Viewings. Sellers in or out

[user1485851222]

What's your opinion on house viewings. Estate agent showing potential buyers around, is it a problem if the home owner is in the property at the time of viewing, albeit out of the way. On hand if they have any questions.

I much prefer the owners showing me. You can have a proper chat about the area, the neighbours, why they are moving etc. I seem to get a lot of info from them so I think I’m quite direct too!
Estate agents ime are really not knowledgeable and they LIE about absolutely anything and everything.
The only offers I have ever made are after owners viewings actually.

This. Maybe I had bad luck, but the viewings I did with agents consisted of them opening doors and saying 'and this is the kitchen...' etc. They invariably knew nothing about the house, most seemed like they'd never been in it before. Whereas the viewings I did with owners were much more informative, the house I bought the owner had done a lot of work on, and he told me things like where pipes run under the floors, which I never would have got from an agent.

I prefer to be shown by the agent with the owners not home. I feel awkward otherwise

Currently viewing properties, including one today (the owner was there). My personal preference is to view with the agent. I find it too awkward if the owner is there, I don’t feel I can communicate as openly with DH about what we’re looking at.

Prefer the owner to be out and the agent to sit at the kitchen table and let me look around by myself. Then if it’s awful I don’t need to think of anything polite to say.

I always do my own viewings because I’ve been to too many viewings with really shite ea’s that show no enthusiasm for the property and know absolutely nothing.

I hated the owners there too, on the second viewing it’s fine, as that’s when the questions come in that agents maybe can’t handle, but more importantly you get to judge the sort of person you’d be buying from and if you think they are an arse or not, and form some form of relationship

on the first viewing no, I don’t care why you are selling, if it’s a bad reason you won’t tell me, or when the septic tank was last emptied, where you’re moving too, or if someone beats their wife, as those animals can live anywhere, people unless they are idiots always paint a rosey glow.

altjough it does seem the pp met some idiot sellers.

Out definitely, people will feel more comfortable having a good look around if owners aren't there.
I like it when estate agents leave you to have a look around yourselves too so you can chat about whether you like it or not in private.

Good to know, I've stayed in for mine, sat in the garden with my book. The EA have alot to remember, so no issue if they sometimes forget abit of information. But our last viewer, was here for an hour, with the EA, they asked me a few questions & gone away to think about it, but said to EA, I was keen to sell, so they were worried there was an issue. I thought that was a strange thing to say. And you are quite correct, they always ask about neighbours and how would the EA know if they were nice etc.

I understand that, although I prefer EA to go round with them, or I'd have to hide all valuables. One couple took about 70 pictures and then vanished and EA couldn't get hold of them. I did wonder if they were casing the joint.

I agree, apart from advertising alot of EA don't even their fee, I moved from my previous EA due to this reason. The 2nd EA seems better.

I've never viewed a property with the owner present. We are on our 8th property now

You’re lucky it is really quite awkward, you feel you need to say it’s lovely or something positive. You can’t say look it’s really run down/dates and not like the pics etc, and you feel slightly weird looking round when you know they are there.

when it’s the ea, it’s impersonal , when the owner is there you’re wandering round their home.

I found it really offputting having the sellers there during viewings. I felt like I couldn't have a proper look around and felt rushed because you are in their personal space.

As a buyer, who does very in depth research before even going to a viewing :
1st viewing Estate Agent only, I literally feel uncomfortable with owner/tenant present.
2nd viewing, especially if I know straight away from 1st viewing I want to buy property , def want owner there if possible.
I will
only buy a property where someone lived happily AND want owner to sell to
someone they like too.
Sounds crazy but has always worked.
The idea of buying from an unpleasant owner literally throws me.
Recently looked at a property for DC's.
Met owner whilst waiting outside for estate agent.
Was so unwelcoming we all decided instantly not to buy even before stepping into property to view, although we liked it in general.

Never seen a property with the owner so far, but honestly I'd like to. I've sadly noticed that estate agents are doing their jobs miserably nowadays. You have no idea how many 'I don't know', 'will have to check', or even getting properties confused I've had to face! The owner would definitely know more than them.

I vote for being there but leaving the initial viewing part to the estate agents, and then sweeping in for all the questions at the end of the tour.

I prefer owner to show around, but am happy to ask questions as we go, and discuss with DH afterwards. Some owners are seriously off-putting, which would make me think twice about offering on a samey hpuse.

I prefer the owners to show you around. IMO you learn a lot about the house and area from what the owners don't say.

The norm seems to vary according to where you are. In Scotland it is almost always the vendor who does the viewings, unless a reason not to - on holiday, live far away and are selling deceased parents' home, have already moved away ...

I prefer viewings with the owner present - they are more knowledgeable about the property and the area. But, going by what I read on MN, estate agents outwith Scotland seem to have a bigger role in selling house so are more likely to be helpful than Scottish ones - who are basically just there to let you in and lock the door again when you leave.

I was told I couldn't be there as need to take the dog out. He also felt viewers are better without the owner as they can ask questions. Frustration is when he doesn't know the answers and I get texts while I'm out waiting and after the viewing. Sold now for third time in 2-3 months so hopefully I am done.

I'd show them round myself. I'm not having random strangers wandering around my home, opening wardrobe doors & drawers, helping themselves! Kids breaking my DC's toys, electronics going missing... No thanks. Not in the times we live in today.
Sad but true

He gave you good advice to take the dog out. Not everyone loves dogs (though I do) & some people would find a dog in the house seriously off putting.

It’s fine to answer questions by text after the viewing isn’t it? EAs can’t be expected to know the house as well as the owners but to my mind the first viewing is more an emotional thing - do I love this house? Can I see myself living there? Factual information can be gathered afterwards either by text or at a second viewing where the owner is present.

Years ago I had 2 viewings with owners.

1. bloody awful and I complained to the EA. Owner was rude to our faces and we felt very uncomfortable. Had absolutely no idea how to show us round.

2. best viewing we ever had. The husband was extremely helpful and answered a multitude of questions about disability access etc. Was very happy to measure everything with DH to confirm the right measurements for wheelchair etc. Absolutely gutted that we couldn't make an offer due to extra rules imposed by council on selling to locals only. Would have made offer same day.

I don’t want to meet the owners, I want to be able to walk around , have a good look and not feel watched or pressured. We are selling at the moment and I don’t want to be home for viewings either.

We viewed two houses last time around where the sellers stayed in the home. One followed us and the estate agent around. It was very awkward. The house wasn’t nice, we had to fake interest and we couldn’t wait to leave. The other seller sat in the lounge which was fine but we rushed through the viewing and didn’t discuss anything because we knew they could hear and we didn’t want to appear rude. Perhaps I’d meet a seller for a second viewing if I definitely liked the house.