In this article, we’ll take a look at why we think it’s best that as the agent, we carry out the viewings.
Firstly, we tend to receive honest and up front initial feedback from potential buyers. We find that it’s quite difficult for people to say what they think when the owner is present, whether that’s good or bad!
When the agent is present, viewers tend to speak out loud about their ideas for the home, what will or won’t work for them and often get the agent involved in conversation.
This is a great opportunity for us to get a real feel for what the viewers thoughts are.
Often when sellers are present, viewers tend to keep the conversation to pleasantries, which isn’t always helpful in terms of real feedback!
As agents, we can also have longer conversations with the viewers where we delve deeper into the details of their search, such as which other properties they’ve viewed, how the one they’re viewing compares to what they’ve already seen and discuss exactly what they’re looking for in a home.
They’ll often go into extra detail about the home that they’re looking at and we can discuss whether changes or amendments can be made if there’s something about the property that isn’t quite right. Being in a neutral position as an agent can be beneficial in this situation, as it can sometimes be a sensitive conversation for a seller. It’s also much easier for the viewer to envision themselves living in the property when there’s no distractions. Owners, children and pets can sometimes be tricky to look past! It also gives the agent the ability to concentrate fully on the buyers rather than chatting with the sellers at the same time! Overall, what everyone really wants is for the viewers to be able to fully concentrate on the home. Many of our viewers have often mentioned how much they prefer to view a house with an agent rather than a seller as it adds a level of comfort.
Furthermore, viewers often know within the first few minutes if a house is right for them or not and they’ll often tell an agent up front if it’s an almost immediate no, whereas if the seller is present or carrying out the viewing, they’ll be more likely to continue the viewing, exchanging pleasantries so as not to offend, but of course this may well be a waste of time for all parties!
Another benefit of an agent carrying out the viewing is sellers not being put on the spot with immediate offers or awkward questions - having the buffer of an agent helps alleviate this!
Of course, we do understand that not every viewing will turn into a sale, however ultimately what we’re looking for is a good understanding of whether it could be an option for them and if it’s not, then why not. This information can help both the seller and the buyer going forward.
In terms of convenience for the seller, viewings can take place whilst they’re at work, on holiday, at an appointment etc, so minimal disruption! We feel that if you’re paying an agent to sell your home, accompanied viewings should be part of that service for the many reasons mentioned!
The role of a proactive estate agent is looking after you and the sale of your home from beginning to end, and viewings are a huge part of that.
Lastly, at AKS, we ensure that the agents carrying out the viewings are the agents that created the marketing, so that they know as much there is to know about the home from day 1. We also ask our sellers to complete an FAQ sheet so that we have the answers to questions commonly asked by buyers so that we attend viewings fully prepared!
We hope you find this article helpful and thank you for taking the time to read!
