I'm a estate agent. AMA

[gizmosslave]

Go ahead!

I plan to sell my house in 3 years. AIBU to ask my local estate agent to come round and suggest the work my house would benefit from to get a good price for it? I would then get the work done and list the house with the agent who helped me. Its just that I'm rubbish with seeing what's needed and don't know whether to spend money on new worktop or remastering the hall or what.

What do I need to do to get our rental application accepted? Feels like a lottery competing with 100 other people!

Remastering = replastering!

how do you start-do you train on the job so to speak?

How much do you earn? How much of it is commission?

Do you actually search for buyers or is it a waiting game until someone calls and wants to a view a property? Have been on the market 8 months and it’s very frustrating

Have you noticed a slowdown where you are? Are you part of a chain or an independent?

How often do you get really cheeky below AP offers?

@Whatsnewwithyou absolutely not!

Get them round see what they say will help and not help, it depends what type of buyer you are looking to appeal too!

Let me know if you want to send some pics over and I’ll try help :)

@Stroller15 most landlords are looking for 12 month let at the asking price or if you want the house that much maybe say £5/10 more a month?

Most landlords don’t want pets.

As long as you have no adverse credit you should pass referencing with no problems. Have you paid fees etc?

@Monkeypuzzle32 I actually did an apprenticeship so yes train on the job, with arla you can do that whilst working too :)

@Hello1236743 starting basic is around 19-20000.
Commission depends on the company.

At mine it’s £20 per let, £50 per new instruction.

Then for sales if I sold a property at 100000, the company would get 1000, I’d get 100.

@Evianliveyoung1 yes, well we do.

Everything is on rightmove, zoopla etc and our own website. If a property is really struggling we put it in the newspaper, and maybe canvas the area.

Most of it is online now.

When people call us their details are put on the system and anything that suits their requirements is sent out when available.

@Cheeseislife actually no! It’s got much busier in the year I’ve been off for maternity leave! Possibley down the rogue agents though.

Franchise of a chain but technically independent.

@mumpatrol not that often, mainly because all viewers are registered properly, 1 for safety 2 so no one is wasting their time. Of course there’s always someone who takes the piss tho.

How often do you structure fees so there is a real incentive to get a good price for the seller, not just any sale? An extra £10k could make a lot of difference to me, but only £150 more commission for the agent, which if they are getting £15k anyway doesn’t seem like interests are aligned?

I have accepted an offer on my house from a buyer who still has to sell their place. We have given them 4 weeks to sell or we will put ours back on market
I have seen a house I would like to offer on, should I make an offer now or wait to see if our buyers can sell theirs?

Were looking to start saving for a deposit but also want to start saving towards the legal fees associated with house buying. What is the average overall cost of these.

@Gentlygently who gets paid 15K?!

Fees are flexible and we will change them if it means getting business, £150 isn’t a lot but then it’s not just that is it? It’s the marketing from that and word of mouth may get us even more business. Same as we would put fees down if it meant we won against another agent.

It’s literally case by case basis, obviously we have our basic fee we go by as a guide.

@ChiaraRimini at the moment you wouldn’t be a proceed-able buyer, because you can’t move if the people who are buying yours can’t move.

It depends on the seller whether they would accept like you have or whether they would decline on that basis, at the end of the day you have nothing to loose to put an offer forward, just be truthful about your situation.

@MrsSnootyPants2018

Obviously in different areas this is different and we don’t really know what solicitors charge as that’s not our part.

As a buyer an estate agent isn’t going to charge you as you aren’t really the client the seller is.

It depends if you are buyer out right or shared ownership too. And what stamp duty you’d have to pay.

Are you first time buyers?

When we bought our house 2 years ago, our solicitor cost us £600, so if you were to put away £3000 to cover stamp duty and solicitors I would think that would cover it. You can get a few quotes online for free to give you an idea for where you are etc.

@gizmosslave thank you very much for such a kind offer! I will take some photos and pm you in the next few days. I know there is tons of work we could do, it's just a question of value for money and priorities. I appreciate the offer of help so much!!

@gizmosslave yes first time buyers.

@Whatsnewwithyou that’s absolutely fine! Tag me on this when you have as I use the app so won’t get the messages until I go on the laptop! Xx

@MrsSnootyPants2018 have you got the Isas etc?