Anyone else want to commiserate about viewings??

OneDayIWillLearn · 2024-09-27T08:30:27+00:00

Just feeling so deflated after our first week of the house on market. The weather was beautiful when I had the photos taken 10 days ago but 4 out of the 5 viewings we had this week took place in absolutely pouring rain. The garden looks sad and soggy and it’s so dark all the time even in daylight - our house is really bright and light but in this weather you’d never really know. No more viewings booked now and no sign of any of the 5 from this week wanting a second viewing. meanwhile I’m having a nightmare trying to keep the house looking nice as the kids are coming in and out in soaking wellies and waterproofs and being out of the house for viewings when it’s pouring is it’s own challenge!! On Wednesday I just sat in the car a little way down the street as it was raining too hard to be out. I just feel it’s so unlucky/ unfair that this has been our launch week and all the serious buyers have seen it this week. I mean I’m sure I’d like to think I’d see through weather for a house I really wanted…..but I don’t know!! anyway just wondering if anyone else was in a similar situation and wanted to commiserate.

boxedfresh · 27/09/2024 09:31

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Wentie · 27/09/2024 09:35

Agreed, rain wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I do commiserate about trying to keep the house clean as that is stressful, but honestly rain wouldn’t put buyers off.

Wentie · 27/09/2024 09:35

But I’m not being unsympathetic because selling a house is awful and stressful especially with kids!

Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 10:09

You’re probably right, I am just a bit gutted because the lightness of the house is really great, as are the views from the top floor, and I don’t think you would really be able to have seen much of either for most of those viewings that have happened. But probably I just have to accept the house wasn’t for them and it will be for someone.

And yeah, it is just really hard work with the kids and the rain so I am probably just a bit exhausted and negative because of that too. I guess I should at least feel positive that 5 people saw the listing and thought it was worth viewing as reading other posts on here makes me realise you can’t take that for granted!

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goodboystepup · 27/09/2024 10:21

We've had 5 viewings in 3 months.

The market is terrible right now.

kirinm · 27/09/2024 10:22

One of our second viewers cancelled just as the apoplectic rain started yesterday. I'm sure he will be back but I don't buy that he was suddenly unwell. It certainly put him off leaving the house.

And our flat also looks quite dark and gloomy when the weather is like this. Fortunately it's forecast for sun tomorrow (but cold) and we have 4 or 5 viewings then. But I am with you on the tediousness of trying to keep the place clean.

HavenSprings · 27/09/2024 10:48

If it's any consolation, as a serious buyer myself I kind of 'prefer' to see a house during the worst weather conditions, so I know how it is at its worst and I get a realistic view (let's be honest, we do get more rainy days than sunshine!).

What is probably happening is that it's really inconvenient to travel these days, so people might just be waiting for things to clear up a bit.

KievLoverTwo · 27/09/2024 11:02

Don’t lose hope.

The rental market has dropped off a cliff edge this week. I panicked so much I started a thread in chat: apparently a lot of people go away this week as it’s a good, post school holiday, cheap and quiet time.

And I agree with a PP. My OH had to turn back from driving to the office on Monday as the flash floods were horrific and today there are 40mph winds gusting around my house.

babyproblems · 27/09/2024 11:13

I would get a cleaner so that you can accommodate viewings last minute. And I would tell the agent for example that we can do viewings Saturdays - so they can tell this to potential buyers on that first call - and then organise the cleaner for Friday nights for example so you have a weekly cycle and you feel like it’s more manageable. You don’t have to be available for viewings at a total drop of the hat; I would suggest one or set days of the week so you can anticipate it. If no one views then you’ll still have a lovely clean house!!!

Happygogoat · 27/09/2024 11:16

Don’t lose heart, it’s a tough market. Both houses we have bought in the past we viewed on rainy days! It’s a buyers market right now and it’s only been a week. Sympathy re keeping it tidy and having to leave the house for viewings - doing the same with 2 toddlers and a baby! Never ending!

Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 11:54

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :-)

yes there are flooded roads in the area too (not immediately around us but my daughter’s Rainbows session was cancelled this week as the leader couldn’t get out of their village due to floods!)

@babyproblems we do have a cleaner, currently they come fortnightly and came this Monday which was great but with this amount of rain it’s now where near enough! I think I’ll see if they can change to every week for now.

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kirinm · 27/09/2024 11:59

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 11:54

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :-)

yes there are flooded roads in the area too (not immediately around us but my daughter’s Rainbows session was cancelled this week as the leader couldn’t get out of their village due to floods!)

@babyproblems we do have a cleaner, currently they come fortnightly and came this Monday which was great but with this amount of rain it’s now where near enough! I think I’ll see if they can change to every week for now.

We have a cleaner who comes weekly. You wouldn't know she'd been by the time my daughter has been home from school for an hour.

Changingusernameasalways · 27/09/2024 12:13

I feel your pain, I've had the same thoughts this week that the house doesn't look as nice in the rain. Got 8 viewings booked tomorrow though and it's supposed to be sunny in the morning so I'm praying we will get an offer or two.

KievLoverTwo · 27/09/2024 12:23

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 11:54

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :-)

yes there are flooded roads in the area too (not immediately around us but my daughter’s Rainbows session was cancelled this week as the leader couldn’t get out of their village due to floods!)

@babyproblems we do have a cleaner, currently they come fortnightly and came this Monday which was great but with this amount of rain it’s now where near enough! I think I’ll see if they can change to every week for now.

