Before the viewing
- Take a full name, mobile number and email. Ring the number back to check it. No details, no viewing.
- Ask their position: are they selling, do they have a mortgage agreed, are they cash? Write it down.
- Have someone else in the house. Daylight viewings only for people you don't know.
- Tidy, warm, lights on, dog out.
During
Greet them, give a one-minute tour of the layout, then let them wander. Stay nearby and answer questions; don't sell. People who want it will ask about the boiler, the neighbours, the broadband, the council tax. Have those answers ready. Never leave them alone with valuables.
Spotting the serious ones
They come back for a second viewing, they bring a partner or a parent, they ask what is included, and they ask about timing. Tyre-kickers talk about how much work it needs.
The offer
Ask for it in writing with: the amount, their position (cash / mortgage agreed / chain), their solicitor's name, and their ideal timescale. Ask for a copy of their mortgage agreement in principle or proof of funds. This is normal; an agent would ask.
Negotiating
- Never accept the first offer on the spot. "Thank you, let me think about it" is enough.
- Counter with a figure, not a refusal.
- A lower offer from a chain-free buyer with a mortgage agreed is often worth more than a higher one from someone who hasn't sold.
- Agree what is included (curtains, appliances, the stable mats) before you accept.
- Once agreed, instruct your solicitor the same day and mark the listing as sold (you can put it back if it falls through).
Money
You never handle any. No deposit, no holding fee, no "reservation". Everything goes solicitor to solicitor. Anyone who wants to pay you directly is not a buyer.
This is general information for people in the UK selling or buying privately, not legal or financial advice. Property law differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland; always use a solicitor.
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