As a homeowner looking to sell your property, conducting your own house viewings can be a rewarding experience. It allows you to showcase your home’s best features and connect directly with potential buyers. Here’s how to make the most of this opportunity.
Table of Contents
Mastering the Art of House Viewings: A Seller's Guide
Before opening your doors to viewers, ensure your home is in top shape:
- Declutter and deep clean: Create a spacious, inviting atmosphere.
- Make minor repairs: Fix leaky taps, squeaky doors, and loose handles.
- Boost kerb appeal: Tidy the garden, paint the front door if needed.
- Neutralise odours: Air out the house and avoid strong cooking smells.
- Set the right temperature: Ensure the house is comfortably warm or cool.
Creating a Viewing Strategy
- Plan your route through the house:
- Start with a strong first impression: Begin in an impressive room.
- Flow logically: Move through the house in a natural sequence.
- Save a highlight for last: End on a high note, perhaps with a lovely garden view.
During the Viewing
When potential buyers arrive:
- Greet them warmly: Offer a friendly welcome and introduce yourself.
- Allow them space: Let viewers explore rooms at their own pace.
- Be prepared to answer questions: Know your home’s key features and local amenities.
- Highlight unique selling points: Mention recent improvements or energy-efficient features.
- Be honest: If there are known issues, disclose them upfront.
Mastering the Art of Presentation
As you guide viewers:
- Tell your home’s story: Share what you’ve loved about living there.
- Point out practical features: Storage solutions, versatile spaces, etc.
- Discuss potential: If there’s scope for extension or renovation, mention it.
- Be enthusiastic but not pushy: Let your genuine love for the home shine through.
Follow-Up
After the viewing:
- Thank viewers for their time.
- Ask for feedback: This can help improve future viewings.
- Provide your contact details for any follow-up questions.
Top Tips for Success
- Practice your ‘tour’ beforehand to ensure you cover all key points.
- Keep pets away during viewings to avoid distractions.
- Open curtains and turn on lights to create a bright, welcoming atmosphere.
- Have relevant paperwork handy, such as energy performance certificates.
- Be flexible with viewing times to accommodate potential buyers’ schedules.
Don’t Forget the Bathrooms and Toilets
Clean bathrooms and toilets by getting rid of toiletries, sponges, makeup and any other bulky items which have accumulated.
Ensure bath and shower fittings are spotless and open windows to reduce moisture. Replace any bath and shower sealants which have mould.
How long should a house viewing last?
A typical house viewing should last between 20-30 minutes. This gives potential buyers enough time to explore the property thoroughly without feeling rushed or overstaying their welcome.
For larger homes or particularly interested buyers, viewings may extend to 45-60 minutes. Always be prepared to accommodate longer visits if buyers show genuine interest.
What questions should I be prepared to answer during a house viewing?
Be ready to address queries about:
- The property’s age and any major renovations
- Energy efficiency and utility costs
- Council tax band and local amenities
- Reasons for selling and how long the property has been on the market
- Neighbour relations and any boundary issues
- Parking arrangements and local transport links
- Any known structural issues or required repairs. Having this information at your fingertips will demonstrate your knowledge and transparency, potentially increasing buyer confidence.
Should I leave potential buyers alone during a viewing?
While it’s generally best to accompany viewers to answer questions and highlight features, there are moments when giving them space can be beneficial. After guiding them through the property, allow 5-10 minutes for them to revisit rooms or discuss privately.
This can help them feel more comfortable and imagine themselves living in the space. However, remain available nearby to address any further queries they might have.
Honesty is the Best Policy
It is important to never feel as though you need to conceal any potential defects in your home. Typically, the phrase ‘buyer beware’ has been associated with residential sales, but attempting to deceive potential viewers is unlikely to lead to a successful sale.
The best you can do is make sure your buyer is well-informed about the details of your property, regardless of if you believe some of the details may discourage buyers.
It may be tempting to declare that you and your neighbours get along well, even if there is an ongoing dispute regarding a boundary or noise. The truth will usually come out eventually, and if you have previously sold your home, the buyer may seek recompense from you.
How can we help?
Don’t want to go through the trouble of dealing with these things? We’ll buy your house for cash! Let us take care of everything for you. Give us a call or fill out the form below to get started.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
