A Guide to Conducting Your Own Viewings

While most estate agents will arrange viewings attended by an agent, it goes without saying that there is nobody who knows your house as well as you. Many agents, especially online estate agents, will give you the option of conducting viewings yourself or having an agent attend.

If you choose to show around prospective buyers yourself, you may be wondering how to conduct the perfect viewings. Viewing a property can either make or break whether someone decides to submit an offer, so it’s vitally important that you get it right.

In this article, House Sales Direct, an online estate agent specialising in selling properties quickly, provide their top tips for conducting exceptional viewingsto give you the best possible chance of selling your property in record time!

De-clutter, tidy and clean! 

This is arguably the single most important thing to do before you let prospective buyers into your home, however it is surprising how many sellers neglect this.

If your home cluttered, it can be difficult for prospective buyers to fully appreciate the space your home has to offer. People want to be able to picture their own possessions in the property and this can be difficult if there is an excess amount of clutter. If your stuff is strewn all over the place it can also serve to distract buyers, who may become more focused on the mess as opposed to the property itself.

Doing a thorough clean will also help create the best possible impression, get rid of smells and demonstrate that you care for the property.

Think about smell 

Aside from getting rid of unpleasant smells, it’s important to ensure that your property smells good.

There has been a good amount of research into how smells can help or hinder the sale of your property. Smells that sell include the smell of freshly baked bread, fresh coffee, citrus, pine and cinnamon. If you can’t be bothered to bake bread or don’t like coffee, it’s certainly worth investing in air fresheners or reed diffusers.

Smells that will hinder the sale of your property include the smell of cigarette smoke, pet odours and mould and mildew. If your home has any of these smells you should ventilate the property and take the necessary measures to remove them. If you own a pet, try to ensure that they are not in the property during viewings as your viewers may have allergies or may not like pets.

Provide a warm welcome

When your visitors arrive, you should ensure a warm and friendly welcome. While your guests are not there to judge you, how you make them feel when you welcome them will directly affect how comfortable they feel in your property and will affect their overall opinion.

Make sure you relax and smile and are friendly and outgoing when you greet people at the door. Don’t be afraid to ask them to take their shoes off as this can help replicate the feeling of being at home.

Start with the best part of the property 

First impressions count! Be sure to show your viewers the best part of your property first as this will create an initial wow-factor and set the tone for the rest of the viewing.

If you have a large, modern kitchen with a central island, you may want to show this off first, or if your property has spectacular views, be sure to show these off.

You should pre-plan a route that you will take viewers around your property, kicking off with the best parts first.

Tell buyers what is good about your property 

Some people may feel shy when it comes to boasting about their property, but it’s important that buyers are aware of reasons why your property stand out that aren’t necessarily obvious to the eye.

For example, instead of just saying “this is the garden”, you could explain that your garden is south-facing and benefits from the sun all day. If you have a nice patio, explain that you have had many enjoyable afternoons outside in the sun with friends. This will make your visitors picture how their own lives would play out in your property.

Counter any negatives 

If a prospective buyer makes a negative comment, such as how a particular room is small, you could counter this by explaining that a wall could be knocked down to make the space bigger.

Don’t be afraid to point out negatives that viewers may be thinking about, but be sure to end the point on a positive or resolution to the issue.

Allow your viewers time alone to wander round the property 

You don’t want your viewers to feel rushed or like they are being escorted around the property. Giving them time to explore your home at their own pace allows them to fully take your property in and feel relaxed whilst doing so.

Give them an initial tour but then allow them to look around at their own pace. On the tour they may have not had enough time to look around certain rooms, so allowing them time to do this is important.

This article was written by an online estate agent House Sales Direct. If you wish to sell your house fast and for free, then head over to the House Sales Direct website for more property related information and enquiries.