Time wasting househunters

Thank you for all the helpful responses.

We asked that only those with their property under offer viewed ours. It made no difference, though, as the useless estate agent just asked them.

One couple, in particular, seemed to be gathering ideas for how to update their own place - very annoying.

Another chap turned out to be a friend of the agent, just there to boost the number of viewers, I believe.

I did wonder if he was due to make a low offer, too, so we'd decide to reduce the asking price. Of course, the agent was pushing that idea - as they go for quick turnover, rather than best offer.

We sacked the agent, then sold independently for a lot more.

Look round your area at houses which have sold and note the names of the agents.
Get about 3 of them to come round and give you a valuation.
Pick the one who is most enthusiastic and who has sold property near you recently because they will have other clients who are looking for property in the area. Let them do photos, brochure, window display internet etc.
Arrange with them a viewing morning when 2 or 3 people will come round or a day if there is more interest. Let the agent do the showing round (I went out for coffee)
Repeat last if necessary.
I did 2 mornings but the first person who saw it actually bought it.

You could ask your estate agent to arrange one of those open days, where you go out for the day and they get as many prospective purchasers to view the property as possible. After that you can never really be sure whether people are really serious viewers or not, but it is up to your agent to vet their status as to whether they would be able to afford the purchase. As far as stupid offers are concerned, we had one several years ago when we marketed our house, it is of course your prerogative to turn such offers down. You should mention to your estate agent what figure you wont drop below, but an estate agent is still obliged to pass any offers on to you.

We sold our house this year and got the asking price, it all depends on the market at the time, as stated we got a stupid offer a couple of years ago and decided to just withdraw our house from the market and shelve our moving plans, that depends on whether you really need to move right now. As you say, having to keep your house immaculate when life goes on around you is a bit of a drag, worse when our children were at home. Just pack away any surface clutter and present your home in the best possible light.

I wish you good luck, let us know how it goes.

I haven’t but I know it can happen. I would suggest using a good agent who before allowing them to view vets people and makes sure they are in a position to buy (mortgage offer in principle or ready cash) house already under offer and preferably not in a chain or chain complete. Ours did that. Most nosy parkers won’t be able to stand that level of scrutiny. If your agent wobbles about doing this (eats into the big fee) then find another who will commit to being a gatekeeper. Good luck!

Having sold a lot of properties we have an expression “buyers are liars”

You must tell the agent you will only show the property to purchasers with funds in place and a property sold or under offer.

A property we recently purchased we had to give proof of funds before viewing.

Yup - drives you mad. Sometimes it is obvious they are just there for a nose.

But recently because of covid estate agents are only supposed to send viewers whose ability to proceed they have checked. But even at the height of the pandemic (when I was selling) I am not convinced they checked very thoroughly.

I got very fed up with tidying up!

I think time wasters are part of selling a property, you could always ask your estate agent a few questions about the interested buyers;

Who is the buyer?
Do they have a mortgage arranged in principle?
Who is the mortgage lender?
How much deposit do they have?
Are they in a chain? If they are, what is the status with the chain and who else is involved in the chain?
What is their timescale?
Are there any conditions of their offer?