to think that my Estate Agent

[Gonzo33]

should at least email me a response within a week.

I currently live overseas (although on sovereign soil ) and I am putting my house up for sale the beginning of February. I emailed my agent last week, which is the usual way we communicate unless emergency repairs, and asked them how much they were thinking of putting the house on the market because I want to instruct my solicitor next week. They still have not responded. AIBU to be peed off about this, and think that this does not bode well for future communication in relation to the sale of this property? Fwiw the lettings side has been great.

You have to keep prodding them. It's annoying but that's the way it is. Without completely alienating them you need to make sure that you're at the forefront of their mind or the people that are regularly nagging them will be dealt with first.

I always find that when I do get hold of them they've either "just done" something or are "just about" to do something. Funny that.

YANBU. EA seem to be a breed all of their own. I know this is a huge generalisation, but, having dealt with five different companies two years ago I think I can speak quite authoritatively on this.
Each one of the five seemed to be in the same mould. Thought that my sale would happen without marketing, all gave wildly inflated estimates of the actual value of the house. At least three told me £120k. The fourth said 105 the fifth said 95. How can they be so different.
Think yourself lucky you've had decent lettings service. Our was and continues to be dreadful. The house didn't sell BTW.

Change agents!

Thankfully I have a very good idea at what it should be marketed for (mortgage adviser when living in UK). I will knock them down on marketing price if they come up too optimistic.

I really hope the house does sell. DH only has 4 years left in job when we get back so we need to settle in the next year for DS schooling!

I can't Hairytoes (wicked name btw - made me ) the house is still being let by them and I can't afford to withstand the mortgage for the long term.

You know the old riddle:

Q What's the difference between an estate agent and a herring?

A One is slimy, has scales and smells funny. The other is a fish.

Does your estate agent have different people for sales and for lettings?
The letting person won't want his commission to go to sales.

You should probably try to contact the sales person for the same agent.

As an very lovely, helpful, fragrant and not at all slimy estate agent myself I think this was terrible behaviour, not just from an estate agent, but from any business that you email. There should be service standards - we have a four hour standard in which to reply to an email. We don't want a client going anywhere else so we are good on communication (again, this isnt or shouldnt be specific to EA's). I would forward the email again to them with a note ''Did you get this?''
If they dont respond to that within 24hours, show them the door!
Good luck!

I think I will do that Poka except I can't really show them the door because they have a tenant in the property at the moment.

Might just call them and vent my frustrations though.

I sued mine. And won.

You can't say that and not give details

LOL, don't start me ranting i may never stop

Suffice to say, they started off by not commencing marketing my property whilst we were away on holiday, despite me confirming and reconfirming they had everything they needed before we went. We had had an offer accepted on a place and hence needed to sell ours quickly. A 2 week delay was unhelpful to say the least. Their inefficiency continued in spectacular fashion.....

I took them to the Ombudsman on 5 points, 4 upheld and 2 had financial consequences. Gits

Hi I'm an EA too, neither slimy or scaly (have met may who are). Email with original message and ask them to respond. Give them one working day to do so. You don't have to use the agent you let with to sell unless your current tenants are buying your property and it is in your contract. A separate agent can contact your tenants to arrange viewings and collect keys if needed from your letting agent. Crisp thanks for going to the ombudsman I wish more people would, standards need raising and people standing up against the dodgy ones is the only thing that will do it.

Oooh thank you mners.

I did call my agent today and they apologised profusely and have dealt with everything but that was very helpful advice and I will keep on top of them. Thanks.

I apologise to the several nice-smelling estate agents who have contributed to this thread. To be fair, the ones I bought my current house from were OK as well.

I wouldn't give them a second chance, houses aren't exactly flying of the shelves and so they ought to at least be making an effort to get you tied in with them before they start being arses.

Copy your previous email to the head of sales and tell them you will be now getting x estate agents to deal with the sale.