Selling - viewings

[cloppyklip]

There are 5 of us in our house, do we all have to go out when there are viewings?! so when the estate agent can't do them and it would be me do I send my teenagers out somewhere? It would be awkward for them to be at home wouldnt it ? New to selling so please don't laugh! 😂

Yep. 100%. It's just awkward, and its what your buyer will remember.

Yes, our estate agent advised we all go out. They said people can’t look properly without feeling awkward and cheeky otherwise.
When we bought years ago I found the houses with the owners home the quickest and most awkward viewings, so I think it’s sensible to not to be home.

My DD and her partner viewed a house with the owner and family there, and then negotiated an offer.

They got cold feet because the owner had been there and they felt rushed. Plus they hadn't really looked at the lounge at all because that's where they all decamped to.

They managed to sort it all out by visiting again and, although she was there, they were more aware themselves that time that they needed to get a grip and had prepared better.

All.was fine, they still.loved it, and sale is still going through.

But I do think owners being around make it awkward for some potential buyers. Especially 5 of you!

Unless the house is huge it makes it really cluttered looking too.
I viewed some with teenagers on laptops or at desks and it was fine but the ones with chaotic small kids were a nightmare.
I came away unsure of the house and so distracted etc

It’s better from the buyers point of view if the owners & family & pets are all out.

We viewed a property where the vendor showed us round and her DD's boyfriend was being pulled out of the DD's bed as we got to the bedrooms...

Really, it is best to go out. It feels odd showing people your property when you're still living there, as it's your home. It's much more relaxing for both parties if the EA does the showing and there's no fear of inadvertent personal remarks causing offence.

As an aside, we also did weird things like shove all washing in the car, sort as many cupboards as possible (they will open and look in them), turned all lights on etc.

Moved twice in recent years and I was WFH both times, stayed sat at my desk and just nodded to the viewers as they poked their head around the door. Most of them asked a few questions which I answered when I wasn't otherwise engaged. OH was also in the house with Ddog although they did try to keep out of the way as much as possible.
We did no dressing either, of course they were clean but we had started packing months in advance so there were lots of boxes stacked up.
We did move the cars out of the way (and not on the road directly outside the house either 😂) so the amount of space & parking could be appreciated and the viewers could run straight onto the driveway.

Must have worked as we sold both houses quickly for over the asking price (they were both desirable properties in popular areas).

Haha I generally throw loads of clutter in the car pre viewings. Pretend we live a minimalist lifestyle.

Nicer for the buyers if you can pop out. We've been looking around houses recently and the ones with people in made it so much harder.

We also chucked everything in our car...but they turned up early and we stood talking to them on the driveway whilst waiting for the EA next to the car and they probably spotted the mountains of crap piled on the back seats 😂

My DH in his wisdom booked a viewing on our house the day I returned home after giving birth to our 4th DC. I was breastfeeding and was on the sofa feeding our baby when the viewer (a single male) arrived. Apparently the viewer lived out of area and this was the only time he could view. the atmosphere was tense and the viewing brief as you can imagine. A few weeks later we had another viewing at very short notice in half term. Eldest child was left to rock the pram whilst I hoovered and the chocolate cornflake cakes were shoved in the garage along with the dirty baking items and covered in a coat. We did manage to sell eventually after a pre arranged and not rushed viewing.

Oh gosh, yes. The early arrivals. The late arrivals. The people 'just popping by to see if I can show my friend'.

We always had to completely vacate for showings. And I kept a laundry basket in the living room where all the crap went if it was short notice! And then I shoved that in the car.

Important to avoid doing any viewing yourself. Yes everyone out.

So we have a couple of viewers booked in, estate agent is only free to do one of those so I agreed to do the other.

I'm going to do my best to leave them to it and stay out of their way and say I'm there for any questions etc. I'd rather do that than turn it down if they can't make another day.

In which case, decamp to one room and when they view that room, move to another. Let them.know where you are if they have any questions.

@Advice400 I'm also going to send everyone out for a walk except myself!

Sounds sensible @cloppyklip

I'm selling mine at the moment and so far estate agent has done the viewings. I just thought, may be dont leave them to it,sort of loiter at the doors? Would be awful if anyone had access to say your bedroom in their own and took jewellery etc. I knownthat sounds bad but you never know who these people could be.

I'm not sure an estate agent viewing would prevent that happening as often buyers go into different rooms and an agent cannot be in two places at once.

Secure your valuables whoever is doing the viewings!

And good luck. There are people buying but they may be a bit more nervous at the moment. Especially first time buyers. My DD and her partner were. Simply because of what they've seen whilst waiting to save their deposit.....high price increases, then high interest rate increases, and their mortgage in principal falling considerably. That sort of thing. But she works in rentals and knows that's a precarious place to be as well - hard to get one, expensive and little security. As she says they have to live somewhere!

We didn't have a choice, I had a newborn and a 7 year old with additional needs.

It was us the did the viewings, the estate agent never did any of ours.

We sat in our car across the street so we could peep over and see when they had left 😬

I sent mine out to walk the dog. I don't think animals and children make for the best house viewing experience.