Potential home buyer has requested a second viewing without the homeowner present, reasonable?

[UberTiger]

A family member has their home for sale.

They work full time and have viewings by appointment only to ensure the place is nice and tidy for any prospective buyers. This means they're around for any viewings that the estate agents has with prospective buyers.

We always give them space and leave them to it as they look around, and are around to answer any questions about the premises and the surrounding area if they have any. We absolutely don't hover over them and always move to other areas of the property as they make their way around so they don't feel like we're on top of them so they can take their time.

One potential buyer has viewed once and has requested another viewing, but without us present.

This kind of rubs us up the wrong way.

On the one hand I can understand that a potential buyer might want a bit of time a lone to take in the property and the feel.

On the other hand we feel this is our home, where all our everything in our life is, and it feels off that we should have to leave a prospective buyer alone to peruse it at their request.

Is it unreasonable for us to want to be present for any viewings and not want to grant this request?

 

[mickyflinn]

Dont take it personally if you get the sale then you will be more than happy to move on, just specify the estate agent must escort the buyer around at all times.

Dont leave any items of value that can be easily pockted e.g watches jewellry, just in case they are thieves.

 

[the_r_sole]

You can say no, it might just put this buyer off...
When you are selling you're kind of at the mercy of silly demands, tbh i wouldn't let someone in on their own unless they were accompanied by the agent

 

[Maundie]

Is it unreasonable for us to want to be present for any viewings and not want to grant this request?

I don't think you're being unreasonable but then again it depends how urgently you want rid of the house, as said it may put them off but what I would worry about is why they don't want the actual homeowners present.

 

[Participant]

I can only imagine the prospective buyers want to feel they can speak freely without the fear of offending the home owner? Bit odd though.

 

[Burned_Alive]

As long as they're with the agent, fine. They may just want to look in cupboards and doors, etc but feel they cant do it with you present.

 

[Amp34]

When we were looking it felt weird being in the house when the owner was there, even if they weren't around you at the time, so I don't think it's weird for them to ask. It probably means they want more time to look without feeling like someone is looking over their shoulder and listening in to their conversation.

As the buyer I thought it was weird the owner being in the house at the time. It doesn't take much to vacate the house for a short time while a potential buyer looks round.

As long as they have the agent with them I'm not sure what the problem is?

 

[ahar]

Certainly doesn't feel like an odd request. We had a viewing today and made ourselves scarce for 45 mins. I can understand them not wanting the homeowner present - going round with them there can be uncomfortable

 

[Pabl0]

I'd agreed with what has been written above. When we purchased our first house the home owner wasn't around so we were free to speak our mind (regarding decoration/furniture placement etc.) and the second visit we were more then happy to have the owners round to ask questions regarding the actual house that would slow the process if asked through solicitors once we had agreed to purchase.

 

[SPG]

Just tell them a flat No.

If they want they will have to fit in with what you want, not what they want.

By all means do not follow them around though, unless they ask for you. As for opening up cupboards etc in the bedroom that is out bounds

 

[Surfer]

cctv

 

[Abyss]

Perfectly reasonable request. Many find it uncomfortable having the homeowner in the property. We did a viewing recently where the homeowner was present, they were very polite, left us to look around etc but it still feels odd.

If you are selling your house you need to detach your emotions from it, your agent is there to do the viewings and your role is to keep out the way if required.

 

[DampCat]

Not for me I'm afraid. That'd be a no.

 

[HangTime]

Reasonable request IMO providing they are flexible on timing (i.e. viewing at a time that suits) but equally you can refuse if you aren't desperate to sell. When we sold our last house we deliberately vacated the property for viewing. When we viewed another property my wife felt a bit awkward with the vendors being present, although it didn't bother me.

In that position personally I would agree to the request because presumably they must be fairly interested to warrant a second viewing.

 

[coupe69]

In that position personally I would agree to the request because presumably they must be fairly interested to warrant a second viewing.

Absolutely this ^^

We've looked at lots of properties over the years and always preferred it when the owner wasn't about. Similarly we had no problem with the agent taking prospective buyers around our homes. I'm not a salesman and would rather somebody who is do the selling!

