What happens on a viewing day.

The initial Viewing Day with clients is one we always look forward to following in depth research.

Before the Viewing Day

Before the Viewing Day takes place a lot of background work is undertaken. We initially   send clients a detailed questionnaire to fully understand the drivers for their move. The questionnaire explores their preferences in terms of location, housing style and size of garden amongst many other factors and any special requirements for the move.

Following the questionnaire, we travel to meet clients in person (where possible) or arrange a video call at a time to suit.  During this meeting we discuss the answers to the questionnaire and provide examples of different housing styles and different areas to get a feel for the client’s reaction. Some clients are keen to take on a project whereas others prefer a house that is ‘ready to go’. During the meeting Chiltern Relocation will also discuss various commuting options and catchment areas with detailed maps.

The meeting also gives us the opportunity to introduce other possibilities that may not have been previously considered.  Our wealth of knowledge in the industry means that we are often aware of a suitable house and location that the client may not have considered but that we know will be a good fit.

Before the Viewing Day schedule is finalised Chiltern Relocation will aim to preview the properties for suitability. Typically, we will also see off-market properties on the Viewing Day.

The Viewing Day

Clients travel by car or train to meet us on the day and we usually travel in Chiltern Relocation’s car. This enables clients to spend the time looking at the area and not focussing on driving or directions.

We aim to view three properties and locations before lunch. Depending on the clients remit the locations could be quite close together or quite spread apart. In one Viewing Day we covered three counties for a family who were keen on Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Lunchtime is a vital opportunity to refuel and regroup. We take the time to discuss the options viewed and get some feedback.

On a few occasions the morning viewings have thrown up some unexpected reactions from the clients thereby changing their brief. This results in a few swift phone calls to our trusted estate agents to arrange alternative viewings for the afternoon.

We aim to view another two to three properties after lunch. A vital part of the Viewing Day is not just seeing the properties but also getting a real feel for different areas. Understanding school catchment areas, the location of social amenities and dog walking options in addition to knowing where the nearest supermarket and cafes are found is also a key part of building the picture for the move. Here is a typical itinerary following a Viewing Day.

Wild card

Where possible, Chiltern Relocation also likes to add a ‘wild card’ property to a Viewing Day. This is a property that we believe to be suitable but that clients had not previously considered. The ‘wild card’ has often resulted in being the chosen property – much to the client’s surprise! Thinking ‘outside the box’ is what makes Chiltern Relocation’s offering unique.

Post Viewing Day

On many occasions the Viewing Day has resulted in the client making a successful offer on a property – whether it is for a purchase or a rental property. Chiltern Relocation handles all the negotiation when it comes to making an offer and are very skilled if it is a ‘sealed bids’ process.

The Viewing Day is hugely beneficial in refining the search and really pinpointing the client’s needs. Following this initial day together we are then able to progress with the property search.