[Misc] Choosing an estate agent

[CheeseRolls]

From personal experience I am not sure why all estate agents get such stick. Sure you have the 20 somethings running around in shiny suits, some of whom you can barely trust with a set of keys, but unless you get lucky and land a sale early, it can be quite a lengthy process, of arranging viewings and then progressing a chain. Pick a good one and they can really push the process along and they offer much better value than solicitors, who are the real tyrants for me. Lazy good for nothing toerags, who passed a few exams in their twenties and have sat on their arses ever since, maybe a sweeping generalisation. Usually you have one person in the office doing all the real processing work and a handful of partners lunching and golfing. Like animals in a zoo, don't feed them anything other than the absolute essentials.

 

[Machiavelli]

This^
We've had a fair few dealings with estate agents of late, and have generally been impressed with them. They're just trying to facilitate a sale, and connecting buyers with sellers. Local independents are best, the big chains less so.

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lense]

I'm doing the same and have a view from both ends of the story. The on-line option sounds great, but there is a lack of control. If it works, it can be great. However, it depends on the quality of the individual you deal with. Near neighbours of ours used Purple Bricks for their last move, but have not touched them and have just moved through local agent this time around.. fees are low and there are deals to be done right now.. 1% or less is being offered and can be got.
The enthusiasm of the agent made a huge difference to us. The enthusiasm makes a big difference that you see when you are viewing (and therefore when others are viewing your house!). Too often the agent is literally the person who opens the house for you and really doesn't appear to know the house very well - simple questions for clarity that buyers have simply cannot be answered. An enthused agent will simply work harder to sell your house. Don't confuse "enthusiasm" with over-optimistic valuations. Plenty will try and over-value to get the chance to show it,; some will appear pessimistic, too realistic that means they simply want a house that will sell quickly with no fuss and this can translate into their attitude to selling as mentioned above. If you are keen to move, or need to move, be honest with the agent, listen to their recommendation and get them to justify the price they are choosing. So much info on line to help you check the level of reality. If you are dipping your toe to see, then go with an optimistic view of what can be done.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

From personal experience I am not sure why all estate agents get such stick. Sure you have the 20 somethings running around in shiny suits, some of whom you can barely trust with a set of keys, but unless you get lucky and land a sale early, it can be quite a lengthy process, of arranging viewings and then progressing a chain. Pick a good one and they can really push the process along and they offer much better value than solicitors, who are the real tyrants for me. Lazy good for nothing toerags, who passed a few exams in their twenties and have sat on their arses ever since, maybe a sweeping generalisation. Usually you have one person in the office doing all the real processing work and a handful of partners lunching and golfing. Like animals in a zoo, don't feed them anything other than the absolute essentials.

If we're lucky enough to get a buyer and find somewhere we want, I would imagine I'll be back on here asking for help with choosing conveyancing solicitors! Last time we got a company chosen by Nationwide, it was basically a call centre in Cheshire and it never really felt like anyone knew what was going on. Got stung by them using a premium number as well.

I think I'm definitely going to go with a real estate agent rather than an online one. Worth pointing out that the house is likely to go on the market for under £300k, so if we're looking at less than 1% commission, it's not hugely more than the £1500 the online ones charge.

 

[schmunk]

Maybe send Ben White a message on Twitter or Instagram - I hear he's been dealing with local estate agents recently.

 

[amexer]

Noticed an advert on the back of a bus for an agent saying they get on average £7000 more than other agents. This is fine if selling but as a buyer I'd avoid these guys surely.
Unhelpfully I cant recall who they are, stand in North St and check all the buses!

Because Agents biggest concentration is getting instructions. If on at right price houses will sell easily.
If you are happy to do viewings and know what to ask a potential buyer use online. To get to market has to go on Rightmove etc They only accept adverts from agents so have to use someone. Dont use agents solicitor or have a board ( this is just for agents advertising ) If I was selling I would be tempted to pay someone just to put on Rightmove and do everything myself

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

As an aside I was looking at one bed apartments in Brighton and Hove a few days ago on Mishon Mackay website. All close to, or at, 300k. That’s mental.

 

[Springal]

Noticed an advert on the back of a bus for an agent saying they get on average £7000 more than other agents. This is fine if selling but as a buyer I'd avoid these guys surely.
Unhelpfully I cant recall who they are, stand in North St and check all the buses!

Yeah god damn local employers making money!

 

[Westdene Seagull]

If we're lucky enough to get a buyer and find somewhere we want, I would imagine I'll be back on here asking for help with choosing conveyancing solicitors! Last time we got a company chosen by Nationwide, it was basically a call centre in Cheshire and it never really felt like anyone knew what was going on. Got stung by them using a premium number as well.

I think I'm definitely going to go with a real estate agent rather than an online one. Worth pointing out that the house is likely to go on the market for under £300k, so if we're looking at less than 1% commission, it's not hugely more than the £1500 the online ones charge.

