Viewing properties whilst own house on market...
Discussion
My house is on the market, viewings but no offers yet.
Has something changed in the last 5 years or so as I have had a very peculiar phone conversation with an estate agent I called today with regards me going to look a property.
I was asked what my situation was and explained as above.
I was then given the distinct impression that I was wasting her time and shouldn'tbe really viewing other properties without being in a position to put in an offer.
Now, I could quite easily have told her that I was in a position to offer, view the house, make offer, offer accepted etc she would be none the wiser at that stage or would she?
Perhaps her client was in no position to rush and if i offered the full asking price she would take it off the market until i accepted an offer on mine. (you never know)
What irked me was that i was given the impression that i was a waste of time and I was in the wrong for doing so.
If it makes any difference I have no doubt that the property will sell very quickly as it is in a desirable location and properties do not come for sale that often.
What do you think?
Has something changed in the last 5 years or so as I have had a very peculiar phone conversation with an estate agent I called today with regards me going to look a property.
I was asked what my situation was and explained as above.
I was then given the distinct impression that I was wasting her time and shouldn'tbe really viewing other properties without being in a position to put in an offer.
Now, I could quite easily have told her that I was in a position to offer, view the house, make offer, offer accepted etc she would be none the wiser at that stage or would she?
Perhaps her client was in no position to rush and if i offered the full asking price she would take it off the market until i accepted an offer on mine. (you never know)
What irked me was that i was given the impression that i was a waste of time and I was in the wrong for doing so.
If it makes any difference I have no doubt that the property will sell very quickly as it is in a desirable location and properties do not come for sale that often.
What do you think?
mr brightside said:
So let me get this right:
The acceptable thing is to only view properties that I may wish to purchase once I have accepted an offer on my own property.
Is that what is being suggested?
Not necessarily accepted, but if you've received an offer and are considering it, then that would be equally proceedable.The acceptable thing is to only view properties that I may wish to purchase once I have accepted an offer on my own property.
Is that what is being suggested?
How would you react if a buyer said to you he would buy your house, but not give a timescale, just when somebody came along to buy his? You'd keep marketing it, wouldn't you, until somebody who was able to proceed made a sensible offer.
SJobson said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Yes, but as a buyer imagine you've just found a house that you want and want to get moving. The seller says - we've not even started looking yet 
Why yikes? That's how it has to work in the majority of cases, where each purchase is dependent upon a related sale.Common place
Most people won't accept an offer without the potential buyer being ready to move. The potential buyer's property could take a year to sell. It could never sell...
Ergo, there's not a lot of point in viewing properties that you 'can't' make an offer on.
If you're paying cash or are buying to let it's a different matter.
I've just put mine on the market. I won't accept an offer from someone who hasn't got an offer on or sold theirs and I'm not viewing anything until I get an offer....
Most people won't accept an offer without the potential buyer being ready to move. The potential buyer's property could take a year to sell. It could never sell...
Ergo, there's not a lot of point in viewing properties that you 'can't' make an offer on.
If you're paying cash or are buying to let it's a different matter.
I've just put mine on the market. I won't accept an offer from someone who hasn't got an offer on or sold theirs and I'm not viewing anything until I get an offer....
SJobson said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Yes, but as a buyer imagine you've just found a house that you want and want to get moving. The seller says - we've not even started looking yet
Why yikes? That's how it has to work in the majority of cases, where each purchase is dependent upon a related sale.It's a rubbish system but seen a lot of this recently; agent asking if you're proceedable, if not they're not interested, sometimes won't show you round.
I understand it from the Vendor's point of view that it is somewhat a waste of time if the viewer can't put an offer in, however when I was selling my house it didn't really bother me. Ultimately if a potential buyer comes in through the door and wants it that badly, half of the time they will be able to sort themselves out to put themselves in a position, or once they are in a position offer on your property almost immediately.
I understand it from the Vendor's point of view that it is somewhat a waste of time if the viewer can't put an offer in, however when I was selling my house it didn't really bother me. Ultimately if a potential buyer comes in through the door and wants it that badly, half of the time they will be able to sort themselves out to put themselves in a position, or once they are in a position offer on your property almost immediately.
GreenDog said:
SJobson said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Yes, but as a buyer imagine you've just found a house that you want and want to get moving. The seller says - we've not even started looking yet
Why yikes? That's how it has to work in the majority of cases, where each purchase is dependent upon a related sale.My experience has been that you get lots of viewings but no more offers if you're free and easy about people coming round. A few targeted viewings seems a far more sensible option for the seller. And the seller's the one calling the shots, since it's their house, and their agent.
just to be clear, i would not put in an offer on a house if mine was not already under offer, and I would not entertain the same from a purchaser.