Providing they're with an agent I can't see what the problem is.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

As long as they're with the agent, fine. They may just want to look in cupboards and doors, etc but feel they cant do it with you present.

why not? when i've viewed homes I've looked into boiler cupboards, storage cupboards, even attics, etc. your potentially buying the thing you should be able to look aty what your getting.

Dont take it personally if you get the sale then you will be more than happy to move on, just specify the estate agent must escort the buyer around at all times.

Dont leave any items of value that can be easily pockted e.g watches jewellry, just in case they are thieves.

agents will never escort them at all times. they usually do a tour then leave them to look over it again if they want to. also I doubt thieves would do this tbh but you never know plus people who steal stuff from homes tend to be hardened criminals and you can spot them a mile off.

Certainly doesn't feel like an odd request. We had a viewing today and made ourselves scarce for 45 mins. I can understand them not wanting the homeowner present - going round with them there can be uncomfortable

how so? in fact for every 10 viewings I've went to, 9 of them have been done by the homeowner themselves.

When we were looking it felt weird being in the house when the owner was there, even if they weren't around you at the time, so I don't think it's weird for them to ask. It probably means they want more time to look without feeling like someone is looking over their shoulder and listening in to their conversation.

As the buyer I thought it was weird the owner being in the house at the time. It doesn't take much to vacate the house for a short time while a potential buyer looks round.

As long as they have the agent with them I'm not sure what the problem is?

again as above. i think it would be weird for the homeowner not to be there. plus estate agents don't really care i've found from my own experience. plus i would prefer if the estate agent wasn't there tbh so I could speak to the owner directly without some middle man giving me the run about. when i bought my home i sat down with the home owner on my first viewing and done the deal with him there and then and shook his hand. i know an estate agent would have made me pay more for it by lying through their teeth.

Perfectly reasonable request. Many find it uncomfortable having the homeowner in the property. We did a viewing recently where the homeowner was present, they were very polite, left us to look around etc but it still feels odd.

If you are selling your house you need to detach your emotions from it, your agent is there to do the viewings and your role is to keep out the way if required.

it's not a reasonable request IMO. as above for every 10 viewings i've been to 9 of them have been done by the homeowners themselves. also why would it feel odd? they are people you know much like yourself. also IMO you are the best person to sell your own house as you know every detail of it. most estate agents don't care or have a clue. all they usually know is the details in the ad.

Absolutely this ^^

We've looked at lots of properties over the years and always preferred it when the owner wasn't about. Similarly we had no problem with the agent taking prospective buyers around our homes. I'm not a salesman and would rather somebody who is do the selling!

Providing they're with an agent I can't see what the problem is.

why do you prefer the owner not being there? also every estate agent i've met just went room to room saying, this is the kitchen, this is bedroom 1, this is the dining room, stuff i could have figured out myself. if anything they are terrible at selling, they don't care tbh from my past experience with them.

 

[Richie]

I am just amused that the OP starts the post as if it's not their house then, in the same post, it switches to being them that's selling the house

 

[Burned_Alive]

why not? when i've viewed homes I've looked into boiler cupboards, storage cupboards, even attics, etc. your potentially buying the thing you should be able to look aty what your getting.

No, I agree with you. But some buyer's feel awkward or they dont feel comfortable doing this while the homeowner is present. You should absolutely check inside anything that is built in (i.e. not furniture being removed).

 

[PlacidCasual]

As long as there will be an agent present, and I can't imagine any allowing a viewing without one, then it is entirely reasonable to request a viewing without the owner present. Unless you are housebound or work from home I don't see why they shouldn't be able to view at a convenient time for you. As many people have said knowing the owner is in the house can put you off or encourage you to be less candid or nosey. I have been house hunting twice in the last 5 years and the owner present visits were far shorter and less productive. None of the owners were unfriendly or unwelcoming but with them in the house it's their home, not potentially my future home.

Ultimately if you don't want people in without being there that is your prerogative but I don't think they are being unreasonable.

 

[Mark M]

I wouldn't let anyone in the house without me being present. I've only sold one house to be fair but I showed people around and then told them to have a good look about while I made myself scarce.