It's so vile, in fact, that I've just booked us a hotel tonight for where we've got viewings tomorrow, which is a 2.5 hour drive from where we live. I can't afford to get stuck en route tomorrow morning with bad weather and risk having to turn back, so we're going up tonight instead.

I hope the weather and viewings are better for you next week, OP.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/09/2024 12:25

Because of everything involved in preparing for viewings, that I’m solely responsible for, I’m irrationally beginning to hate viewers, even though we desperately want to sell 🤣

Twiglets1 · 27/09/2024 12:27

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 11:54

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :-)

yes there are flooded roads in the area too (not immediately around us but my daughter’s Rainbows session was cancelled this week as the leader couldn’t get out of their village due to floods!)

@babyproblems we do have a cleaner, currently they come fortnightly and came this Monday which was great but with this amount of rain it’s now where near enough! I think I’ll see if they can change to every week for now.

I think increasing the cleaner to once a week is an excellent idea at the moment while you are trying to sell. It's such a drag having to keep tidying the house, at least a cleaner will help with that.

Don't worry about launch week. Proper buyers will make a second booking if they are at all seriously interested in the house.

Lulubellamozarella · 27/09/2024 12:28

goodboystepup · 27/09/2024 10:21

We've had 5 viewings in 3 months.

The market is terrible right now.

Us too!! Nothing where we live is shifting!!!

Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 12:37

KievLoverTwo · 27/09/2024 12:23

It's so vile, in fact, that I've just booked us a hotel tonight for where we've got viewings tomorrow, which is a 2.5 hour drive from where we live. I can't afford to get stuck en route tomorrow morning with bad weather and risk having to turn back, so we're going up tonight instead.

I hope the weather and viewings are better for you next week, OP.

Show quote history

@KievLoverTwo this is so true, it’s a running joke the evening after the cleaners have been is always the time someone will spill an entire drink/ come home from school with a massive glitter covered creation that sheds everywhere/ vomit etc etc. But it’s nice for the ten minutes after they’ve been 😂

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Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 12:45

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/09/2024 12:25

Because of everything involved in preparing for viewings, that I’m solely responsible for, I’m irrationally beginning to hate viewers, even though we desperately want to sell 🤣

Oh my god so true! The worst was the one I could see going in my house (because I was hiding in the car due to the thunderstorm). I felt so resentful that she was in MY lovely house while I had nowhere to go!! Obviously this is totally irrational, I do realise that 🤪

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Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 13:10

I’ve just heard that one of the viewers from this week wants to come back for a second viewing and that there is another viewing for early next week so feeling a bit more positive now (and I have asked about getting the cleaners weekly in the meantime!)

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Twiglets1 · 27/09/2024 13:12

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 13:10

I’ve just heard that one of the viewers from this week wants to come back for a second viewing and that there is another viewing for early next week so feeling a bit more positive now (and I have asked about getting the cleaners weekly in the meantime!)

That's great! I'll cross fingers that the weather is a bit kinder next week and especially during the second viewing

Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 16:51

I’ve just heard we’ve had an offer from one of the people who viewed on Tuesday - in pouring rain - too (separate from the one who’s asked for a second viewing) so I feel a bit silly for being so down about everything this morning.

I’m putting it all down to the power of Mumsnet for bringing us good vibes!! Thank you again for commenting, it really picked me up on a very desolate morning 🙏

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Itsalwaystheprice · 27/09/2024 16:59

That thread changed quickly! Hope the second viewing and offer all turn out well.

My house went on last week and we've not had a single viewing. I think it's over priced, I know on here people always say it's the price.if you're not getting even viewings.

I'm so annoyed I let myself be over ruled by STBXH because he wanted to go with the highest valuing EA. I know it's only a week, but I'm 99% it's on for too much.

jamtarty · 27/09/2024 17:06

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 16:51

I’ve just heard we’ve had an offer from one of the people who viewed on Tuesday - in pouring rain - too (separate from the one who’s asked for a second viewing) so I feel a bit silly for being so down about everything this morning.

I’m putting it all down to the power of Mumsnet for bringing us good vibes!! Thank you again for commenting, it really picked me up on a very desolate morning 🙏

What brilliant news!

Original poster

OneDayIWillLearn · 27/09/2024 17:54

Itsalwaystheprice · 27/09/2024 16:59

That thread changed quickly! Hope the second viewing and offer all turn out well.

My house went on last week and we've not had a single viewing. I think it's over priced, I know on here people always say it's the price.if you're not getting even viewings.

I'm so annoyed I let myself be over ruled by STBXH because he wanted to go with the highest valuing EA. I know it's only a week, but I'm 99% it's on for too much.

@Itsalwaystheprice I know, god you can never tell, can you?

Your situation sounds annoying - I really sympathise - but I’m not sure there’s anything you could do differently if your STB ex disagrees. If you went for a lower price which the STB ex didn’t agree to you’d forever be hearing that you could have got more if only you’d asked more, right? I’m not sure how good your agent is but perhaps you could quietly encourage him or her to tell people viewing similar properties about yours and to let them know you’ll be very open to offers. It’s very frustrating not to even get anyone through the door.

That basically happened when we bought our current house: viewed a place in budget and got told by the agent that we should view another around the corner (which we had discounted as too expensive) the vendors really needed an offer to avoid losing their onward purchase and that they would accept £40K under asking price. Which indeed they did!

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