I’m an estate agent! Ask me anything!

[FucksBizz]

I’m an estate agent. I find it’s like being a parking attendant, everyone loves to hate us
Ask me anything and I will be very honest!

What's been the cheekiest offer a buyer has made that you know of?

The cheekiest offer I’ve ever personally heard of was nearly £40k under asking price. When the asking price is less than £200k, that’s quite a big difference! I’ve never had anything properly ridiculous though.

I'm told you would be quite safe swimming with sharks, they would leave you alone out of professional courtesy....

How would you like me to respond?

Do sellers really get personally offended by low offers?

What's the weirdest thing that you or your colleagues have come across in a property?

Do you have to tell the seller to remove items that are a bit

Do sellers really get personally offended by low offers?

Some do, very much so in fact! Most are extremely invested in their homes, and some have a hugely over inflated idea of what they are worth which can cause issues. But yes, to answer your question, yes they do. It’s not unusual to hear ‘why did they offer that? After I’ve done x, y and z in DIY and put in a new boiler!’

What's the weirdest thing that you or your colleagues have come across in a property?

Good question! Before I started this job I expected that I would see more weird stuff, but I’ve not come across any dildos or anything some erotic paintings though..

The weirdest thing I’ve ever come across is actually pretty mundane, and it was an entire cupboard, a floor to ceiling big storage cupboard, absolutely crammed with ladies hair dye. A single Filipino man owned the house, and would regularly answer the door in a towel , he would also phone the office before every single viewing to ask us to leave the light on afterwards, despite being told approximately ten thousand times that we can remember basic instructions and not to worry he was very sweet though.

Do you have to tell the seller to remove items that are a bit

I’ve never needed to do this. I have had to tell a seller that they needed to clean their house though..

Ive never needed to do this. I have had to tell a seller that they needed to clean their house though..

I'm always surprised when I've seen locally listed properties with massive piles of clothes on the bed still or bleach just shoved on top of the toilet.

Do you pressure potential buyers to sit down with your in house broker for a quote even if they don't want one. And influence the vendor to preference offers arranged through your own broker & solicitors rather than an independent? We found this with a big chain recently and it left a sour taste.

It certainly is a relevant question to ask how long a property has been on the market. No matter what the estate agent or vendor decide a property is worth, if it isn’t shifting and has been on the market for a few months then it is overpriced and as the buyer I need to know this.

@covetingthepreciousthings

The precious things of the shop! Great username and great programme.

It’s weird isn’t it! If I was selling my house I’d want it looking its best. It’s not that common but I’ve arrived to do viewings at houses before that are properly filthy! I.e pieces of toast on the floor, stinking of cat, mouldy cups, hasn’t been hoovered for weeks, type filth. I’ve arrived to take photos to put online before now only to find unmade beds ect, and I was told just to take the photos anyway! I have one at the moment that is supposed to be empty, and to be fair the house is completely empty apart from a mattress, a duvet, a tv, a pile of smelly washing, and a half eaten McDonald’s in the fridge. The owner is flat out denying being there, but someone clearly is!

Do you pressure potential buyers to sit down with your in house broker for a quote even if they don't want one. And influence the vendor to preference offers arranged through your own broker & solicitors rather than an independent? We found this with a big chain recently and it left a sour taste.

No, I ask if they want a free quote, but if they say no, it’s no.

I never try to influence sellers to pick one buyer over another. They choose themselves, and it’s almost never based on anything other than how much money they can get.

What professional qualifications do you hold?

It certainly is a relevant question to ask how long a property has been on the market. No matter what the estate agent or vendor decide a property is worth, if it isn’t shifting and has been on the market for a few months then it is overpriced and as the buyer I need to know this.

There are lots of reasons why a property might be on the market for a few months that aren’t anything to do with money. Sometimes there just isn’t a reason, at least not just one reason. It might be on a main road, or it might be a freehold, or it might be single glazed, or it might be next to a stadium, ect. Or it’s just not the sort of house that all the viewers so far were looking for.

can you make some sort of pact with other estate agents to stop stretching photos out of all proportion? It’s ridiculous.

What professional qualifications do you hold?

I have a Bsc, an MSc, and two level 2s in property marketing and property management.

can you make some sort of pact with other estate agents to stop stretching photos out of all proportion? It’s ridiculous.

Ha! It’s weird isn’t it. They make us use wide angle lenses.

I think you sound really good at your job!

Finding this really interesting, thanks OP!

Do you have any lone working policies in place? Thinking back to the tragic case of Suzy Lamplugh & wondering if estate agents have put anything in place for when you go to meet clients at houses etc.

What’s the most ridiculous property you’ve shown somebody round?

Op, our Victorian terrace (in London) was on the market Sept - December 2018. In that time we had two offers, one was asking price and we accepted, in theory. However Neither of the offers went any further than talk. No surveyors or money put down. After 7 weeks of this we took our house off the market due to the stress of it. We will try again next year. How much time should we realistically allow to sell our home? And are there any key signs to reveal buyers who are not very genuine / going to take ages. ?

I have a Bsc, an MSc, and two level 2s in property marketing and property management.

Are your degrees in directly relevant subjects?

My understanding is that C&G level 2 is equivalent to a GCSE. (Correct me if I’m wrong). In your opinion, does this basic qualification demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge and professional expertise to give advice to paying clients about the sale and purchase of properties?

Why isn't your 'profession' regulated?

With most houses being advertised on Rightmove or similar now, buyers come to you rather than you having to find buyers. So what value do you think you add to justify the extortionate commission you charge?

Other than an estate agents saying "not me Gov, honest" how can anyone ever be sure theres another bidder / offer etc? What would you do to make the process more transparent?

Argh OP! We have literally broken every rule when doing up our house! We put a new driveway, redid our kitchen and two bathrooms and have done LOADS to the garden! luckily we are here to stay and the house was in dire shape when we bought it so it had to be done. We have broken even with the value because the prices have risen naturally where we are.

I’m determined to stay here as long as I can and bloody enjoy all the work we did seeing as it hasn’t added value