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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

On line estate agents don't send an agent - is it me?

92 replies

blackteasplease · 18/03/2017 22:52

I've been viewing properties at the moment because I'm moving house as part of a divorce. As such, I'm going to view them on my own or with my three-year-old.

I made an appointment for today through an online estate agent. Thought nothing more of it. When I got there it turns out they don't send an agent, they just expect you to go in and view the property with the owner.

Bloke on his own answers the door. He was really nice about it, but I explained I didn't feel safe going in in those circumstances.

Is it me?

I know they have their details registered with the estate agent etc., so I suppose they are totally traceable, but WIBU not to feel comfortable? Alarm bells were just going off I guess.

I"m prepared to be told I"m being silly if I am.

It might be because my job involves dealing with what happens "when things go wrong" that I was so fearful.

OP posts:
Janeofalltrades1 · 19/03/2017 07:53

Would you feel differently if it is a woman homeowner who shows you around? If you will then that's a bit sexist. YABU. The homeowners are probably more wary about letting strangers into their house than you entering stranger's house.

Regardless, for online estate agencies, the sellers have to pay more for assisted viewings. So many of them just choose to conduct viewing themselves.

Lostwithinthehills · 19/03/2017 08:02

Toomuchfaster
I really wanted the agents to do the viewings. I ended up using two estate agents, both high street, and they just wouldn't conduct viewings for me. Occasionally I'd get them to agree to do a viewing only for them to telephone me at the last minute to tell me they were double booked or running late so they couldn't make it.

ScarletSienna · 19/03/2017 08:02

Jane it isn't really sexist to feel safer around a woman ffs. Regardless of if you think OP is being over-cautious, you honestly can't believe that, can you?

BigGreenOlives · 19/03/2017 08:04

Maybe it depends on the value of the properties?

I have only ever been shown round by agents, looking at houses in London or in the country but they have all been of a high value (not boasting just providing information). Agents charge 1.3% & pay people just to take them to viewings. The negotiators stay in the office if it is a lower value property.

egosumquisum1 · 19/03/2017 08:11

Always always had someone from the estate agents show you round.

I guess that's why they charge more...

egosumquisum1 · 19/03/2017 08:14

Surely the owner can't be there all the time / at a convenient time - so that's why they need an agent with a key to let someone in and hopefully 'sell' the property to the prospective buyer.

egosumquisum1 · 19/03/2017 08:16

OTOH - I have looked around shared houses before and no agent involved there. You just turn up at a shared house and get shown around and see if they like you.

passingthrough1 · 19/03/2017 08:19

I'm surprised by all these people saying estate agents don't do viewings! I've seen about 20 places recently in London and all were with estate agents other than the one with an online agent where the homeowner showed us (was probably better than with EA). Our house is for sale and the EA never even mentioned the possibility of us doing viewings, though I'm thinking of going with online instead so then I'll do them.

Janeofalltrades1 · 19/03/2017 08:30

Scarlett I don't believe that that's why the question is put forward. OP mentioned later on that because it is a bloke, she felt unsafe.

egosumquisum1 · 19/03/2017 08:33

If you were a homeowner selling your home, how comfortable would you feel showing a stranger who you knew nothing about around your house - especially if you were alone?

I suppose that's one of the things about online agents. They're cheaper but you have to take some gambles.

egosumquisum1 · 19/03/2017 08:35

Interestingly - there is an advert on MN saying "Don't get ripped off by estate agents fees".

Estate agents provide a service. What level of service do people want and what viewing options should they provide?

WeAreNotInKansasAnymore · 19/03/2017 08:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FoxyRoxy · 19/03/2017 08:38

The only time I've ever been shown round by an EA or a letting agent is when the property has been empty. When I was selling my house as a single mum I did all the viewings myself, so people I didn't know from Adam were coming to my home. The same way when Sky send an engineer to my house I'm alone with a man I don't know etc.

That being said, if you're currently divorcing you might have some issues around trusting men so I'm not surprised at your reaction, especially as you were unaware that the EA would not be accompanying you. Yanbu to be surprised that there was no EA but yabu to refuse to view the house. Most people don't go to the bother of listing their house for sale on the off chance that single women turn up for viewings, I think you need to ask yourself why your reaction was so extreme.

BillyButtfuck · 19/03/2017 08:39

I'm an estate agent and have worked for both online and high street agents, it's common in both for vendors to request to do their own viewings. Most online agents give the option of accompanied or unaccompanied viewings packages.

