Estate agents have reported cancelled viewings and an increase in video tours of homes, the Telegraph is claimiing.
It says that buying agent Henry Pryor was forced to cancel a viewing an hour before it was due to take place because the owner had just returned from Italy with a cold.
He added: “I am doing more video tours rather than sending clients to see houses. I’ve cancelled all my meetings this week and rescheduled them with Skype or FaceTime.”
Mark Hayward, chief executive of the NAEA told the paper that some sellers have asked estate agents to check where potential buyers had been on holiday before scheduling a viewing.
The Telegraph report quotes winners and losers in the coronavirus scare. Winners apparently include black cabs because customers like the screen between them and the driver, while losers include restaurants and hotels. The report says that hairdressers are being encouraged to wear face masks, while mediums are conducting psychic readings via Skype.
However, according to outsourced viewing service Viewber, viewings are not falling off – yet, anyway.
Co-founder Ed Mead said last night: “Indeed viewings in Feb were 50% up on January. But guess this is a minute by minute thing these days.
“Currently, March is holding steady from Viewber’s perspective.”
Research done online for London estate agent Benham and Reeves claimed that 9% of people who had been in the throes of buying or selling had called things off, and that a further 9% who had been planning to buy or sell later this year have put the idea on hold. Altogether, 83% of the 1,000 queried said they would not be put off.
The research was run last weekend through a journalists’ online resource.
Sorry, I don’t believe a word Henry says. No one is going to buy a house without visiting it and no proper agent would accept an offer from anyone who hasn’t been to the property. More self-publication for an extra spoke that doesn’t need to be n the wheel.
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What about purchases off-plan? Or overseas based investors?
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As a sourcing agent, I can confirm that buyers DO buy properties without personally viewing them.
Factors that have helped with building that trust:
– Previous purchases that we have been involved in
– Sourcing pack provided
– Answers provided when questions asked
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I would never agree a sale without the buyer or a suitable representative having physically viewed the property.
Not acting in the sellers interests at all.
What if they see it before exchange and are not happy.
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