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 never said I had an issue with the dog. I have an issue with the texts while the viewing is on going and it is stuff he is supposed to know plus when I come back as they are leaving and I am having to tell the viewers important but basic things he should know and remember.

Ok I know you didn’t say you had an issue with advice re the dog, I was just commenting that it’s good advice imo - as much for other readers as for you.

I always ‘de-pet’ the place and would never leave the dog around for a viewing (even in the garden). Absolutely hate it when owners have been there for viewings in the past. So awkward and feel like I can’t take it in properly.

I had one for our house last week and the viewers turned up before the estate agent so I had to make awkward chit-chat on the driveway before he got there. I didn’t even like that! Prefer not to meet at all but only because the last house we sold we made the mistake of meeting and agreed to swap numbers. The amount of questions and requests to visit before exchange were over the top and then the questions continued AFTER we completed for ages (all not very important things that could easily be googled/solved!). The house we bought was completely run down and a project but we managed to figure things out ourselves once we were in!

I prefer estate agents.

You ended up getting dragged into useless chit chat with owners who show your round like an episode of cribs and can't do what you need to do (like take measurement, document issues or talk to each other about what needs changing/fixing).

Sellers have always been friendly but Im not buying a friend, it just feels like smoke and mirrors to distract you from paying proper attention and getting a good look.

I see zero purpose of having a seller there, they have never once told me something I couldn't easily work out for myself. If I did have an inquiry I couldn't figure out after viewing though I could just get the EA to ask.

Out 💯

My Fil lurks...

I've shown a lot of houses. It's very different if the owner is there, an interested buyer can always ask questions later. First viewing is best done by an estate agent.

Or show yourself, no point having the agent there.

Our purchase has been great - first viewing with the agent and the second with the owner.

Our most uncomfortable was with tenants that were moving out and had a very poorly relative living with them - I felt so bad for them and they were bed bound so unable to leave the room.

I don't get this as obviously any issue they are going to lie about.

Their not going to tell you Betty next doors DS who lives with her but is currently in prison for 3 months for beating his girlfriend is a piss head
or
That boy races speed down the front road at 120mph every 3rd friday of the month
or
That the boiler is on the way out but if you hit it 3 time on the right then flick the switch it will work fine for 20 minutes
or
That they are moving because the new 100 house estate up the hill has tied into the sewers which can no longer handle the flow and are about to burst at any point

People who think they are getting useful loving info direct from the one person with an actual bias reason to lie baffle me.

EA have no need to lie, the commision is really not effected by you knocking £5k off because the renders blown or something. The EA that showed us the house last week pointed out every bit of damp he found and discussed what he thought was the cause and told us to get a survey to be sure... zero 'lying'.

I will never view with owners in again. They have worked vwry hard on distracting us from bits we would otherwise spot. Successfully. Also lying preteen in his bad so we didn't feel we could properly see bedroom etc...

I've only ever been shown around by an EA when a property was empty, and I would always do viewings myself as seller - shown them round quickly, then retreat and put the kettle on whilst they look around themselves. EAs know nothing about the property, and I'm more than happy to open a loft hatch, etc. if someone wants a look when that's something an EA will not do.

I agree with you @housethatbuiltme that most people trying to sell a house would just lie about bad neighbours etc.

Maybe we’re more cynical than some people but no way would I trust a vendor to tell the truth. They’ll never achieve top dollar that way!

Though I wouldn’t trust EAs to be up front about negative things either. Basically, it’s buyer beware as far as I’m concerned.