Or does this estate agent just not want to sell us a house?

[UntamedShrew]

Saw a house last weekend.

Monday - second viewing, just DH as only time agent could do was 6pm answer have young kids needing bath, stories, boobs etc.

Wednesday - slightly cheeky offer of 90% asking price. Agent didn't even call back to tell us the response.

Friday I went to office in person, agent said oh yeah sorry I didn't call you but it's a no. I increased offer to 94% asking. Agent looked hungover & disinterested. Called me three hours later (fine) to say it was rejected.

I've asked if I can see it again today for a 2nd viewing before making a final offer. Receptionist told me they're too busy and that she would phone the boss to see if anything they could do. This was 2.5 hours ago.

AIBU to say shove your house? I do love it so totally cutting my nose off to spite face etc but I'm feeling very annoyed that these people just aren't taking us seriously.

Gah.

[UntamedShrew]

Sorry for all highly unreasonable typos am on phone and holding baby and... Cross!

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

I wonder if they are actually passing your offers to the vendors.... Very poor customer service. Are your offers reasonable? Can you justify a deduction, such as needs new roof or example? I would be tempted to contact the owner directly to check they are passing the messages.

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Or be sneaky and get a friend to call and see what story the estate agents say. Do they have to say if offers have been made?

[cocoachannel]

Sorry you are having such a tough time with this- it is a nightmare buying a house as it is.

You don't say where you live, but I know when we were house hunting in London, unless we had booked viewings by Wednesday it was very rare agents were available for viewings on a Saturday.

You could try a cheeky knock on the door of the house itself, which admittedly could go either way for you if the vendor doesn't like that approach. But when I was trying to sell our flat I would have rather shown as many people around as possible than have nobody coming to look as the agents were booked out showing other properties...

[SydSaid]

I'd happily phone and arrange a viewing - only to have you go there instead...

[cocoachannel]

Good idea getting a friend to call.

If you do get an offer accepted and they say they are taking the propery off the market, get someone to call and enquire about viewing it. My Mum has done this both times I have bought property and on the first occasion was told the flat was still for sale and she could look round, even though we had an offer accepted and had agreed that the property would no longer be shown to other potential buyers. Grr.

[UntamedShrew]

Good tip Coco thank you.

I said maybe we could go round with just the owner if agents were all too busy but that didn't go down well - I just thought I was making a sensible suggestion

[Anniegetyourgun]

There must be other estate agents in your area. Maybe one of them has actually heard of customer service.

[cocoachannel]

They worry that you might do a deal excluding the agent, despite the fact that the vendor would have likely signed a contract with them which states that as they introduced you (at first viewing) then they are still eligible for their fee.

Some Estate Agents aren't very with it I found. Others, well one, was great.

[Byeckerslike]

In my experience working with estate agents in my area (nw) they are all target based, but you wouldnt bloody think so, most of them are feckless! [sweeping generalisation] i would be tempted to knock on the door of the house and explain, apologise for being cheeky, they are paying for this 'service' after all

[shebird]

Phone and ask to speak to the manager to say you are not happy with your service and if you don't get anywhere go elsewhere. I cant believe that any agent isn't interested in selling a property even in London. Their salary is so commission driven.

It is possible they are having trouble getting hold of the vendor (hence the 3 hour wait) or the vendor doesn't want to have viewings at weekends. Often vendors and agents are only interested in showing the property to 'serious buyers'(mortgage offer in place, cash buyer, willing to play asking price etc.) You will need to convince the agent that you are really interested in this property and you are in a position to buy. Agents are bound by the estate agency act to put all offers forward to the vendor.

[shebird]

www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/BuyingYourHome/DG_4001323

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

I think you have to bear in mind that the EA is not working for you, he is working fr the vendor. Although it doesn't sound like they are doing a great job for the vendor either.

I agree with the suggestion of getting a friend to pretend to be interested.

