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

[blackteasplease]

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.

We've viewed loads and all have been the owner showing us around.
We're also selling and we are doing the viewings.

Maybe take a friend if your that worried but I do think you've been quite over the top!

Foxy there is no industry standard, it differs by region, company and sometimes even between same company offices.
No decent agent would take your property on without explaining their company or offices' policy regarding viewings, nor would you expect any vendor to sign a contract with an agent without reading it and having a clear understanding of the package they are signing up to pay for.
With some online agents when you instruct online you can add extras like accompanied viewings so it couldn't be much more transparent exactly what you are paying for at the point of instruction.

We viewed houses 18 months ago, all were viewings with the owner. I'm in Yorkshire. Also was asked by agent to hold viewings as a tennant when we bought a house and were moving out of our rental...

My mum recently sold her house and an agent always accompanied people viewing. No way would I have let my mum (who's 85) show someone around on her own!

Yanbu. I'd be anxious too. Probably due to remembering all the Suzy Lamplugh headlines as a kid.

I'm in Surrey spare and as said upthread, have never had an agent show. All quite normal here.

there is no industry standard, it differs by region, company and sometimes even between same company offices

That's no surprise. I would have thought there would be 'good practice' though and recommendations of what to do with people who may be vulnerable.

Ego the only good practice that's always been drummed into me in all the agencies I've worked in (including the UKs largest group) is that every single viewing must be registered and recorded properly and a valid phone number be recorded for all vendors and viewers prior to any appointments. At no time is it acceptable for an agent, vendor or viewer to be at an appointment which is not traceable and no one knows who they are with or when. This is largely because of the case Meglet mentioned.

In a way I'd feel safer as a viewer being shown by the vendor (who will have been subject to ID checks on instruction) than the vendor letting a stranger into my home with only their name and number definitely on file.

That's only my experience though, I'm sure there are plenty of agents out there who don't bother recording every detail properly and don't verify phone numbers before appointments.

all been of a high value

My house was in the south east, in an expensive / desirable area, not far from London and therefore not cheap. It didn't make my agents want to earn their commission by doing the viewings though.

OP you are assuming a seller is more 'dangerous' than an estate age then you are wrong. A friend has to call the police after an estate agent used her details to sexually harass her.

In a way I'd feel safer as a viewer being shown by the vendor (who will have been subject to ID checks on instruction) than the vendor letting a stranger into my home with only their name and number definitely on file

Yes..

The only person 'unknown' is the viewer.

Safety concerns are:

The estate agent may be unsafe on a viewing with the viewer but no seller present.

The seller may be unsafe on a viewing with the viewer but no estate agent present.

And then:

The viewer may be unsafe with the seller present but no estate agent.

Of all those cases, who is the 'unknown' - it's the viewer.

Not sure about online agents but even high street agents don't always send an agent for viewings.

I used to work as an ea, and we would ask the seller what they were comfortable with. Some wanted to be there alone and show potential buys around, some wanted to be there with an agent, some wanted to be out of the house while an agent showed people around.

I didn't really think of it as unsafe, but generally we had built a relationship with the sellers and sort of knew them. But I can understand why you'd feel a bit threatened going in to a property with someone you know nothing about - but then again an agent would be someone you know nothing about too!

If anything it's the buyers that are the 'threat' if anyone is because we had no more info about them than their name, phone number and how many bedrooms they wanted.

Its you

If anyone cares it worked out OK because in the time I would have spent, I got to see another place instead. Had offered accepted on that other place.

I think it might be a London thing from reading the PPs.

I'm glad others thought the gorgeous thing was a bit off.

But I also admit I might be a bit over cautious due to my job and I will know in future to check so as not to waste anyone's time. That was certainly never my intention and had i realised this is not uncommon I would have checked.

I've always had an agent showing me around. Never have I turned up on my own and on only one occasion has the home owner been there.