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Original poster

Strong dislike of estate agents

33 replies

Tulips78 · 03/11/2023 11:50

First time buyer. Disliking almost every interaction I've had with an estate agent so far. Find them slimy, pushy, hate the way they pretend to be your mate and want the best for you when all they want is their commission/your money. Sick of them trying to get me to see their mortgage advisors when I already have one and already have a mortgage agreed!

OP posts:
Tinklyheadtilt · 03/11/2023 12:23

They are an awful lot aren't they. NEVER trust what they say. They will always do what gets them the biggest % commission. Never forget that.

cocksstrideintheevening · 03/11/2023 12:24

Well of course they want the commission, they're not doing it make friends!

Original poster
Tulips78 · 03/11/2023 12:28

How much do you actually have to tell them in order for them to find you properties? They ask so many personal questions

OP posts:

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Property
RoseBucket · 03/11/2023 12:35

What do you mean, find you properties? You idiocies that yourself. I think the average salary is around £25k and is part salary/commission. They are not high earners.

RoseBucket · 03/11/2023 12:35

*usually

Elphame · 03/11/2023 12:37

I used to arrange mortgages and dealt with many different ones ranging from the cheap end to the ones in the HNW market.

I didn't like any of them.

mondaytosunday · 03/11/2023 12:59

They need to know if you can afford to buy at the price you say and your desired schedule for moving, and what your preferred location/bed count etc are. Nothing else. They will legally be required to see proof of ID and address after you've made an offer for money laundering purposes.
They work for the seller - always remember that.

MothershipG · 03/11/2023 13:18

Does anyone like estate agents? I thought that they were universally disliked & mistrusted?

Of course they don't care about you but they need their commission so will do anything they can to suck up to you. They also get referral fees from brokers & solicitors and these are often connected to performance goals. The corporates are often more pushy than independents but that is not always true.

They will lie if they can get away with it, you'll make an offer & 90% of the time they'll tell you there is another offer just to get you to go up.

Gird your loins & be as tricky as them, good luck with your search.

Stephisaur · 03/11/2023 13:25

Tulips78 · 03/11/2023 12:28

How much do you actually have to tell them in order for them to find you properties? They ask so many personal questions

I told them nothing if I could help it. I stalked Rightmove religiously and only contacted Estate Agents to arrange a viewing. We then just smiled and nodded through whatever they said at the viewing, while trying to examine the house according to our own wants.

MsBlythe · 03/11/2023 13:34

I ended up becoming best friends with mine when I bought 20 years ago. Still fab friends now, though she's moved miles away.

Original poster
Tulips78 · 03/11/2023 13:39

I can't imagine becoming BF with one. They make my skin crawl the way they talk to me.

OP posts:
piscofrisco · 03/11/2023 14:13

Well dh's ex wife's boyfriend is one, and a slimier, more aggressive yet also quite thick person I'm yet to meet....I'm sure they aren't all the same but all the ones I've met, bar one ( met socially not professionally and who was actually quite nice), have been variations on that theme.

Even my formerly sweet nephew is an apprentice at Foxtons and he is also turning into a proper dickhead so 🤷🏽‍♀️.

MovingToPlan · 03/11/2023 14:19

Does anyone like salespeople? There's always some play. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm selling my house now, and I've decided to just let them get on with it.

The flip side of course is buying a new house and dealing with a vendor's EA. It's just the game.

TruthSeeker2023 · 03/11/2023 14:19

They are universally disliked. Untrustworthy / slimy etc.

Usually put in the same social bracket as employment agencies (or any HR "professionals") - usually barely literate and incompetent or lazy unless there's something in it for them.

SeaPool · 03/11/2023 14:48

I've bought and sold about a dozen houses and this is how I deal with estate agents.

I know all the questions they'll ask me and all the things they'll try to sell me.

You already know them too as you've been on the receiving end.

I make up a list of all my details answering all the questions they'll ask me.
No, I'm not in a chain.
No I don't want your surveyor/Mortgage advisor/Solicitor.
Yes, I have the funds available.
I would like a 2 bed flat in these areas. Etc.

Before I arrange a viewing I email them the list.

Then I call them telling them I've sent it and I would like to make a viewing. When the questions start I say, 'It's on my list'.
It heads off a whole world of bollocks.
Also, when I'm viewing I say straight up - I don't want you to tell me about it - I will walk around, you come too if you like, I'll ask if I have any questions. That turns off the inane drivel, distracting comments just as you notice the rotten window and also the 'This is the kitchen' nonsense.

Truth is though, it's a business deal. There's no charm/loyalty involved. Estate agents are a means to an end. In my experience they aren't bad people and have to put up with as much bullshit and bad behaviour from clients and buyers as we do from them.

ManAboutTown · 03/11/2023 14:52

The average / poor ones are liitle more than hucksters and spivs. Unfortnately if they are selling a property you like then you are stick with them. I would never deal with Foxtons for example if I was selling my place.

Stick to your guns - if you want a two bedroom garden flat dont let them talk you into looking at something else.

They usually wear polyester so you just have to hope they get too near to a naked flame

GasPanic · 03/11/2023 15:04

I don't think you need any qualifications at all to become an estate agent.

I would be skeptical of any thing they say. But the most important thing is to remember that this applies to whether you are using them to either buy or sell.

potatoheads · 03/11/2023 15:05

Ok so estate agents, lawyers, bankers, men who drive white vans, policemen, politicians, teachers, doctors....... anyone else people want to hate on?

Jewelspun · 03/11/2023 15:06
%3D%3D
LindorDoubleChoc · 03/11/2023 15:11

What do you mean by personal questions?

They need to ask how you are going to fund the puchase if you make an offer. They also want to know what you thought of every property you see because the vendors will expect that feedback.

What other personal questions are you having to fend off?

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 03/11/2023 15:15

I spent 5 years speaking to them as a legal secretary, ugh, worst days of my life. Some were downright rude too. A few are nice but a lot of them were young and thick, especially when it came to the conveyancing process.

Then when our local All Bar One had a revamp every few years with free drinks, we had to fraternise with them there too.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 03/11/2023 15:17

If you do get a good/honest estate agent then that’s rare but there are some who are like that out there.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 03/11/2023 15:48

They need to know if you can afford to buy at the price you say

Unless you tell them you're a cash buyer, then the process all goes through nicely - at least to begin with.

For the avoidance of any doubt, 'cash buyer' is a term commonly used to denote somebody who almost certainly isn't a cash buyer.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 03/11/2023 15:49

If you do get a good/honest estate agent then that’s rare but there are some who are like that out there.

To be fair, we hit the jackpot with the EAs we used last year - would recommend them to the skies.

ManAboutTown · 03/11/2023 15:52

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 03/11/2023 15:48

They need to know if you can afford to buy at the price you say

Unless you tell them you're a cash buyer, then the process all goes through nicely - at least to begin with.

For the avoidance of any doubt, 'cash buyer' is a term commonly used to denote somebody who almost certainly isn't a cash buyer.

When I bought my place I was a real cash buyer - i.e had the cash sitting in the bank ready to go. Gives you quite a bit of leverage