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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flaming Estate Agents

19 replies

Pleasegodnomorewalks · 18/02/2021 11:40

I suppose this is a rant more than anything but we had a viewing on our house on Mon morn. Excellent feedback, EA really, really positive (which he hasn't been after previous ones so I know that's not just his normal style), viewer loved it apparently, EA listed of reasons why the buyer found it so suitable, they were going to make an offer, viewer wanted to know what we would leave/include in sale, asked about a couple of specific things. All sounded great.

Since then though we have heard nothing (until this morning). I can understand after generic top level feedback but after the viewer was so enthused I would have expected to have heard back, and for the EA to be chasing quite and letting me know that if not. But we've heard zilch.

I haven't chased the EA as last time we chased for feedback I was made to feel like a massive nuisance, I'm not good in situations like these and that made me feel really cringey for ages so I've just left this. But obviously feel a bit frustrated now.

Then this morn received on of those auto generated feedback emails that said 'Liked property. Will probably do a second viewing'. That's it, totally at odds with the conversation on Monday.

No follow up phone call so gave in and chased. EA not there just receptionist, I asked what days/times they had given and she was very much like oh he's not overly bothered and can be flexible so it'll just be when {agents name} can do it. That was it.

Am I being unreasonable to be WTAH......I almost feel like I'm imagining the conversation from Monday. I know the viewer had all his ducks in a row in terms of finance etc. (obvs could have been lying to the agent but apparently they know each other so seems unlikely).

He's clearly changed his mind which is fine but am I right to be peeved at the agent for not nailing this down and letting me know over the phone before now. I get it's awkward. I feel like the offer of a second viewing at some point in the future is like the house buying/selling version of a pity fuck to be honest.

OP posts:
TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 18/02/2021 12:03

YANBU to be "wanting the arsehole harmed" as you put it (I assume that WTAH means), but unfortunately this is what EAs are like - they don't care about anything other than their commission. I felt that during the whole process of home buying I was up against people who didn't give a toss - the estate agent, my solicitor, their solicitor - it was only me and the vendor who were actually interested, and if we both hadn't constantly chased a two month process would have stretched out to a year. (As opposed to stretch out to six months like it did.)

namechangetheworld · 18/02/2021 12:05

People love to give estate agents a good kicking on Mumsnet but in this instance it doesn't sound like they're in the wrong to be honest. A myriad of things could have happened. The viewer could have simply changed their mind once they got home, or wasn't quite as passionate about the property as they said on the original viewing (this happens a lot!), or viewed something absolutely perfect afterwards that they offered on. Also, around 50% of people don't answer the phone when we call for feedback after a viewing, so the agent might not want to dismiss them completely as a buyer until they have heard back from them.

Remember, the agents want to sell the property as much as you do!

VinylDetective · 18/02/2021 12:07

The agent may be unable to get hold of them. My very interested and enthusiastic viewers went to ground after the second viewing, didn’t answer their phones for three days. Then emailed the agent with flimsy excuses for not making an offer. It’s par for the course, I’m afraid.

Pleasegodnomorewalks · 18/02/2021 12:14

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe LOL well I thought it meant 'what the actual hell' but am worried I've using it wrong for the several years now.

OP posts:
StillCoughingandLaughing · 18/02/2021 12:19

Remember, the agents want to sell the property as much as you do!

Theoretically, yes. Late last year I viewed six properties and only half the agents ever phoned me to get feedback.

JoanneCofton · 18/02/2021 12:21

It does mean what the actual hell 😂😂

Lockdowntherabbithole · 18/02/2021 12:23

GrinGrinGrin I thought “what the actual hell” too. I don’t think I’d have ever pulled wanting the arsehole harmed from that 😂 gave me a much needed chuckle this morning.

MrDarcysMa · 18/02/2021 12:23

It's difficult because this means everything to you at the moment and is your priority - but it is one of many many properties/ viewings to the EA and buyers

yesyoudoknowme · 18/02/2021 12:23

WTAH stands for what the actual hell- like WTAF stands for... well you know that one. WTH (who the hell) would possibly think it stands for 'wants the arsehole harmed'?? Misses point of thread entirely

ShirleyPhallus · 18/02/2021 12:24

Absolutely lolling at thinking WTAH means you “want that arsehole harmed” Grin Mumsnet is SO good sometimes Grin

CattyCactus · 18/02/2021 12:28

I did have to read the post a few times to see where the Op had said she “wanted the arsehole harmed.”
Best crossed-wires ever! 😂

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 18/02/2021 12:30

😂 wanting the arshole harmed.
Im dead.

Pleasegodnomorewalks · 18/02/2021 12:31

@VinylDetective I think they must have done and that's what the email this morning was in response to.

I just want to the EA to actually speak to me and say no they don't sound as keen now, which is fine, I know it happens. And at which point I'll probably say well we won't bother with a second viewing and tell them not to go through the motions out of politeness.

I get that it all gets very weird and people seem to change their minds like their knickers but I'd just like to have an actual conversation with the estate regarding it. Not a one line email totally at odds with what they said on Monday, if I was the EA I'd think it would probably warrant an actual conversation to just explain it. Surely they must be used to having awkward conversations.

OP posts:
Pleasegodnomorewalks · 18/02/2021 13:07

@MrDarcysMa that is a good point to remember, but we've already taken it off once and whilst I wasn't maybe as direct as I should have been it was because we felt we were just getting time wasters and that the EA weren't working quite hard enough on our behalf, they convinced me to go back on a couple of weeks ago. Honestly wishing I hadn't have bothered now!

OP posts:
peak2021 · 18/02/2021 13:20

Estate agents are an argument against capitalism. Not news.

SarahAndQuack · 18/02/2021 13:25

TBH it sounds more like the buyer than the agent, I would think?

The buyer is the one who's given the impression of enthusiasm here; you know the agent doesn't generally pretend to be enthusiastic when he isn't.

It might even be that the agent is feeling a bit shit because someone he thought he knew has been less than honest/direct.

Pleasegodnomorewalks · 18/02/2021 13:37

Tell you what @ShirleyPhallus i'm so glad I posted this as I was in a right bitch of mood but Want The Arsehole Harmed has cheered me up no end.....just relayed in on Teams call to colleagues. Thank you @TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 18/02/2021 13:57

@Pleasegodnomorewalks

Tell you what *@ShirleyPhallus i'm so glad I posted this as I was in a right bitch of mood but Want The Arsehole Harmed has cheered me up no end.....just relayed in on Teams call to colleagues. Thank you @TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe*
Ha ha, glad to hear it. Fwiw, I found estate agents to be incredibly “challenging” and emotions run high during house buying etc so try not to take it too personally
bp300 · 18/02/2021 14:03

The longer the property has been on the market the better the buyers negotiating position. I am in the process of looking to buy and I'm in no hurry to put any offers in until I know I can get the best deal.

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