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Property/DIY

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Original poster

house viewings

23 replies

bobblehat · 19/03/2008 20:26

ok, don't really know if this should go in property or good housekeeping but here goes.

We're going to be putting our house on the market next week. How on earth do I keep it looking reasonable with two young boys with far too much playmobile and a husband who is going to be working away during the week?

Would a more 'lived in' look put you off a house - clean but toys out?

Also, does anyone have experience of using the agent to show people around the house? We don't live in a mansion, but I'm just a bit dubious of being in the house by myself with strangers?

OP posts:

artichokes · 19/03/2008 20:35

Our house is on the market at the mo.

TBH because of the uncertainty of the current market you are unlikely to get hundreds of viewings. Instead you should get a few each week with plenty of notice.
When I get notice of a viewing I blitz the house, hide as much junk as possible and display fresh flowers.

The family worn look should not put people off but I have to admit I can't help but feel more positive about the clean, clear houses we view. Those property selling programmes on TV are crap but their usual message that you are "selling a lifestyle" is sort of true.

We let our agent do all the viewings. I don't have the time or inclination. Also as a prospective buyer I find it stressful viewing homes when the owner is there. I prefer to view without them so I let my viewers have some space.

Good luck .

DforDiva · 19/03/2008 20:35

hi, im not expert but i think people all different. on telly people seem to criticize decors and furbishing. to me thats not what i look. i look size of room and floor lay out, windows, kitchen utility,bathrooms etc...
as long as tidy and clean toys are no problem. i can understand how hard to keep place for viewing with kids, as i have 2.too
good luck.

beautifuldays · 19/03/2008 20:39

i would let the agent do the viewings, they will probably be better at selling the house iykwim, it is their job and in their best interests!

toys wouldn't put me off, can you get some of those toy bin things from ikea and throw they majority of them in there before a viewing? as long as house is clean, mess wouldn't put me off.

Original poster

bobblehat · 19/03/2008 20:42

Thank you for your words of encouragement!

Has yours been on the market long, artichokes? I'm desperatly hoping ours sells quickly as dh starts new job on 1st May in another area. We are hoping to be down there by September in time for new term. I know this is slightly optimistic, so if anyone knows anyone who is looking for a nice house in West Yorkshire......

OP posts:

PixelHerder · 20/03/2008 10:45

We've just been doing viewings, I found it took a good 2 hours to prepare for each one so try and arrange them for when you have a bit of time if you can.

If you have a garage / loft / spare cupboard space, it pays to remove non-essentials from display for the duration of the viewings so you aren't constantly moving stuff out of view (eg toiletries you don't use much, non-favourite toys, family pics (for depersonalising), general baby gear, coats and dressing gowns you don't wear a lot, piles of paperwork etc. I chucked lots of stuff in black plastic bin liners or cardboard boxes and bunged them in the garage.

Find designated hideyholes for thigns like your washing up bowl, essential bathroom toiletries (we cleared the bathroom completely of toiletries for viewings - just chuck them in a plastic bag and in a cupboard - makes it easier to clean bathroom anyway). Once you've done it a few times it gets a bit easier.

We used toyboxes in both downstairs receptions for toys - keeps it neat but not unrealistically so. DD's room was the only one we didn't go to town on depersonalising, staging etc, just tried to keep it clean!

If your agents are prepared to do viewings you might as well let them, agree taht it's more relaxing for the buyer. Good luck!

champagnesupernova · 20/03/2008 10:55

I would get the agent to do the viewings - what else are you paying them for?
I'd also hide any valuables and (if possible, and I realise it's not always) go OUT with the children when the viewings are due to take place.

This avoids the toys out scenario.

champagnesupernova · 20/03/2008 10:55

This avoids the toys out scenario.

yomellamoHelly · 20/03/2008 10:56

Toys wouldn't put me off - unless the sheer number of them was OTT. Dirt and outstanding DIY would. Those two things would make me think the house hadn't been looked after very well by the owners.

HonoriaGlossop · 20/03/2008 11:52

I'd agree with always getting the agent to do the viewings - it's their job! How can they sell the place if they're not actually there....I think most do this now as standard though really.

I agree that you really do need to blitz the place before people come and what we did was go out. I think people have a much better look when the owner is out, and it's less stressful for you if you're not with the kids creating more mess as people are going round!!!

mistlethrush · 20/03/2008 11:57

We're going to rent storage if and when we decide to move - hopefully not in the near future! We just have too much stuff. A good clear out of the things that you don't need every day will make the house look bigger.

The people we bought our house round had two young children (c. 3 and 1.). We were completely that when we went round there was not a single toy anywhere (didn't look in the garage though), and also no books. Went back when we were definitely buying, and very glad to see a few toys out then!

RubberDuck · 20/03/2008 12:00

Is it worth having a massive toy declutter and putting a load of boxes in the loft? You can rotate the toys around and the kids seem to get more excitement out of a toy they haven't seen for a while, anyway.

I disagree about as long as a house is clean it doesn't matter if it's a mess - ime, houses that are tidy and with less clutter look cleaner, even if that isn't necessarily true...

BrummieOnTheRun · 20/03/2008 15:45

I disagree, I'm afraid, and wouldn't rely on the agent to do the viewings.

In my experience (not vast, but 3 property purchases and sales, and about 50+ viewings as a prospective purchaser) the agent does bugger all but open the front door.

