Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Estate Agents being pushy

143 replies

TheBouquets · 01/08/2016 13:24

I am hoping to move house very soon. I have had bad experiences of being too open and honest with certain official persons. Therefore I have learned to be guarded.
I called an agent to arrange to view a property. I was asked loads of questions about my house owning position. As I refused to specify my house owning / financial situation I was not allowed a viewing.

This particular house has been up for sale for over a year, it has a good survey and in a desirable location.
If I am old enough to be buying a property, and a property which is not a starter price range for the majority of people, surely I am old enough to know whether I can afford this property or not.
What makes Estate Agents think it is going to do any good to put prospective viewers off before they even view? Surely our financial status is nobody's business but our own as responsible adults?

OP posts:

thisisafakename · 02/08/2016 23:20

I showed the emails from the estate agent to a relative who is in a certain occupation and therefore full of suspicion. I was asked for my exact address not just the Post Code. My relative said that they could be arranging a viewing for you about 30 miles away knowing that your own house is likely to be empty at the arranged time

Omg, seriously? Of course they take your details when you ask to view a property- it's completely normal and if they act on the sale, they need to verify your identity. What would be ludicrous would be if they only took your postcode- what help would that be. What is your relative's profession? Professional cat-burglar?

So if I as a solicitor (my former profession) ask a prospective client for their address when they make an appointment, would you think it is reasonable for that client to think that the reason I am asking is not so that I have a record for my file and can later verify their identity, but because I want to arrange to have their house burgled during their appointment with me? I have seriously never heard such paranoid bull.

PurpleDaisies · 02/08/2016 23:30

What is your relative's profession
Professional cat-burglar?

Seriously op, do you actually think estate agents up and down the country are communicating with burglars? In my experience they mainly want your address to put you on their system so they can send you marketing junk.

ginplease83 · 02/08/2016 23:33

YABU

They are checking you out to see if you're a time waster for all they know you're a local coming for a nose or an afternoon out. Their client will spend time making the property look nice for viewing and what's the point if you're not in a position to offer?!

LunaLoveg00d · 03/08/2016 08:32

Remember that estate agent who got murdered years ago - Suzy Lamplugh? She met some bloke at a property to show him around and never came back.

Of COURSE estate agents want to know who you are and where you live when they are arranging to meet you in a potentially unoccupied property. And OP, getting all offended at the implication that you may be an axe murdered is just the same as inferring that all estate agents just want your address so they can burgle you.

Paranoid much?

OVienna · 03/08/2016 11:49

This thread is full of crazy talk now. OP - get a grip.

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 12:01

As mentioned an Estate Agent disappeared after doing a viewing. It could so easily have been the other way around. The viewer could have disappeared after going to view with an estate agent. I need to feel safe when meeting strangers in any capacity. Have you not thought that I am cautious because of previous bad experiences (plural)
I believe that it is an offence to interfere with a certain type of worker in the course of their work. No, dears, there are no cat burglars in my family.
I chose my solicitor. I suppose I must be lucky with my choice because I have not been asked any question by the solicitor that I was not happy to answer. I put the necessary paperwork in front of them, both the solicitor and I are aware of the legal documents needed to finalise this matter and that is what is being worked on at present.
I may be a failure as a woman as I don't do nosey, nor do I like nosey people
I see no reason why I should be asked for my occupation, salary, house sold or what. I am aware of my own financial position and how much I have to spend on my next house. I know I am financially cautious and I don't need someone to question my position or decisions. I have already done my homework on that as a responsible person.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 12:07

I'm genuinely sorry you've had bad experiences. I think unfortunately they're leaving you with a very unrealistic view of the safety of going to view a property with an estate agent and what they'll do with your personal details.

I believe that it is an offence to interfere with a certain type of worker in the course of their work.

What do you mean by this?

You didn't say whether you are able to buy without using the equity from your own sale. If you won't put your house on the market until the new place is totally ready to move in to you will really struggle to find a seller willing up work with you.

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 12:08

I see no reason why I should be asked for my occupation, salary, house sold or what.

I agree that of those only the last is in any way appropriate for an estate agent to ask about.

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 12:20

I have now read more responses.
Advice re not getting divorced or everyone will know about money status. Been divorced no money involved in legal dealings apart from us both stating that we were happy with our own arrangements.
Reason I had access to Survey Report is that I live where laws are different from most of you. I don't really understand what happens with sales in your areas but I do in my area.
I can not be specific with my relative's occupation but as MY relative they put my safety before all else. I have had bad experiences but my relative deals with bad experiences all the time. Maybe both of us have hiked up our own values of safety.
I do have a very reasonable explanation for my status but I have found that even the most "respectable professionals" get into top gear if I am open about my situation. Also I do not wish to be pushed to up any offer because they think I am rich.
It is a reflection of the world we live in that safety has to be thought about so carefully. I used to be so open but the experiences I have had have forced me to be more guarded

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 12:27

So you're not in the uk?

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 12:28

Oh hang on, isn't Scotland different in terms of its house buying laws?

LurkingHusband · 03/08/2016 12:30

Oh hang on, isn't Scotland different in terms of its house buying laws?

Massively ...

thisisafakename · 03/08/2016 13:26

It could so easily have been the other way around. The viewer could have disappeared after going to view with an estate agent

Quite unlikely though because everyone would immediately know who the estate agent was. Whereas any weirdo could call up a female estate agent and ask for a viewing at an unoccupied property and she would be in an extremely vulnerable position. How does leaving your details with the agent put you at a greater risk? If you really were concerned, you could bring a friend or family member to the viewing.

