Introducing ‘view a property on my behalf’
Ed Mead, founder and CEO at NRLA partner Viewber, explains more about how using the service can help landlords 'view' a property if they live far away.
Buying or renting a property is sometimes a matter of the heart ruling the head. Many of us have done it – seen a property listed online, fallen in love with the photographs and booked a viewing full of optimism, only to arrive and your heart sink as soon as the front door is opened.
Whether you are purchasing as an owner-occupier, securing somewhere new to rent or are making a buy-to-let investment, sometimes the reality of a property simply isn’t worth the effort. It’s especially true in today’s climate, when fuel costs make unnecessary journeys a more eye-wincing expense.
As well as counting the cost of travel, not many of us have the luxury of time and if the property you are viewing is some distance away, home movers can be left counting the hours they have wasted.
Viewber’s ‘view a property on my behalf’ service can be used by anyone thinking of buying or renting a property. Viewbers are local, reliable individuals trained and vetted to provide viewings on your behalf. There are no subscriptions, you simply book online and pay when you need the service.
It’s the easiest way to check the true condition of a property before deciding to take the next step. A Viewber can be booked to visit any house or flat in the UK on your behalf, compiling an unbiased and independent report while they are in the property.
Their honest appraisal will go way beyond an agent’s photos and brief description, with evidence in the form of photographs and/or video footage, accompanied by written/spoken notes. A detailed report is then sent to your inbox without delay so you can make a quick, informed decision.
Cracks, damage, leaks and other imperfections will all be documented by the Viewber, so the potential buyer or tenant has a full picture when it comes to budgeting for repairs or making an appropriate offer.
A Viewber can even host a live video call from the property with the interested party for the very next best thing to visiting in person. The Viewber can be directed around the home as the purchaser sees fit, getting closer to certain aspects, opening airing cupboards and revisiting rooms, for example – all while providing a running commentary.
There are three ‘view a property on my behalf’ service levels to choose from, depending on the property in question and the amount of detail required. Choose from:
- Property video with spoken opinion: a video of the surrounding area, interior and exterior of the property, with a spoken opinion on the view from the property, the current interior condition and the room configuration
- Basic property information report: a basic property condition report with interior and exterior photographs, showing views from the front door, garden, parking and each accessible room. Major visible damage is noted.
- Advanced property information report: includes a video of each floor of the property, interior and exterior photographs, opinion on the neighbourhood, plus details of the following: the property’s configuration, parking, garden, appliances, damage and heating.
Video and opinion extended report & floorplan: as detailed in the advanced property information report but with the addition of a measured floorplan, subject to time allocation.
Relocating? Use Viewber to view properties that are miles away
The ‘view a property on my behalf’ is an essential time-saving service for relocators who are unable to make repeat trips to different properties that are miles away. It’s possible to book the same Viewber to visit a number of homes on the same, or on different days for continuity and if you book a live video tour, you’ll have the added bonus of a true local viewing a property on your behalf and they should be able to offer invaluable area insights too.
Reduce the risk of buying ‘unseen’
Sometimes a buyer may be forced to make an offer without actually seeing the property. This can be true when there’s lots of competition, when the purchaser lives overseas or when investors are offered a favourable deal. In many cases, an agent will demand an offer more quickly than the buyer can visit the property.
A Viewber can step in and become the unbiased eyes of the buyer, allowing properties to be meaningfully considered and risk reduced. An appointment to view on your behalf is possible with 24-hours’ notice, with a report being filed the next day. A live video tour is also possible for the most urgent situations, yielding immediate information on which to act.
Ideal for investors chasing yields
Yields have never been more important in buy-to-let and money has to be invested where the best returns are in order to balance the books. When activity is dictated by yields, landlords can find themselves considering properties that are miles away from where they currently live. This is when our ‘view a property on my behalf’ services demonstrates its value.
Time is money for investors and the cost of sending a Viewber to view a property at the other end of the country is often cheaper than the investors visiting in person, especially if they arrive to find the property is unsuitable and have wasted a large part of their working day.
Open to all property buyers
You don’t have to be an agent or an auctioneer to use our service – home buyers and property investors are encouraged to get in touch. There is no minimum number of bookings required to partner with Viewber – simply tell us the details of the property you’d like a Viewber to view on your behalf and we can set the wheels in motion.
