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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Estate agent - helpful or pushy?

13 replies

Mum3321 · 19/12/2021 20:29

Told an acquaintance we’re looking at homes and she passed my number to her uncle whose am estate agent. I didn’t mind as I thought he will be useful in helping us find a home.

Very pushy I.e. calling non stop and convincing (trying to) that we should sell property through him. I explained we will be listing property with one of the 3 big chains and would like to view suitable properties through him. Very insistent that he can be round ASAP to give quote. His agency is small and I’ve never heard of. Just one office.

What would you do? Is there benefit of going for a smaller rather than well established one? Sounds silly but I’m put off as he’s so pushy.

OP posts:
pianolessons1 · 19/12/2021 20:31

tell him once more and block if he doesn't listen. tell your friend why.

BakeOffRewatch · 19/12/2021 20:31

No way, house selling and buying is very stressful, lots of ups and downs, go with who you trust and feel comfortable having difficult conversations with.

Original poster
Mum3321 · 19/12/2021 20:32

The thing is he might be genuinely trying to help but in my mind having an established big company is better - am I wrong?

OP posts:
startled · 19/12/2021 20:40

I use an EA that consists of 3 men who are business partners plus extra office staff and associate sales staff , just one office in my town , been going for many years and much much better than the big chains that couldn't care less
I know who I'm talking to when I call them on the phone , they have a great reputation and are valued in the local community .
What is the background on your man ? Might be that he's hungry for work and will work hard for you

Dougieowner · 19/12/2021 20:54

I went with a local one man band agent when I sold my house earlier this year..... Big mistake.
He seemed nice (and wasn't actually a one man band, he had an assistant who fielded calls and dealt with viewings when required). Trouble was, this meant that at times they were just unavailable and updates could take days as I was unable to speak to anyone. Also they did the bare minimum of viewings and convinced me to accept the first offer, I now realise this was to keep their workload down.

Just marketed my late parents house with a mid-sized agency (still local) and it is a completely different experience as this time there are sufficient staff to deal with queries when others are out of the office. As for viewings, they did 20 in a week and then told the interested parties to submit a B&F before asking us which one we wanted to go with. Far better than our previous EA.

ChangeChingyChange · 19/12/2021 20:56

@Mum3321

The thing is he might be genuinely trying to help but in my mind having an established big company is better - am I wrong?
You are wrong! Give him a chance, bigger does definitely not always mean better in the case of estate agents - look at purple bricks reviews if you want to see what I mean.
ChangeChingyChange · 19/12/2021 20:57

Also we once sold with a very large chain (Cubitt and west) and had a nightmare. But we were buying a house through a very local small estate agent who was bloody brilliant and we've vowed if we ever move from here we'll use them to buy and sell!

Squeezita · 20/12/2021 07:23

The pushiness would put me off.

ANameChangeAgain · 20/12/2021 07:26

Trust your instincts. If he is pushy trying to get the listing, what will he be like once you are signed up and on his books?
Forget the fact he is a friend's uncles and be blunt. Tell him he is being too pushy.

invisiblereally · 20/12/2021 07:28

You've said no and he keeps ringing you?

You agreed for your number to go across as you are open to all avenues in searching for properties to buy. He's using it to try to convince you to sell with him. Just say I told you no and if you keep ringing yo pressure me, I'll be forced to block your number

bumbleymummy · 20/12/2021 07:31

The pushiness would put me off rather than the fact that he’s a one man show. Sometimes bigger estate agents can be an absolute pain and you feel like you’re just one person on a long list who they don’t really know/care much about whereas smaller estate agents can be a bit more personal. You’d definitely need to like the person though!

Twickerhun · 20/12/2021 07:33

Some big EAs are a nightmare. Some small agencies aren't as good. But you need to be able to trust the individual you work with and he doesn't sound like the right person for you. But don't rule out small agencies on principle

daytriptovulcan · 20/12/2021 11:15

Tell him to back off. Block his number and don't discuss it with your sneaky friend again.
Dont comply with his agenda. What he's doing is not friendly or beneficial to you.
Make this important decision at your own pace and without pressure.

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