Selling a house can be an uncertain time, and viewings can be particularly nerve-wracking. Sellers often ask our teams how many viewings their property will need, how best to conduct them, and what to do if they’re not getting any viewings at all. We’ve outlined the answers to all these questions and more in the article below.
How Many Viewings Will I Need to Arrange to Sell My House?
A lot of sellers ask us this question, and are surprised by the answer. Exactly how many viewings it will take to sell your property will depend on many factors such as the local market, the type of property you’re selling, the asking price, and more. But the number of viewings you’ll need to arrange before getting an offer isn’t as high as you might think.
In fact, recent research has found that an average of just 17 viewings are needed to sell a house in the UK.
Properties in the north sell with fewer viewings on average, while properties in London can need as many as 23 viewings before they sell.
How Many Viewings Should I Aim For?
You’ll see the majority of viewings in the first week your property is on the market as eager buyers flock to see a new property. A good estate agent will often have a list of buyers lined up to view your property before it’s widely advertised.
It might seem like interest dies down after that first week, but that’s normal. After the initial rush has passed, you should expect to arrange one or two viewings a week.
Have you ever considered when the best time to sell a house is? The time of year can have a bearing on how many viewings your property receives.
How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?
When you’re selling your home, it might feel like the process is taking forever, or it might feel like everything’s moving very fast! The fact is that the average time to sell a property is falling as solicitors and estate agents find more efficient ways of doing things. It now takes an average of just 42 days to get a sale agreed on a house, and between four to six weeks to complete.
If you want more information about how long it takes to sell a house, our full guide goes through the entire selling process for you.
Do Second Views Result in Offers?
Buyers are often advised to view a property more than once, but does this advice result in offers for the seller?
The person viewing your home might simply be clarifying a few things before making an offer.
Or perhaps they’ve exhausted the market and are giving previously viewed property another chance.
Either way, someone viewing your property a second time is going to be looking at it with a more critical eye. They may have more in-depth questions or be taking a closer look at certain parts of your property. So while a second viewing doesn’t guarantee an offer, you should do your best to present your home in the best possible light.
So what steps should you take to maximise your chances of getting an offer?
Tips for Creating House Viewings That Attract Offers
The goal of a viewing is simple: you want the prospective buyer to imagine themselves living in the house. It might feel like you’re hiding the personality of your home, but you’re actually painting a blank canvas onto which a buyer can paint a mental picture of their life – and encourage them to put in an offer!
- Kerb appeal: first impressions matter. Mow the lawn, tidy the drive, clean the windows, or give the door a lick of (neutral) paint. Find out more about improving kerb appeal
- Pet people? Your potential buyer may not own pets, so clear up pet hair, tidy away food bowls and toys.
- A sense of space: remove some furniture to give viewers a sense of how big your rooms are.
- Clean up: from the bath to the oven, give everything a thorough clean. No-one wants to see a grubby oven in their dream home!
- Declutter: remove mountains of toiletries from the bathroom, stacks of clothing from the airing cupboard, piles of kid’s toys from every room.
- Fresh air: open some windows to let in fresh air and clear out any old or stale smells.
- Spruce up your spruces: mow the lawn, tidy the garden, and trim back any bushes, trees, or weeds!
- Consider redecorating: you might love the bold colours or the antique wallpaper, but it might put off buyers. Consider redecorating; the investment could pay dividends!
For more insights into our team has put together a guide to conducting a house viewing.
Why Am I Not Getting Any Viewings and How Can I Get More?
It can be disappointing to put your property on the market and no-one books a viewing. But don’t worry; there’s usually a straightforward reason behind it.
You’re Asking For Too Much
The biggest reason we see for not getting viewings is that the property is priced too high. If you listed it yourself, or your estate agent didn’t discuss the asking price with you, it’s possible that you’ve priced yourself out of consideration.
Take a look at similar properties in your local area and how much they’ve been listed for. Try to be objective; it’s easy to see your home as being worth more than it is!
You’re Not Presenting it Well Enough
It’s easy for you to see your home in the best light, even if the guttering is a little dirty, there’s a little clutter under the stairs, or the photos on your property listing are a little dark.
But for a prospective buyer, all of these things can be off-putting. Each viewing takes time and effort, and they might not be prepared to give you a chance.
A well-presented home will make them eager to arrange that viewing. If you need help with presenting your home, a good estate agent can give you personalised advice to attract more viewings.
You’re Not Being Flexible Enough
You might be tempted to keep viewings to certain times or days to minimise the disruption to your life. But the disruption won’t last forever, while being inflexible can limit the number of viewings you’ll get.
Remember that your property is just one of many on the market. Each viewing is a potential offer, an offer that might be placed on another property while the buyer is wrangling with your schedule. Try to be as flexible as you can; the disruption is temporary.
Why Isn’t My House Selling and What Can I Do About It?
If your property has been on the market for a while and it’s just not selling, it can be both stressful and upsetting. In these circumstances, it’s best to ask for help from a professional. They can use their experience of selling houses and their knowledge of the local property market to turn your fortunes around.
We’ve helped over 30,000 customers along their property journey, and we secured 99% of the asking price on average in 2021. Our local estate agent teams can use their experience to help you attract the right buyer, prepare your house for viewings, conduct the viewings for you, and secure the right price for your home.
Speak to our team today to find out how we can help you arrange the viewing that secures the right offer for your home.
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