Viewings - tidy vs showhome?

[BobLobla]

How important do you think it is to be ‘perfect’ versus obviously clean, decluttered and tidy for viewings? When I’m viewing I expect clean but I always look past anything else to focus on room size and potential. I never judge on decor/evidence of someone living there. Am I in the minority?

We’re not in as much of a hurry to sell as next door and the comments about ‘speed and need’ are clearly relevant. I was just curious about what difference it makes to look ‘perfect’ as opposed to clean and uncluttered. We’ll see after today’s viewings!

We went for perfect for the photos, and then as good as possible with two young children for the viewings. We sold to a couple who came round in the first batch of viewings, although they didn’t put an offer in for a week (the husband couldn’t make the first viewing which caused the delay). They were one of three offers we had at the end of the first week of it listing. Our estate agents doing block viewings helped with us having it nicely presentable as we didn’t have lots of ad hoc individual viewings to manage.

When I’m looking round I want it to be clean (because if it’s not I worry it hasn’t been taken care of generally), and tidy enough to get a proper sense of it. It doesn’t need to be show home perfect.

Depends on your price bracket. Where I live ( north west) below 200000 you can probably get away with tidy. Above that people’s expectations tend to be higher

We are about to go on the market and I’m aiming for clean and tidy as I know trying to maintain a “show home” for weeks would drive us all batty. It’s not a hot market where we are, so I’m resigned to weeks/months of viewings rather than selling on the first weekend, so it needs to be something we can maintain long term rather than spend ages trying to pretend we don’t live here.

It’s a quirky house anyway. The right viewer will love it (period features, blue plaque, sweet little suntrap of a garden, fantastic location) but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea for sure.

Luckily we are not in a rush and if it doesn’t sell at all, it won’t be the end of the world.

I’d go for showhome as far as possible. Psychologically, people will be instantly impressed and more likely to buy if it looks wonderful.

If I am looking at a house, knowing I am prepared to spend a whole lot of time redecorating and doing some DIY, I can look past it and just see if the space works. I am going to reduce my offer to reflect the work required. If I want somewhere I can move in to and not have to spend any time doing up, I probably wouldn’t offer on a house that needs it, unless the house was absolutely perfect in every other way.

Mine was immaculate - we repainted the kitchen and bathroom and finished off all the small niggly DIY repairs - and styled so well it ended up being a photospread in the property pages for free. It still didn’t get asking in a very good market because it was the largest one-bedroom flat in the area and you could have got a two-bed for the same money. Sometimes you can’t get around the actual space. We did very well out of it as it had gone up in value anyway, but the agent seemed to have been carried away by how nice it looked and, in retrospect, overpriced it. So sometimes immaculate doesn’t help!

Nobody is ever going to say “it was a bit over crowded and smelled of dog”

It’s all going to be “we’re not quite in a position to offer yet” Seems unlikely 12 people all came to look when they weren’t ready to buy but next door sold in a week.

That’s very true. People generally give bland feedback because they don’t want to be rude. I once viewed a house that my honest feedback would have been “I don’t want to spend forever getting the stench of cigarette smoke out of the walls, and all the carpets would need replacing because of the smoking as well”. I didn’t say that though.

I think it depends on what you mean by ‘showhome’ — to me that suggests a flimsy newbuild with sized-down furniture to make the rooms look less cramped, an air of matchy -matchyness because every picture and accessory were bought as a bulk buy by someone who sorvyalises in ‘staging’ show homes on new developments.

So ours v definitely is not show home. Tidy but not in any way immaculate. The reality is we have dogs, 2 teens doing exams, and I work from home - it just can't be. We've been on 2 months in a very desirable area where others have sold and ours hasn't so maybe that answers for you. But at same time, we are in zero rush at all. It was more a hmm might be nice to have a change and move, so if nobody can see past us living here, fine. If down the line we become more desperate to sell perhaps my attitude will change.

We always try to present in a 'staged' condition for photos and viewings. We're arty with design backgrounds and no DC living at home to have to tidy up after, which helps too!

Our last photos got us a brilliant write-up with photos in the local press/online.

However, located very rurally then, it still took a few months to sell (not for asking price either). We only had a handful of viewings, but that was normal for the area. We sold to the fourth people to view.

Previously, in a different - non-rural - location we've accepted asking price on the first day from first viewers more than once. Again, perfectly presented, staged property.

The location makes a huge difference imho - far more potential buyers in a town, city or even larger village.

Otoh, we've never purchased a perfectly presented property as we always buy project houses and actively avoid viewing the renovated/staged ones!

I like it to look like the owners have made an effort when it comes to the photos and viewings but not with every single thing put away and nothing on the worktops! If I like it and it’s not show house perfect then I think that bodes well. I like a house to look lived in. Also to be ver CLEAN.

I don't really like the showhome look, and prefer a lived-in family home as I can picture us in it better. But maybe I'm not typical!

I’m the same - was just looking on Rightmove at what’s available near me and the one that appeals the most looks like a family home - there’s toys and photos and evidence that what looks like a happy family lives there. Whereas as the “show homes” look cold and sterile to me.

I'm the same too but some people find it harder to look past furniture/ decor that isn't to their taste and are therefore attracted to homes that look perfect.

Perfect is suspicious
but most people need help to see themselves in a space - if the furniture is too big most people will see a small room

I don’t like clutter than could be hiding problems - eg rugs hiding damaged flooring, piled up boxes hiding a hole in the wall (came across both of these in a house after I had bought it!), or too much stuff everywhere making it hard for the surveyor to check things. Otherwise I want to be able to see the potential of the property, and how people actually live in it. Having things like the toaster and coffee machine out on the side gives me a better idea of the space left to cook on for instance as I’m not good at figuring that out (I’m bad at 3D thinking). Otherwise I am looking for signs that the property has been well maintained.

Yes.

most people can’t see past the initial impression.

last time I sold we put aside time and budget and made it show home. Got a lot more money than my dh was expecting. (Amazing area though)

In estate agent pictures I want perfect. To me it reflects badly if their is clutter, piles of stuff and laundry baskets, things that could easily be removed in a photo, I wouldn't mind so much if I am viewing cos the people selling still have lives to live and stuff to do. However if someone was viewing my home I would probably make an effort to tidy and put things away. We have done quite a bit of work on the house (new roof, new kitchen, new door, full rewire) to try and add value so I would probably be talking about that if we come to sell.

I used to watch the House Doctor programmes with Ann Maurice. Her advice was so simple and effective. Basically, you need people to imagine themselves living in your home. Clear out excess furniture, or rearrange what you have to make the house look more spacious. Also, get rid of dog odour and get the dogs away during viewings.

We have a photographer coming this week and I am in a flat spin!

Agreed
you visualise how you will live in the space not how somebody else is.

Depends if it’s a stark new build or a home with character. Show homes are soul-less.
Who is the property going to suit? “Dress” it according to that. Most people are looking for a “home” so it should feel like one regardless of decor and style and taste.

You would be surprised how many people can’t see past clutter.

Most people like to imagine that they could just move in straight away, so you have to set the scene for (the dull idiots) them.

You would be surprised how many people can’t see past clutter.

Most people like to imagine that they could just move in straight away, so you have to set the scene for (the dull idiots) them.

It depends. If its a doer upper and priced accordingly people will probably look past it. If you want top whack and are trying to pass it off as the finished product then pristine is they way to go.