable locations have been sitting around 3 and 4 weeks- in Feb/March this year we ended up doing sealed 'offers' on several - it was that competitive.

I would just ask- if I was an agent and it was a slower market I would show you- some people understandably will not put their own on the market till something catches their eye-

BraveMaeve · 16/09/2022 10:23

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/09/2022 10:10

Most won’t or will ask the seller how they feel about it.

I wouldn’t want a viewer who wasn’t even on the market yet.

I totally get that, it's a pain getting the house ready for viewings when there's a low chance it will result in a sale.

On the other hand when we viewed the house we are in now we weren't on the market (we had been but sale had fallen through and we having a break) - we loved it, got our house sold v quickly and made the offer. It helped that it was a probate though, so not messing the owners around with stressful viewings.

MarianneVos · 16/09/2022 10:27

Sally99 · 16/09/2022 09:49

My sister is viewing loads of houses without hers being on the market. She's a cash buyer so maybe that makes difference

Does she need to sell her house to buy another one? If so she's not a cash buyer.

MarianneVos · 16/09/2022 10:32

I mean if it's your dream house definitely worth asking! But I didn't let anyone view mine who hadn't got it on the market and I only let people not SSTC view if I had another viewing on that day (IE I didn't want to get the house ready for someone who wasn't proceedable). I have young kids and toys everywhere though so getting the house viewing ready was a big hassle whereas for other people it might be less bother!

I'd put it on before the fence and just take photos where you can't see it. If you put it on in the next couple of days you could hold off viewings until next weekend for an open day and see if you can sort the fence before then, and if not tell viewers you have someone booked in to fix it on x date.

Original poster
kirinm · 16/09/2022 10:37

DP is currently at home to help DD settle into school but has been busy with admin for work the entire time. He is now literally flying through the tasks we had outstanding (inside).

OP posts:
MarianneVos · 16/09/2022 10:40

Also have you had EAs round to value? What did they say about work? There's loads of stuff I could have done to mine, but all of them said not to bother apart from painting the kitchen, so that's all I did and sold no problem.