[Pusheed]

"I'm feeling very annoyed that these people just aren't taking us seriously"

First you offer 90%. When that is rejected you offer 94%. And you are annoyed that you aren't being taken seriously????

A friend had such a buyer who kept trying to know the price down but eventually offered the asking price. A month in the buyer said that unless he dropped the price then the buyer is going to pull out. I suspect that the buyer was hoping the fact that he had no chain and my friend did would motivate my friend to accept the lower offer.

My friend decided to cut his nose off to spite his face and told the buyer to feck off. The whole chain fell apart thereafter.

I suspect that the agent has you flagged as such a person.

[Floggingmolly]

Agreed Pusheed. God, we've all been there

[BenedictsCumberbitch]

I think in this Market, 90 and 94% are reasonable offers

[ohdoone]

In case it matters I'm an EA. I wouldn't muck about with fake interest from friends, making the agent think there are other interested parties will only weaken your offer. Sounds like shite service though, if I were you I'd call and ask for some advice on how to secure the property. The vendor may not be comfortable showing people round and Saturday is always the busiest day for viewings so I'm not surprised there isn't anyone free to accompany you. Also you haven't mentioned what your position is e.g. sstc, cash, ftb. If your under offer ask your EA to call them to find out the situation, I'm always happy to do that for my vendors if need be and have often negotiated sales on my vendors behalf if they aren't confident or if things reach a stale mate.

[ohdoone]

Benedicts, it depends entirely on what the asking price is!

[shebird]

Perhaps try and find out with the agent if there is any movement in the asking price. If the property has been on for ages and they are desperate to sell then maybe they might accept less than the asking. If they are not desperate then maybe they are willing to hang in there until they get what they want.

[Teeb]

I agree, 90/94% of asking price in this market isn't a ridiculous offer to make. Has the estate agent given you any feedback after the offers you've made?

Ultimately, you want to get this house, not make friends and be nice. I'd be the annoying nagging buyer who was on the phone to the estate agent persistently trying to arrange viewings and get feedback.

Good luck, hope you get it!

[Pusheed]

Everybody is assuming the asking price doesn't reflect the market conditions.

If I priced my house to sell and someone kept trying to knock me down then I would regard that person as a time waster.

[greentown]

Whether the house is £100k or £1m, 90-94% are still reasonable opening bids and a vendor (and/or agent - assuming the offers have been forwarded to the vendor)) who didn't realise that and come back with a reply is basically a dick.
The agent sounds, inexperienced, arrogant and essentially daft.
If the vendor is aware of the bids (they may not be aware of the agent's tardy manner) and is dismissing them without inviting or soliciting a higher offer that the vendor is probably not very clued up.
Possible scenarios are that the agent already has a buyer in mind - a stitch-up with a 'mate' of his. This is more likely if the property seems underpriced.
Also possible the agent knows the vendor is a timewaster but hasn't got the nous to tell you.
Are they also a lettings agency? They may have found a tenant for the property and would rather pocket the commission than sell the property.
Agents are a law unto themselves, put a note through the vendor's door.

[Pixieonthemoor]

I wouldn't go down the annoying/nagging route. IME it is best to be confident and super-charming and always where possible try to go and see the estate agents in person. Once you are sat in the office, rope as many of the colleagues into the sale conversation as possible so they all know who you are and esp see if you can speak to the manager. Be as upfront and honest as you can be about your financial situation. Don't get shirty with them - estate agents are people too and no one finds it easy or pleasant to deal with aggression. Hammer home the point (again, as charmingly as possible) that you really really want the house. Good luck!

[greentown]

Two viewings and two offers - they know you are serious.
Either the individual you are dealing with is rubbish in some way or crooked in some way or the vendor is daft/greedy/ignorant in some way or all of the above.

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Regardles of what the vendor is like, the agent should return your calls. They don't sound very professional. It is a bit unusual to request another viewing after you've made an offer though.