Really annoyed with Estate Agent

[Tink06]

Long story but not very happy with the service. We accepted the first offer (virtually first viewing) as we were lead to believe it would be a quick sale and it was the very top of what we thought we would get so seemed great.
However 4 months later and we still haven't completed. Loads if hassle but today when I rang the EA said she has been round with him today and was chatting about what he is going to do etc.....
My aibu is that no one mentioned it too me or asked if it was okay. We could have been down there doing anything when they came round. I did ring back and say they should have told me but they said as they had the keys (they did thee viewings) they presumed it was okay.

[PurpleWithRed]

Well, its absolutely not OK for them to just come round without the courtesy of checking with you first. Tell them that they do not have permission to bring people round without checking with you first.

[Tink06]

Sorry pressed create instead of preview. Am really annoyed - not that our buyer has been round but that I didn't even get a courtesy phone call to tell me. Is this normal? The house is empty but they don't know that we aren't staying there temporarily ( my son does stay sometimes).

[SanityClause]

Is this your own home? If so, that's particularly rude. (Still rude, even if it's empty.)

We recently sold a property, and the EA kept referring to the buyer as "the client". In the end I wanted to kill her, and dance naked on her grave screaming "I'm the bloody client!".

[honeysucklejasmine]

They entered your house without permission? Absolutely not OK.

If you've not exchanged, can't you just pull out?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

If they know its empty, they know they aren't inconveniencing you. They have to keep the buyer happy to facilitate the sale. Ergo, they need to take them round if they demand it.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

4 months is not a long sale. Were you aware of that?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Why would the OP can't you just pull out? honey?

[londonrach]

It took us 6 months to complete. However no way should the ea let himself in Without your knowledge. You need your keys back and words with him.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

When I worked as an EA I wouldn't have checked with the property owner every time if the property was vacant. Not unless they had expressly said that it was necessary.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Exactly bibbity. It's a storm in a teacup.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Aye.

[NotNowPike]

I too would assume if the property was empty and you had given me keys that I could show any prospective buyer the property

[Longdistance]

I work with EA's, and they always ring the vendor before visiting a property and get their permission, from views and measuring for curtains etc.

[Tink06]

We are selling an empty house and also buying an empty one - I thought it would be all sorted by now. We were looking at Friday but there was a slight hitch and now as the buyer can't have annual leave next week he wants it after Easter. These dates have been talked about for weeks, they havent come out of the blue so that's really annoying and stressing me.I don't mind them showing him round but I think I should have had a courtesy call just to let me know.
I honestly don't know what takes so long - simple sales, nothing controversial or difficult...

[merrymouse]

I think there should be a general assumption that unless you have been told that you don't need to check before a viewing, you need to check. it only means zapping off a text.

[Stillunexpected]

What is the "loads of hassle" which you have experienced? Was it preventable - in which case you are totally justified in feeing annoyed or have there been legitimate delays in getting the mortgage approved/have the surveyors been busy and therefore slow/has there been delays in finding certain paperwork? I would have expected that a vacant possession house would have completed more quickly though.

[Stillunexpected]

Whose fault was the hitch on Friday last?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Even if it's empry Longdistance, Really? I've never experienced that.

Good luck OP. I hope it's stress free from now.

[possum18]

That's certainly not okay, I've been an estate agent for a few years and my DH has been in the industry for 20 years and we both would never not let a vendor know if we were going round. Even vendors either of us may have had who have lived abroad, or said we can do viewings or appointments whenever with our key set - we would at the very least send them a text or email confirming the name of applicant going over with the time, nature of the appointment. It's courtesy and important for the vendor to be kept in the loop!

[Narp]

I am stunned you were an EA bibbity. Previously I had an irrational hatred of all of them. Now I shall have to readjust my thinking, because you are really funny and sensible.



OP

I think that you are being a bit unreasonable, because the house is empty.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

It might not be perfect but I wouldn't get in a twist at an Agent with keys showing an empty property.

The completion date is down the vendor and purchaser Solicitors not the Agent, surely and 16 weeks isn't unreasonable depending on the whole chain.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Only for a few lean years and for a bit of sport Narp .

I lived outside of London for two years - there were no jobs in publishing that I could apply for in Devon. Had a fine old time working for posho EAs selling country houses instead, it was an interesting job.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Christ don't justify yourself bibbity. .

[Tink06]

Seems to be a difference of opinion. It just didn't feel right to me - I spoke to the EA twice yesterday and nothing was mentioned. Just being kept informed would have made the world of difference. The buyer has been round a few times but this is the only time I wasn't told. If the sale wasn't imminent I would take the keys back but there doesn't seem much point now. I think communication has been quite poor in general to be honest.

[merrymouse]

'Empty' houses still need to be maintained and visited for various reasons. I have both wasted time as a buyer going to view a house and been surprised by an estate agent (twice) who assumed that an 'empty' house was always available for viewing.

It's not difficult to clarify what the situation is.