How To Be The First To View A Property

So, you’re hunting for a new property. Exciting times! It’s always exhilarating if you are looking for your next home or investment property, but how do you make sure you get to see the properties you’re interested in before everybody else. 

Here, I will give you some top tips to ensure you’re in the position to make a move before other interested buyers! 

Starting with the easy stuff: 

Set Up Rightmove And Zoopla Alerts 

When you know what type of property you are interested in, the price and a general idea of where, you can save this search on Rightmove and Zoopla. This makes life easier when you want to see what new properties have come to the market. 

Not only this, but you can get an instant email alert for any property that matches your criteria. This means you’ll be able to call the agent as soon as possible. 

Register Your Interest With Local Agents 

Don’t just rely on email alerts. When we get a property on the market, we immediately call all buyers we have registered with us who could be interested.  

We might even be on the phone to them before photos of the property have even been taken. For example, we recently sold a property on Wharf Road within 2 hours of paperwork being signed. 

Keep Bugging Them! 

A good agent keeps in touch with all the buyers they have registered. But not all agents are created equal! Some will forget about you if you registered just a few weeks ago.  

If you haven’t heard from an agent for a week or two, give them a call and let them know you’re still looking. I know it should be their job, but you don’t want to miss out if your ideal property comes up! 

Ideally, speak to the same person at the office. This way you can build a rapport and they are less likely to forget you. 

Make Sure You’re Ready To Buy 

In a strong seller’s market, an agent could have buyers coming out of their ears! Make sure you stand out from the crowd. 

Ensure you have everything ready to make an offer. This means having a mortgage approved, proof of funds available for a deposit and, if you’re selling a property, have it ready to list on the market. 

We have heard of some agents who have refused to do viewings unless a buyer has all of these in place. 

Ask The Three Magic Questions 

When you are registering with agents, or just ringing round with ones that haven’t been in contact for a little while, ask these three questions: 

1. What have you got on the market that might suit me? – They’ll inevitably try to sell you a property that is nothing like what you’re after, but it gets the conversation flowing and they will further understand what you are looking for 

1. What have you got coming up? – They might not have anything on the market right now, but they may have a valuation booked in for later on in the week that could be perfect! 

1. What have you got that might not go through? – Roughly one in six properties do not sell for any number of reasons. There could be a mortgage issue or a break in the chain, so put yourself in a position to nip in and get the home of your dreams! 

Call about sold houses

As mentioned, around one in six house sales fall through.  

If you have seen a property that you want but it’s listed as sold, give the agent a ring anyway and let them know you will be interested should the sale not proceed. Agents will add you to the file and you’ll get a call if anything should go wrong (or from your point of view, ‘Right!’) So, you’re hunting for a new property. Exciting times! It’s always exhilarating if you are looking for your next home or investment property, but how do you make sure you get to see the properties you’re interested in before everybody else. 

Here, I will give you some top tips to ensure you’re in the position to make a move before other interested buyers! 

Starting with the easy stuff: 

Set Up Rightmove And Zoopla Alerts 

When you know what type of property you are interested in, the price and a general idea of where, you can save this search on Rightmove and Zoopla. This makes life easier when you want to see what new properties have come to the market. 

Not only this, but you can get an instant email alert for any property that matches your criteria. This means you’ll be able to call the agent as soon as possible. 

Register Your Interest With Local Agents 

Don’t just rely on email alerts. When we get a property on the market, we immediately call all buyers we have registered with us who could be interested.  

We might even be on the phone to them before photos of the property have even been taken. For example, we recently sold a property on Wharf Road within 2 hours of paperwork being signed. 

Keep Bugging Them! 

A good agent keeps in touch with all the buyers they have registered. But not all agents are created equal! Some will forget about you if you registered just a few weeks ago.  

If you haven’t heard from an agent for a week or two, give them a call and let them know you’re still looking. I know it should be their job, but you don’t want to miss out if your ideal property comes up! 

Ideally, speak to the same person at the office. This way you can build a rapport and they are less likely to forget you. 

Make Sure You’re Ready To Buy 

In a strong seller’s market, an agent could have buyers coming out of their ears! Make sure you stand out from the crowd. 

Ensure you have everything ready to make an offer. This means having a mortgage approved, proof of funds available for a deposit and, if you’re selling a property, have it ready to list on the market. 

We have heard of some agents who have refused to do viewings unless a buyer has all of these in place. 

Ask The Three Magic Questions 

When you are registering with agents, or just ringing round with ones that haven’t been in contact for a little while, ask these three questions: 

1. What have you got on the market that might suit me? – They’ll inevitably try to sell you a property that is nothing like what you’re after, but it gets the conversation flowing and they will further understand what you are looking for 

1. What have you got coming up? – They might not have anything on the market right now, but they may have a valuation booked in for later on in the week that could be perfect! 

1. What have you got that might not go through? – Roughly one in six properties do not sell for any number of reasons. There could be a mortgage issue or a break in the chain, so put yourself in a position to nip in and get the home of your dreams! 

Call about sold houses

As mentioned, around one in six house sales fall through.  

If you have seen a property that you want but it’s listed as sold, give the agent a ring anyway and let them know you will be interested should the sale not proceed. Agents will add you to the file and you’ll get a call if anything should go wrong (or from your point of view, ‘Right!’)