House viewing - tell the truth?
#16
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
It's a total waste of time - especially on new houses like this, as they're always going to come out with a reasonable rating.
The searches part saves a bit of time, but would have been done by solicitors in the end anyway....
The searches part saves a bit of time, but would have been done by solicitors in the end anyway....
#18
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
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Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
If the house was unoccupied and a potential buyer wanted to view and was only available to see it in the evening the would do 7pm. They are just getting off lightly because they are so used to people being willing to show their own houses.
#19
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 139
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
Estate agent did it for £230 inc VAT, which was reasonable..... however, with hindsight, think I should have waited till we had an offer - don't think you need to do it upfront, just before completion. If we end up renting it out now instead, that £230 will be wasted. On the brightside, if we do get an offer, it will let us complete quickly and we can move ASAP (have a job waiting for me!)
Our lawyer said they'll compile HIPS 'free' if we use them for conveyancing, hmm, just a small fortune then....
Some agents offer this 'free' HIPS deal, too, but it's built in whichever way, I guess.
#21
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
What a lazy lazy bastard My agent here in Toronto stayed here for 3 hours on Sunday while the buyer showed various contractors around so I didn't have to deal with them.
#22
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
The agent did all the viewing for my sons recent sale as he was expected to do.
I guess it's that different UK system again?
#24
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Location: Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
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Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
Whilst it's probably unfair to compare the service offered by UK estate agents (circa 1% commission) with that offered by Canadian realtors (circa 3% commission), you should still be able to get showings on evenings and weekends.
Estate agents vary tremendously and it is well worth doing your homework before you instruct.
My husband and his sister sold their parents house a couple of years ago after their father died. They went to a local agent who had been there for years to sell the house and didn't really shop around much. The service they got was appalling. On a couple of occasions people had booked viewings and the agent never turned up. They never returned calls, repeatedly got the details and changes wrong. Lost the phone number of someone who made an offer so they couldn't call him back with the answer....the list is endless. The crowning glory is that 2 years on despite several phone calls from us, they still haven't sent the bill.
When we put our house up for sale my OH thought that I was OTT on choosing the agent. I treated like an interview and judged them on answers. I visited their shop as a potential buyer to see what the front line service was like, I phone them on several occasions to check out the telephone manner. I vetted ads in the paper and I checked out websites for ease of navigation. The result has bee that the agent we chose has been fabulous. They bend over backwards to help, they have listened to us, helped us consider ideas, called us back in the evening when we asked them to, offered to do viewings, handled negotiations and generally been complete stars. This is all in the background of them being a family run business and in the last few months they have had a sudden death in the family, illness and death of an elderly relative and the daughter who works in the office has had a baby. My house may not have sold yet, but they couldn't have tried any harder if they had been selling their own house.
So there are good agents out there, you just have to sort the wheat from the chaff in order to find them.
Estate agents vary tremendously and it is well worth doing your homework before you instruct.
My husband and his sister sold their parents house a couple of years ago after their father died. They went to a local agent who had been there for years to sell the house and didn't really shop around much. The service they got was appalling. On a couple of occasions people had booked viewings and the agent never turned up. They never returned calls, repeatedly got the details and changes wrong. Lost the phone number of someone who made an offer so they couldn't call him back with the answer....the list is endless. The crowning glory is that 2 years on despite several phone calls from us, they still haven't sent the bill.
When we put our house up for sale my OH thought that I was OTT on choosing the agent. I treated like an interview and judged them on answers. I visited their shop as a potential buyer to see what the front line service was like, I phone them on several occasions to check out the telephone manner. I vetted ads in the paper and I checked out websites for ease of navigation. The result has bee that the agent we chose has been fabulous. They bend over backwards to help, they have listened to us, helped us consider ideas, called us back in the evening when we asked them to, offered to do viewings, handled negotiations and generally been complete stars. This is all in the background of them being a family run business and in the last few months they have had a sudden death in the family, illness and death of an elderly relative and the daughter who works in the office has had a baby. My house may not have sold yet, but they couldn't have tried any harder if they had been selling their own house.
So there are good agents out there, you just have to sort the wheat from the chaff in order to find them.
#25
Nearly there! Tick, tock!
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne now, soon to be Truro, NS
Posts: 201
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
do we tell them the truth about moving to Canada?
If I'm forced into a corner I have decided to tell viewers that I have inherited a house out of the area from a relation, sounds slightly macabre I know, but would explain why I have no upward chain.
#26
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
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Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
I really can't get over the British need to explain themselves to people. They are buying your house, not a share in your life!
It is none of their business where you are going and why. You don't need to lie about it...just don't tell them.
It is none of their business where you are going and why. You don't need to lie about it...just don't tell them.
#27
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
What's people's opinion on a low offer? We've already dropped 5% (in 6 weeks) and we're £4K lower (at £149K) than the closest comparable house.
We're expecting people to come in lower than the asking price, but what's to be expected in this market?
We're expecting people to come in lower than the asking price, but what's to be expected in this market?
#28
Nearly there! Tick, tock!
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne now, soon to be Truro, NS
Posts: 201
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
It is none of their business where you are going and why. You don't need to lie about it...just don't tell them.
When the viewer asks, 'so where are you moving to?' what would say?
'I'M NOT TELLING YOU!!!'
#29
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,549
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
If you get an offer you have to really consider it no matter how low, if you are lucky the people will move up a bit if you hold out.
I have seen a number of people in the past who have turned down low offers and ended up selling even lower months down the line when they are desperate.
Obviously you need enough money to get on with your lives, but don't risk cutting your nose off to spite your face. If 20 years time when you have in Canada, happy with your new lives and your mortgage paid, will you really be sitting there wishing you have held out for that extra £10k?
I have seen a number of people in the past who have turned down low offers and ended up selling even lower months down the line when they are desperate.
Obviously you need enough money to get on with your lives, but don't risk cutting your nose off to spite your face. If 20 years time when you have in Canada, happy with your new lives and your mortgage paid, will you really be sitting there wishing you have held out for that extra £10k?
#30
Re: House viewing - tell the truth?
how about 'i fancy a change'. cant say much to that can they!