I can help you there now to save you time later .... Jane Cole, Sussex Law, Ladies Mile Road, Patcham

 

[amexer]

Dont sign an agreement for any length of time. Al you have to sign legally is to agree there terms. If not happy with service you want to be able to go elsewhere. Many agents will overprice to get instructions and after a month suggest a reduction.
Easy to find value of your house. Rightmove and Nethouseprices will show all sales over last 10 years.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Cool - is this a common thing to ask for? I'm not the best at haggling/being hard nosed in negotiating stuff, so if I brought it up and got laughed out of the office I'd probably give up on pretty quick.

No, it's not but they'll do it if they want your house and they feel they really can sell for what they are saying.

 

[Chicken Run]

As an aside I was looking at one bed apartments in Brighton and Hove a few days ago on Mishon Mackay website. All close to, or at, 300k. That’s mental.

Expanding the old portfolio HT [emoji23][emoji6]

 

[Blue3]

I really think Estate agents are the pits who hike up the value of homes next door is currently up for sale and the child they send round to show prospective purchasers around looks about 16 what on earth can he know about properties

 

[The Wookiee]

We've decided to get our house valued and possibly take advantage of the stamp duty break to see if we can somehow find somewhere with an extra bedroom in the area. Checked finances with the bank, so the next step is to ring up a lovely estate agent and get them out to do a valuation and then possibly put it on the market.

The thing is, there's a lot of them about, they all ostensibly seem to do the same thing (put a sign up, put it on Rightmove, organise viewings), there doesn't seem to be a particular one that is the obvious choice in the area (saw 10 different signs in our road and the 3 nearest ones when out running yesterday), and I don't have a clue what I am doing.

What things should I be wanting to find out from them before choosing them? Any scams or things to particularly be wary of? Maybe anyone have any particular recommendations for Hove/Portslade/Hangleton kind of area?

Cheers all.

Don’t tie yourself in to any lengthy contract. Give them 4 weeks to find a buyer.
Challenge them as to why they want a sole agency. Surely if they are that confident in selling it they won’t mind any competition
Haggle down the % commission don’t pay anything over 1%
Don’t pay for photos and floorplans insist they are included, if you need an EPC source one yourself online for around £50 don’t pay the agent for one.
Make sure they only allow viewings from people that are in a position to proceed, don’t allow people in who aren’t on the market.
Make sure they use both Rightmove and Zoopla to advertise your property.
Make sure you get viewing feedback within 48 hours of a viewing.
Shop around for your own conveyancer, don’t be roped in to using their recommended company.
Go onto Rightmove and look at the properties that agent has on market and see how many have sold and also how long they have been on for !

 

[Hamilton]

We put our house on the market last year just before the GE was announced. As a result, we withdrew as the market suddenly stalled.

In my experience, they are all shysters. What they do for their wedge I have no idea.

Their strategy is simple. Drive up the quantity of people viewing your property and QED the chances are that someone will buy it. Therefore, expect a lot of the pictures of your house to look nothing like your house. It's why when you start house hunting, you'll feel like your time is being wasted.

I had to do loads of copywriting myself on the Mishon Mackay sales materials they sent through and I had to tone down some of the images because they were just mistruths. Equally, I had to suggest some images that I thought they should have.

Brand Vaughan came round and told me a porky about a house they had sold. Little did they know that I actually knew the owner, so I called them and asked them if BV had sold it for them and they put me right.

In a way, I feel for them. It must be desperate times at them moment. But in equal measure, I don't feel for them. They are an industry that has been forced to change by changing times rather than embracing change. In all honesty, why are they entitle to 1% of the value of your house? Considering what they do and how they do it I think they should move to flat fee.

Don't get me started on the Saturday staff they employ to actually do some of the viewings. I had one girl show me round a flat and she didn't know what the ground rent was; what the likely rental income was and as we left she said "I don't really like this flat." Needless to say, I didn't go to that agent when I was thinking of selling.

Would I go online now? Probably.

 

[Giraffe]

I know others have said it but I'd just give you two points of advice:

1) Don't tie yourself in to one agent for longer than two months - if they can't sell it in that time in the current market they are rubbish. Giving them just two months also keeps them motivated to push your property over someone who has agreed longer.
2) Don't use an online agent like Purple Bricks, yes you may get lucky and it all go well, but 9 out of 10 are under valued, you won't get much support and you will as a result almost certainly be worse off financially regardless of their fee being slightly lower.
3) Look at boards in your local area, where they have stayed for sale a long time it either means the seller wasn't motivated to sell or the agent isn't doing their job well enough. If you regularly for sale boards changing to sold with a certain agent, pick them.

And finally, not all estate agents are tossers. I know a lot of them, and on the whole they are decent people trying to earn a living and a lot of them just want to help their clients as well.