Your no more or less safe being shown by the owner, the agents record of who is viewing what, when or with whom is exactly the same so if there were any issues there is a record of where you were and who you were with.

whatnextfred · 19/03/2017 08:41

Blacktea I was / am on a similar position to you and I understand. It's a time when you are naturally feeling more exposed and vulnerable so give yourself a break. I think you should always trust your gut so no harm done and next time being a friend. Hope it all goes well for you and your little one. Onwards and upwards

Grilledaubergines · 19/03/2017 08:43

Is it that you're so very gorgeous they'd all rape you instantly?

I cannot believe this was said. Hmm

TinfoilHattie · 19/03/2017 08:46

Last time we sold a house I was in this situation in reverse. We were desperate to sell, desperate to move on and the agent said they would do viewings when they could. However some buyers could only come in the evenings, or at times there was no agent available. I had no choice but to do viewings myself if DH was at work (well, with a 2 year old and newborn in tow).

Most viewers were fine, I'd explain the basic layout of the house, show them downstairs, take them to the top of the stairs and let them explore by themselves. Out of about 40 viewings, 39 were fine. I only had one man come who made me feel uncomfortable, could'nt put my finger on WHY he made me feel uncomfortable but I was very glad when he went. Lucily we sold a few days later - to our next door neighbours who didn't even want to view the house. Hmm

Grilledaubergines · 19/03/2017 08:47

Oh and I've bought and sold 5 times and have NEVER had an agent accompany me to view or someone viewing my home. And have paid the standard going rate for the service? Being either 1%. 1.25% or 1.6% - as in I've paid a percentage of the sale price not gone cheap and cut out the agent.

ememem84 · 19/03/2017 08:47

I'm viewing houses now. And soon my place will be on the market. I'd expect the agent to conduct viewings. They charge a commission so what are they working for?

Where I am though we don't have any online agents. All are agent driven. The agents work for their money.

bananafish81 · 19/03/2017 08:47

Like passing I'm also shocked - in London I have never once been on a viewing where I wasn't shown round by the agent - they usually encourage the vendor to leave the premises during a viewing if at all possible! The agents prefer to be able to sell the merits of the property themselves rather than leave it up to the vendor. I certainly didn't want to be in the property when the agent was showing prospective buyers round our house - I wanted to leave them to it.

These weren't online agents, but high st agents in an area of London which is absolutely saturated with estate agents, so perhaps there's more of an element of service to compete for business (and the property prices are sadly ridiculous, so they certainly ought to earn their % given what that means in real cash terms!!)

ElsieMc · 19/03/2017 08:47

It is generally agents who show around here, but because they generally employ only one staff member for viewings you find that Friday afternoons and weekends are always fully booked so you may have to wait a fortnight to view - cheap considering you are paying for a package you cannot use.

I hate showing prospective buyers round. I have in the past and have had them knock on my door on Sundays asking to look again and even waiting for me to arrive home from work. I like to keep my distance although if I had a prospective cash buyer and there was no-one available I may do so. But from experience the buyers who insist they are in the most favourable position to buy are rarely that.

I have seen a growth in online agents locally - Purple Bricks and one called the Express Estate Agency who I know little about.

I think there are risks for both parties op. The situation should have been explained to you. Although I can recall the case of Suzi Lamplugh but she was representing the agent.

ExcuseMyEyebrows · 19/03/2017 08:54

Is it that you're so very gorgeous they'd all rape you instantly? I'm obviously a hag, because this situation hasn't happened to me so far

There is so much wrong with this I'm not even going to comment Hmm

OP, I don't think you're being silly at all. When I was looking at properties by myself I always asked for accompanied viewings and the EAs were very understanding.

Take someone with you if you can, it's a stressful time and I hope you find somewhere soon.

sparechange · 19/03/2017 08:55

There is definitely a regional difference

In London, it is completely standard for the agents to do the viewings and for the owners to be out of the house.
In my experience of the Surrey, it's the same

In the rest of the country, it seems more usual for the owners to do the viewings themselves, going by what I've seen on the 'sellers support thread' on here

Emphasise · 19/03/2017 08:56

If you're going to live on your own there are going to be loads of times you have to be in a house alone with a man. What happens if you need a plumber etc? Or indeed if you need to sell your own home and conduct the viewings.

I've never been shown round by an estate agent.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 19/03/2017 09:02

The last few houses we've sold have always been agent viewings. Except for the crap agent who failed to turn up.

I'd always assumed that it was part of the package for which you pay their commission. I'd genuinely be interested to know from a professional, what the commission goes towards and what should be expected from an agent.