However, not to be able to at least view a property until the above was the case is streching it a bit in my view.
How does the agent know that I would not accept an offer on my house this afternoon, and in turn offer the asking price on the property I would want to buy?
However, not to be able to at least view a property until the above was the case is streching it a bit in my view.
How does the agent know that I would not accept an offer on my house this afternoon, and in turn offer the asking price on the property I would want to buy?
mr brightside said:
just to be clear, i would not put in an offer on a house if mine was not already under offer, and I would not entertain the same from a purchaser.
However, not to be able to at least view a property until the above was the case is streching it a bit in my view.
How does the agent know that I would not accept an offer on my house this afternoon, and in turn offer the asking price on the property I would want to buy?
To not even show you anything is a bit off. However, not to be able to at least view a property until the above was the case is streching it a bit in my view.
How does the agent know that I would not accept an offer on my house this afternoon, and in turn offer the asking price on the property I would want to buy?
But as other posters have said, many people now won't accept viewings from people who aren't in a position to move straight away.
I have no such qualms - like you say, they may accept an offer the following day/week and then be in a position to buy. If you've previously turned down a viewing they're not likely to come back.
Muzzer said:
Common place
Most people won't accept an offer without the potential buyer being ready to move. The potential buyer's property could take a year to sell. It could never sell...
Ergo, there's not a lot of point in viewing properties that you 'can't' make an offer on.
If you're paying cash or are buying to let it's a different matter.
I've just put mine on the market. I won't accept an offer from someone who hasn't got an offer on or sold theirs and I'm not viewing anything until I get an offer....
That's a strange view in my mind. What are you going to do if someone puts in an offer, but only if you can complete within the next 4 weeks? If you've not started looking yet, then you're fMost people won't accept an offer without the potential buyer being ready to move. The potential buyer's property could take a year to sell. It could never sell...
Ergo, there's not a lot of point in viewing properties that you 'can't' make an offer on.
If you're paying cash or are buying to let it's a different matter.
I've just put mine on the market. I won't accept an offer from someone who hasn't got an offer on or sold theirs and I'm not viewing anything until I get an offer....
ked.The two times we've moved, we've put the house on the market and started looking at the same time. I wouldn't make an offer until I had one on my house, and wouldn't accept one from someone unless they had on theirs, but not starting to look is a completely different matter.
As a Property Solicitor it is something which I can see both sides of the argument to. If the agent is any good they will actually look at both sides of the story and, with their client's approval, will make a decision based upon the relative merits of both parties. Where I work there are certain areas where the properties almost have a waiting list for them, even in this market, and there are also properties which could take 4 years to sell (I have just had instructions on one which has been on the market since March 2007...)
If you are willing to put your money where your mouth is as a Buyer though you could always tempt the Seller with a Lock Out Agreement (done a few of those this year).
As a Seller if I thought someone was serious and they did stand a chance of selling theirs inside a month or two I would still take an offer but make it clear that the property will continue to be marketed, and solicitors will not be instructed, until they have a verified offer agreed.
I have one client who buys a lot of properties who delights in telling sellers that he will only view their property if they have had an offer accepted on their onward purchase or will move to rented if they can't complete within 2 months. They are quite firm about it to which seems to surprise some sellers who seem to think they are the ones in the driving seat.
Personally, and remember I deal with this stuff every day for a living, I have never, and never intend to, Sell and Buy simultaneously. Yes it may mean two house moves, and might not work for someone with 3 kids, but planned properly it take so much stress off and means I can have my pick of the market 99% of the time.
Ejit fo spuin and gromer init
If you are willing to put your money where your mouth is as a Buyer though you could always tempt the Seller with a Lock Out Agreement (done a few of those this year).
As a Seller if I thought someone was serious and they did stand a chance of selling theirs inside a month or two I would still take an offer but make it clear that the property will continue to be marketed, and solicitors will not be instructed, until they have a verified offer agreed.
I have one client who buys a lot of properties who delights in telling sellers that he will only view their property if they have had an offer accepted on their onward purchase or will move to rented if they can't complete within 2 months. They are quite firm about it to which seems to surprise some sellers who seem to think they are the ones in the driving seat.
Personally, and remember I deal with this stuff every day for a living, I have never, and never intend to, Sell and Buy simultaneously. Yes it may mean two house moves, and might not work for someone with 3 kids, but planned properly it take so much stress off and means I can have my pick of the market 99% of the time.
Ejit fo spuin and gromer init
Edited by Rude-boy on Friday 30th April 15:53
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