Few - no NONE - actually 'sell' the property in the way you could. If someone's a serious buyer, they'll value the opportunity to ask you about shops, schools, parking, noise, neighbours... Only you can sell how well the house works for a family, and point out the dimmer lights in the bathroom, lol! And you'll have the opportunity to suss the prospective purchaser out.

Selling a house-full of toys is difficult. Try having big tubs so you can effortlessly chuck all the clutter into them.

We used a very aggressive agent in London to sell our property and I sat through many viewings with many agents. The offers we got were all from people who viewed while the whole family was there, clutter and all!

cupsoftea · 20/03/2008 15:51

mess never a problem as long as a buyer can walk into every room. Once saw a house where there were dogs stopping access - plus was really annoying. Also an agents who don't know about the property on basic things. Have agent there but ask if there are any questions.

LIZS · 20/03/2008 15:56

Declutter surfaces as far as possible and keep eyelines and route from entrance of room to windows/patio doors clear. Some tidy toys such as larger playmobil not a problems but have a box for the smaller bits.

PixelHerder · 20/03/2008 16:19

Brummie - yes it's an interesting question about whether an agent is better to show round or not. I personally prefer to do our own viewings for all the reasons you said. When we sold our last house we used a conventional agent, we did some viewings and the agent did some while we were out at work. The two people that offered were the ones that I had shown around [smug] They had both asked lots of questions about the house (eg had we ever been burgled, how old was the boiler) which the agent would not have known.

I think you do have to be careful though, you probably have more chance of success if you genuinely like your house and the area, and are not trying to hide anything. Also if your reason for sale is a positive one it helps, it must be difficult to show people round if you are not happy about having to sell the house for whatever reason, probably better to use an agent in that case unless you are good at acting!

LIZS · 20/03/2008 16:48

I never met our buyers - agent showed them around . Seemed weird but perhaps a bit of impartiality worked. I certainly preferred viewing with an agent as you can be more candid. Downside is you may not get honest feedback afterwards and won't know what was said at the time.

Original poster

bobblehat · 21/03/2008 09:08

Wow, thanks for the thoughts!

There's loads of really good points here both for and against agents showing around. I suppose it depends on how the agent is feeling on the day.

I might get my sil to pose as a perpective buyer and see what the agent does!

OP posts:

CarGirl · 21/03/2008 09:12

Also now is a good time to reduce what you have anyway ready to move - do some car boots sales, stuff to charity etc etc - clear out the back of cupboards so you have space to put toys out of sight etc.

ChutneyMary · 21/03/2008 09:20

Would definitely get the agent to do the viewings. I find it very uncomfortable when the owner is there as it is more difficult to look around freely, nose in boiler cupboard etc and with the owner I always felt a. rushed and b. obliged to say how wonderful everything was. Then I'd have to call the agent and say it wasn't suitable for xyz reason and the owner would then feel I'd been rather disingenous.

I've viewed loads of houses and there are agents and agents. I'd try to ensure that you get one (through word of mouth or whatever) who actually does selling rather than just opens the front door and lets you get on with it. I think it would also be hard to do the viewings with 2 small children in tow. Good luck whatever you decide and hope it's a quick sale.

blisscake · 21/03/2008 21:45

We've sold ours. I have three under 5.5 and I got into a routine of clearing up that took about 30 mins. As well as putting all non-essential stuff into storage I kept a clean spare bedding set for our bed so that I could chuck it on over the uncoordinated bedding we usually use. I kept all of our bathroom stuff - toys, toiletries and towels out of sight for viewings and "dressed" the bathroom with new stuff to make it look smart. I always had flowers and a table cloth on the dining room table and hid washing etc out of sight. Am seeing lots of properties and it really helps to "see" a property if its clean and uncluttered. Good luck !

blisscake · 21/03/2008 21:47

I would get the agent to do it and get out of the house whilst they do it if poss.

Onlyaphase · 21/03/2008 21:55

I've bought and sold a few houses over the last 10 years and have always sold within 10 days of going on the market (realise that this probably isn't possible this year though). IMO you need to
hide all evidence of pets - we used to hide all pet bowls (2 dogs and 2 cats) and beds, make sure nothing smells of pets
light any fires that you have, always cheering to see
declutter, especially bathrooms and kitchens.
take a good look at any houseplants - it is really easy to keep hold of overgrown straggly monsters that look dreadful, just because you are used to them
have clean uncluttered floors and shelves. Nothing worse than not being able to see spaces
Paint everything cream (so boring but it works)
flowers on dining tables/hall tables - nothing overpowering though
make sure all mirrors and glass are shiny shiny

Last time we used the agents to do the viewings as we had a 3 month old baby. The agents were fantastic, knew things about the area we didn't know, were totally professional at all times and negotiated hard to keep the sale going. I was actually happy to pay them thousands and thousands of pounds as without them the sale would have fallen through (buyer was a spanner)

selby · 21/03/2008 22:11

Our house has been on the market for 7 days. We decluttered the house for the first viewing but as we're in the middle of packing (relocating next week for OH's job), the second viewing booked for 2 days before our actual move will just have to be done with boxes in every room. (Also have 2 preschoolers and toys galore!) We're moving everything lock, stock and barrel into rented accommodation to avoid a chain.

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