How are estate agents handling viewings before your home is sold?

Lunchtimehelp · 2026-04-16T18:28:21+00:00

How are estate agents working now? Pre COVID you could look at houses before yours was on the market. Then during COVID, you had to have yours sold before looking at houses. What are they doing now? We are frantically trying to get our house to a suitable standered for selling but I am seeing houses that would be perfect for us!

SexIsNotNebulous · 16/04/2026 19:41

DD recently sold and bought, now completed. Both agents, different cities allowed viewings, but took the personal circumstances from all viewers. For example, are you in rented? FTB? Cash buyer? Do you have a property to sell, what stage is it at? At offer, there was also, how much deposit have you got? Provide proof of deposit and MIP etc.

She viewed her current property when they had only just got their property ready for sale and it wasn’t on the market. They got the house of their dreams, but only because no one else was in a better position or wanted it.

Original poster

Lunchtimehelp · 16/04/2026 19:54

Thanks, I think we just need to hurry up with things that need doing in our house.

We own our own home, it'll be a huge deposit as we have a lot of equity in the property.
I would like to start looking at houses to give us an idea on what we can afford etc and get feels of the areas.

We do need a new front door, I know that will take weeks just to wait for it to be fitted!

OP posts:

WeAreNotOk · 16/04/2026 20:06

There's no harm in viewing but if you're not ready to put yours up for sale then you'll have an anxious time if you find something you really like.
I started looking on-line months before I was ready and 'favourited' a lot so I was kept updated on their progress.

Fibrous · 16/04/2026 20:20

We just called up and viewed without having ours on the market but I think we were in their system already. Everyone who viewed mine had theirs on the market already or were ftb-ers.

Bringbackbuffy · 16/04/2026 20:29

Depends on the seller too. I wouldn’t let the estate agent show people round who weren’t on the market.

Caterina99 · 16/04/2026 20:32

Just sold a house. Agent told us the circumstances of the various buyers (there were a few) and some had houses still to sell. We considered the offers but were guided towards the seller in the best position by the agent. So I suppose you just have less of an advantage as a buyer if you haven’t even got your house on the market yet.

4yearstogo · 16/04/2026 20:34

We wanted to look at a few before our house went on the market and the EAs were fine with that. IME as long as you are straightforward with them, they're pretty flexible.

Row23 · 17/04/2026 06:28

A couple of years ago we found a house we liked, but the estate agents didn’t let us put in an offer until our house was on the market.
But then what was weird was that one of the offers we had was from a couple who hadn’t yet put their property on the market 🤷🏻‍♀️
It’s tricky as you have to have your house for sale so that you’re ready to make an offer on the right house when it comes up. But if nothing is really suitable / your offers are rejected, then how long will your buyer hang on for?
But, if you have seen a house online that you like then to put yourself in the best position you should at least have your house up for sale, even better to already have accepted an offer on it.

Riverpaddling · 17/04/2026 06:38

Bringbackbuffy · 16/04/2026 20:29

Depends on the seller too. I wouldn’t let the estate agent show people round who weren’t on the market.

When we've lived in places where the market is very hot, that's what we've done. I showed 13 sets of people round one day in the first week at one hour we owned. With so much interest it wasn't worth showing to people who weren't in a position to put an offer in.

Fibrous · 17/04/2026 07:02

The house we’re currently buying had sat on the market for two years without any offers so the agents weren’t picky about our position at all. And it was an empty probate sale so no one there having to tidy up for our viewing. I would feel guilty viewing lots of occupied houses if I didn’t have my house on the market as I know how much effort it is to get the place viewer ready, especially if you have kids or animals.

Beyondamountainandoverthesea · 17/04/2026 08:40

My DP and I have just sold both our houses with the same agent. Having bought and sold many times and I am pretty well versed on the system. This time however we went with a lone agent (Husband and Wife team) nobody else works for them - they charge more but they have amazing marketing and after sale service. The Husband does all the viewings, he knows the house top to bottom and can answer any questions, he vetted the buyers and would not allow any non proceedable to view.

This was early March - DP had 12 block viewings over 2 days, 6 asking price offers and achieved 15.5k over asking. Mine went live on a Tuesday with 5 viewings booked in for the weekend but I accepted an asking price offer on the Thursday.

I would never ever use a 'normal' EA again after this service, even the sales part now and their recommended Solicitor have been outstanding.

Personally I didnt want the agro of people looking around who were not proceedable but then I was fortunate that both houses sold very quickly with the right price and marketing.

canyon2000 · 17/04/2026 09:01

I wouldn't put off putting your house up for sale because you need a new front door. Just do up the one you have now. The housing market usually slows down over the summer holidays. There are more people looking now who want to sell up and move before the start of term in September.

RaucousSwan · 17/04/2026 09:26

Beyondamountainandoverthesea · 17/04/2026 08:40

My DP and I have just sold both our houses with the same agent. Having bought and sold many times and I am pretty well versed on the system. This time however we went with a lone agent (Husband and Wife team) nobody else works for them - they charge more but they have amazing marketing and after sale service. The Husband does all the viewings, he knows the house top to bottom and can answer any questions, he vetted the buyers and would not allow any non proceedable to view.

This was early March - DP had 12 block viewings over 2 days, 6 asking price offers and achieved 15.5k over asking. Mine went live on a Tuesday with 5 viewings booked in for the weekend but I accepted an asking price offer on the Thursday.

I would never ever use a 'normal' EA again after this service, even the sales part now and their recommended Solicitor have been outstanding.

Personally I didnt want the agro of people looking around who were not proceedable but then I was fortunate that both houses sold very quickly with the right price and marketing.

Would you mind sharing their details, please? Sounds like a brilliant service!

Backtosugar · 17/04/2026 09:48

Are you moving within the same area you are selling in as If you are having estate agents over to value it or sign up with one they are more likely to be flexible.letting.your view as you will be a more serious buyer. But it sounds like you are weeks away from putting yours on the market so it's too early to look around. Even if the market is slow where you are then no point getting attached to a property that may have sold or withdrawn from the market (due to slow sales!) by the time you are ready to market yours. Nothing to stop you looking online and doing a drive by of property you are interested in but what's the point of a viewing? You aren't FTB so must have some idea of your criteria and with online videos can get a good feeling for a house without the hassle of viewing at this stage

Jamjam12 · 17/04/2026 15:10

I have offered on a house without mine being on the market, I have decision in principle and savings.
i am not willing to sell up unless I find the right house for me so why would I sell mine first !

AfternoonVanessa · 17/04/2026 19:26

In my neck of the woods (south, close to Berkshire) you can't view without being on the market or having additional funds.

Original poster

Lunchtimehelp · 17/04/2026 20:01

It's great to hear all your points of views and experiences.
Thank you.

OP posts:

ButterYellowHair · 17/04/2026 20:18

I bought mine after Covid (2024). Looked at houses for a year… including months where our place wasn’t on the market. They never asked if mine was on the market. And thankfully not because the day we sold ours we knew the house we wanted was one we’d seen 10 months prior that was relisted. We offered and got into a bidding war with another buyer but got it.

fashionqueen0123 · 17/04/2026 23:08

We have been able to see houses saying we are literally about to go on.
Obviously can’t put offers in though.