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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

estate agent not selling property..

32 replies

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 15:40

My house has been on the market for a few weeks. Agent promised me it would sell quicker than I could imagine. It’s in great condition and priced fairly for the area so I thought that made sense. Had lots of viewings but no offers. Today I decided to look at what’s going on in the viewings through my baby cam which is in the nursery as I’ve received no feedback and I saw the agent criticising the property saying to one prospective buyer “here’s the bedrooms, they are small as you can see” and to another “the bathroom is tired so you would probably want to do it up”. Surely you let people make up their own minds about these things? The bedrooms are average size and the bathroom is about 8 years old but it’s been kept well. To be fair she did also point out something she liked but I’m annoyed that she’s making negative comments. I don’t know why as surely it’s in their interest to sell the property?

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jimmyhill · 10/04/2021 15:45

If it's in "great condition and priced fairly for the area" then it will sell rapidly.

It sounds like your EA doesn't agree with you on "great condition" which means they probably don't agree with you on "priced fairly" either.

MinnieKat · 10/04/2021 15:49

I’m never likely to be in a position to buy or sell a house so I will no use in terms of offering advice but it always amazes me that nice houses can take long to sell.

Someone I know sold their house, in a very average area, they were a hoarder so stuff literally everywhere, kitchen falling apart, bathroom 30 years old, hadn’t been cleaned in months or decorated in years, bedroom dripping with nicotine and on more than one viewing her partner naked in bed in the middle of the day.........

Sold in 11 days.

mummabubs · 10/04/2021 15:51

I do see your point... but as someone who's also recently bought and sold I personally don't think there's anything wrong with pointing out the potential to change what is there (ie the bathroom). Are all the bedrooms comfortable doubles? As if not I wouldn't be too offended about the bedroom comment either. They'll want buyers to be able to see the potential even if current bathroom/ decor isn't to their taste, hopefully this will invite an offer being made. Also the viewer may have already said downstairs that they thought the rooms looked small or something, you're only seeing a snapshot. (Also as a side I've learnt that every single agent will tell you that your house will sell in an instant as they want you list with them!!)

Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 16:00

2 very comfortable doubles and 1 single. the bedrooms are average size if you’re looking at a small house (terrace) in London which it is but if you’re comparing with a large detached house then they are smaller.

All three agents I had in said that it’s in great condition and suggested this price.

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Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 16:01

The agent that priced it was the manager whereas it’s an employer that’s showing people around

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LemonadeFromLemons · 10/04/2021 16:09

I would have thought it fair enough to point out the bathroom but not to say the bedrooms are small, what kind of sales patter is that? I’m also incredibly cynical so would wonder if the agent had somebody they knew who wanted your house so are trying to put others off to soften you up for a low ball offer. But as I said that’s me with my cynical hat on.

Ideasplease322 · 10/04/2021 16:15

Get on the phone to the estate agent, explain what you heard and that you are not happy.

We pay estate agents a lot, this is not a good service.

I once viewed a house and the estate agent showing me round made it clear the house wasn’t for me, and there was no point bidding. I rang and spoke to the manager and asked if there was something about the house (my house now😊) that i should know.

I have no idea why she behaved this way - perhaps she had a friend or relative who wanted to buy it - but her manager was very angry.

GreenClock · 10/04/2021 16:21

If you’re happy to do so, post a link on the Property topic. The regulars will give you frank feedback.

Have you asked the agent why there have been no offers? Any feedback?

MrsTophamHat · 10/04/2021 16:35

It does sound strange.

My only suggestion would be that some people like a house they think they can improve and therefore add value to rather than something finished and at the peak of its potential.

CoRhona · 10/04/2021 16:37

I ended up writing the advert for
a house I owned and was selling years ago as what they'd put was rubbish. I suppose if sales isn't integral you can't force it and they are in the wrong job.

GappyValley · 10/04/2021 16:41

What feedback is the agent giving you after each viewing?

Get a friend to do a viewing and then get on the phone to the manager afterwards, and say that an acquaintance viewed the house and fed back to you that the agent was incredibly negative about the house, and seemed to be talking them out of the viewing, so on that basis, can you have some more honest guidance on the value, and/or a different agent doing future viewings...

Eviethyme · 10/04/2021 16:41

I would go with someone else. The point of being an estate agent is to try and sell the house. Okay not to lie but just saying nothing is better than saying something negative

Thecazelets · 10/04/2021 16:41

Telling buyers the rooms are small and tired seems a very odd strategy. When we bought our current house ( which had been recently renovated) the EA insisted we'd want to take down the wall between the sitting rooms and dismantle the raised deck in the garden. Neither of which we have actually done, but I think the idea was probably to show us there was still room to improve.

Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 16:56

Very little feedback has been given. They’ve said they’re calling people and leaving messages but not hearing back. Two people have said the house was great, they loved it but want to look around more before committing anywhere (time wasters?. The house is on a quiet street, walking distance to station and shops, parking, bright and airy, totally decluttered and tidy, all neutral decor, nothing in disrepair (bathroom could be changed eventually as it’s coming on to ten years but it’s modern looking and the previous owners and us have kept it in a good condition) kitchen is 3 years old, downstairs is extended and spacious, there’s a recently built proper garden room/office (not a shed!). The bedrooms are smaller than those in detached or semi detached houses but this is a terrace so it’s to be expected as all terraces in this area have smaller rooms.

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Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 16:57

A few years ago I sold my flat with an online agent and they had an online portal for feedback. I think that’s a much better system than calling people up

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Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 17:00

Also for comparison a property in a similar condition on our road sold for 10k over our asking price last year and a property on the main road near to us in a similar condition sold for 5% less than our asking in the last month.

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CharlotteRose90 · 10/04/2021 17:02

I’m a first time buyer viewing houses and I appreciate estate agents like that sorry. I like them to point out bits and pieces as it helps me when deciding to make an offer or not and at what price etc. Could you get another estate agent round and see what they say?

Longdistance · 10/04/2021 17:02

We did our own viewings as know our house better than an EA would. I’d be having serious words about what the EA has been saying. Bit late now, but a link would’ve been good so we could see why it’s not selling, but that would out your EA.

Justajot · 10/04/2021 17:02

When we sold, some of the agents promised to do the viewings themselves and others used non-estate agents to do the viewings. The latter didn't have much sense or a filter, so would just bluntly say their own personal opinions about the house. As we were selling an unusual property, we avoided them.

CharlotteRose90 · 10/04/2021 17:04

Also put a link up if you feel brave and we’ll have a look. I’d happily give you honest feedback.

Nanny0gg · 10/04/2021 17:07

The EA is working for you - if you're not happy (and I wouldn't be), speak to them.

You're paying their fees.

DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo · 10/04/2021 17:13

The agent should not be making unprompted comments like that, so I would absolutely get on to the company and make your feelings known.

Regarding a sale: it ALWAYS, ALWAYS boils down to the desirability of your house versus the competition in the buyers price bracket and the number of interested parties, so the agents comments won't be the reason you've had no offers if you've had plenty of viewings.

Ginger1982 · 10/04/2021 17:14

Are you brave enough to post a link?

burritofan · 10/04/2021 17:38

You know the rules, OP. Parking threads need a diagram, troll threads need twins, property sale threads need a Rightmove link.

Original poster

Landladymews2 · 10/04/2021 17:42

Sorry I want to remain anonymous on here.

I was more interested to hear thoughts on the way this sales person is behaving rather than on the property. DH was suggesting that maybe that’s just how estate agents operate to gain trust? If we can’t sell we can pull out and try again in a few years. It’s not a big deal for us. It seems like most people think I should raise this with the agent.

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