Anyway, you clearly are in a different jurisdiction and you clearly have quite firm and entrenched views on what is and is not appropriate to divulge, even to professionals. If it works for you, carry on, but people on here were just pointing out that the agent getting an idea of the buyer's financial position is not that weird. Unless you buy cash every time, you have to divulge all aspects of your life in securing a mortgage (although maybe where you are, there are different rules on mortgages and you can obtain them anonymously too).

LurkingHusband · 03/08/2016 13:29

Anyway, you clearly are in a different jurisdiction

Which does rather make most of this thread a waste of time ?

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 13:35

LurkingHusband - I was not aware that Munsnet was only for English people.

Are you aware that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom as is Wales and Northern Ireland?

OP posts:

LurkingHusband · 03/08/2016 13:41

LurkingHusband - I was not aware that Munsnet was only for English people.

Are you aware that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom as is Wales and Northern Ireland?

Are you aware the law - especially around the sale of property is different in England ? Especially as people here were trying to help assuming you were in England ?

Anyway, nobody died.

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 13:51

I am very aware of the law re house purchase in Scotland is different from England. It was my line of work.
It was more about the pushy conduct of Estate Agents rather than the laws on house purchase. It seems that they can be pushy in England sometimes too. The estate agent selling this property is not one of the big name estate agents in this or the wider local area. Had it been a well known and established estate agent I may have reacted differently. The tone of the conversation can not be conveyed on here. It was very high pressure and demanding.
As you said no-one died and that is the main thing. I just don't like pushy and react badly.

OP posts:

doctoratsea · 03/08/2016 13:58

YABU - if you are interested in said property from said estate agent, then maybe you have to follow their rules. If you don't like the rules then you know what you must do

PassTheCremeEggs · 03/08/2016 14:10

YABU without a doubt. Selling a house (as the owner, not the EA) is a massive ball ache. Wasting time with viewings (tidying within inch of house's life, flowers etc, getting kids and dog out way etc etc) is a pain in the neck. Doing all that for someone who can't/won't prove they can actually buy it is a waste of time.

It's not just a case of you the buyer selecting the house you want to buy. As a seller you have to choose carefully whose offer to accept and the question that should always be asked is which buyer is most likely to complete the deal in the desired timeframe.

If you won't even disclose proof you're able to afford the house I wouldn't want you viewing it - total waste of time and effort. And to be honest - you sound like a nightmare buyer who would cause all kinds of difficulties with any questioning further down the line.

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 14:32

I am aware of what a pain in the neck selling houses is. Last one I sold I had a toddler and a school child and this is why I have decided that I will have pictures with furniture but the houses will be viewed empty.
I am not a time waster or lacking the necessary to buy a property In my area once an offer is put forward and accepted no-one, buyer or seller, can get out of the sale so there is no scope for being a nightmare buyer. This estate agent was over zealous, my occupation, salary has nothing to do with my ability to buy a house but she could not fathom that and demanded to know who my mortgage in principal was with. She was way over the top. Her conduct has made me wary of the time when I put property up for sale.
You cant say I am a nightmare buyer when there is no scope for that where I live. What goes on wherever you are can not be done here. The world is made up of people all with different circumstances and every one of us has the potential not to fit neatly into little boxes and that has to be taken into consideration.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 15:16

It might have been helpful to mention before 121 posts that you were in Scotland so the way house buying works is different from what we're all talking about.

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 15:40

I didn't realise that there would be talk of the legal side of buying a house. I was only talking about the conduct of estate agents. Apparently from the thread they can be a bit pushy in other areas too.
It is pushy ness that puts me off from all people. I remember all the fear of double glazing salesmen who would sit I houses till all hours to push a sale. It is just not nice.
As far as I know estate agents do much the same. Advertise houses for sale or let arrange viewings and can negotiate in the sale. Here we may suggest a price in conversation with the seller or the estate agent to see if it is acceptable before the expense of a solicitor but once the buyer's solicitor puts the offer in writing and the seller's solicitors reply accepting the offer the deal is complete price and date of entry are set in writing and has to be adhered to.

OP posts:

SilverBat · 03/08/2016 17:44

Well I suppose at least you know now who would be the best person to sell your house now :-
The pushy estate agent, who will get the best price for you. No point in going with one who is laid back, and can't be arsed is there?

Plus if you are worried about safety issues, surely you yourself would want to know the agent had vetted any potential viewers you have coming. Much the same as they want to check you out as a potential buyer!!

Original poster

TheBouquets · 03/08/2016 18:56

Sorry I cant agree SilverBat. I would not want anyone coming to view who might be angry after a grilling from someone so rough with potential viewers/buyers.
I think that the house and the location matter more than the Estate Agent. If you have a good property folks would want to view/buy.

Had this house been my first choice in the area I might have endured better but as it is I have view 1st and 3rd choices and I am in discussions over one of them. I gave up on 2nd choice.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2016 19:00

I would not want anyone coming to view who might be angry after a grilling from someone so rough with potential viewers/buyers.

I think to be fair to the estate agent, the vast majority of people would be happy to disclose their home address, whether they've already sold a property and if they've got a mortgage in principle agreed.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6