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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

NIGHTMARE HOUSE SITUATION

163 replies

MummyToBeAgain1 · 04/02/2022 13:56

AIBU to be annoyed at estate agents!

I'm currently in the process of selling my current property - I recieved an offer at start of Jan and solicitors are doing they checks etc so hopefully it'll be sold within 10 weeks!

The issue is buying a property through an estate agent. My experience so far has showed that they want a cash buyer - no chain which leaves people in my situation at a loss.

A property was listed yesterday morning. We are interested and LOVE IT - literally the property that ticks all our boxes after over a year of looking.

I called the estate agents straight away to book a viewing. They noted my details and said that they are waiting for the vendor to confirm when people could view the property.

I called back after 2 hours and they had the same story, I called back at 4pm and the story was the same.

I called the estate agents again today at 9am - I was told the lady who was dealing with this house sale isn't in till 10am. I asked her what the reason was for the vendor to have listed the house but not sorted viewings. She said there are viewings and today is fully booked. I said I called yesterday and was told your trying to get in contact with the vendor. She then asked for my name and said your not on the list.

I said but that isn't fair because I called several times yesterday. I said during my second phone call I was told that you hadn't even recieved any other calls regarding this property yet. She muttered something.

She said well now you'll have to wait till next tuesday because they fully booked before then. I said but what if they accept an offer before then. She replied with 'Well, to be honest you don't even know if you're going to get it - because there's alot of interest for this property and cash buyers with no chain'.

She said the lady whose dealing with the sale of this property will call back at 10am.

At 9.40 I get a call which I missed. I called back and was cut of after 2 rings. I called again and it was the lady I spoke to earlier - she advised the lady who deals with the property has rang in sick and she'll book me in for next week.

I feel so deflated and already feel like there's no point viewing this house because I know the estate agents prioritise cash buyers.

Yeah, I get that it's a business and they want a good priced, quick sale. Obviously, with those of us who are in a chain - it takes time and there's that risk of the sale not going through or our mortgage not being accepted.

But what else are we meant to do? 😔 I genuinely feel like giving up today. By the way, this is one example from many. We initially put our property on market through estate agents from nov 2020 to aug 2021 - this was a nightmare situation and so much effort was wasted.
In december 2021 I put it up privately and managed to find a buyer with a good offer within 2 weeks.

I don't know how else to find a house. Or find one privately. I've checked facebook.

A colleague once said selling and buying a house is one of the most stressful situations people will experience in they lives. I honestly can not agree more! I've never been so stressed. I have young children and it will be difficult to drag them on rent till we buy a house and then drag them to the new house. It's unsettling and difficult.

Thanks for listening to my rant! AIBU to be annoyed that estate agents push those of us in a chain to the back of the queue.

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 04/02/2022 14:01

Well, it’s not the estate agents (wankers though they are) pushing you back in the queue, it’s presumably instruction from the vendor. It’s awful, though. But I imagine hard to resist when selling, going for the easiest, quickest offer with a bucketload of cash.

Porcupineintherough · 04/02/2022 14:06

Estate agents are awful (at least all the ones I've had dealings with have been). But equally, house buying/selling is so stressful that the majority of sellers are going to prefer a cash buyer to cut the awfulness in half. You could think about joining them - that's what we did: sold, rented; bought as cash buyers, all within 6 months.

littledrummergirl · 04/02/2022 14:07

Personally I would knock on the vendors door, explain what's happened with the agent and ask them if they will let you have a viewing with them at a convenient time.
The worst that can happen is they say no.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 04/02/2022 14:14

YANBU

MummyToBeAgain1 · 04/02/2022 14:14

@stuntbubbles @porcupineintherough

I agree! I feel like that's the only way as difficult as it feels. I will end up on rent which will be the long way around this.

@littledrummergirl

You're right and I did go this afternoon to do exactly that. The vendor had a note on the door saying something along the lines of 'any viewings should be done through estate agents and not directly'. So, I came back.

The estate agent mentioned it was an elderly person who couldn't move around much so an estate agent would do the viewings. That might be the reason for the note.

OP posts:
WulyJmpr · 04/02/2022 14:18

Are you selling your house to someone with no chain?

I feel sorry for you but it was pretty clear the EAs were trying to politely put you off wasting your time on that house.

Roselilly36 · 04/02/2022 14:23

It’s just crazy atm, I get your frustration completely. We viewed a property recently, already had offers well over asking price, EA were stopping people from viewing. Just mad. Surely the property market can’t continue like this with the financial squeeze etc. Good luck OP I hope you find somewhere.

MummyToBeAgain1 · 04/02/2022 14:25

@WulyJmpr

The people who are buying our property are not in a chain. So, it's a pretty straightforward sale. Fingers crossed!

Yes, they did which is why I'm so annoyed.

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 04/02/2022 14:28

I would be tempted to push a note through the door saying you have been trying to book through the estate agent but they won't let you as you are not a card buyer. The note would suggestbyou are not the only one in this position.

WulyJmpr · 04/02/2022 14:29

[quote MummyToBeAgain1]@WulyJmpr

The people who are buying our property are not in a chain. So, it's a pretty straightforward sale. Fingers crossed!

Yes, they did which is why I'm so annoyed.[/quote]
I guess that's the exact easy situation the owners want of the house your were trying to view...

lastqueenofscotland · 04/02/2022 14:29

Are you selling to a long chain? I specifically asked for first time buyers or people in VERY short chains when I sold mine.
I had a nightmare long chain when buying which involved a probate, a POA and a divorce. Never again.

PizzaPizza56 · 04/02/2022 14:35

It took us from January to November last year to have an offer accepted. We made many, many offers and kept losing out to cash buyers. We're now in a chain. The whole thing is miserable and stressful but if you want to move you've just got to keep going. We were rejected from viewings too but just think that it wasn't meant to be and be ready to pounce again when something new comes up. I feel your pain!

minipie · 04/02/2022 14:38

I would also be tempted to push a note through the door.

The sellers may not have specified cash buyers only. The EAs may be prioritising cash buyers because they care about an easy sale more than they care about maximising price.

minipie · 04/02/2022 14:38

I would make it clear in the note that you have a very short chain.

seastargirl · 04/02/2022 14:40

I'd definitely write a letter exfoliation your situation, we got our house doing this, the lady didn't want to sell builders and wanted to have a family to have it. I know you're not at the making an offer stage but I'd also recommend putting your sealed bid through the letterbox too. Our sealed bid was never submitted as (we hear on the rumor mill) the estate agent takes back handers off builders who are just buying to do up and sell on.

Loopytiles · 04/02/2022 14:45

If you’re that interested in the property, put a note through the door as PPs have suggested.

Loopytiles · 04/02/2022 14:46

Then it’s up to the vendors.

CeleriacOfTheNight · 04/02/2022 14:47

The vendor has stuck a note on the door telling people NOT to contact directly, so I'd think that ignoring that request would likely piss them off.

Iamthedom · 04/02/2022 14:48

I told my estate agent that I would give preference to first time buyers who had children or a cash buyer even if either of them weren’t the highest offer
I really didn’t want to be in a chain or sell to a builder .
My property was empty I had already applied for probate so easy sell from my side
It sold straight away to a family FTB who did offer the most over everyone else
And I’m really pleased my late parents house is going to a family

justasking111 · 04/02/2022 14:49

It's crazy friends had their house valued after an extension was finished. The EA keeps phoning wanting them to list it. Where would they go they said. There's so little on the market anything still available is a stupid price.

ToykotoLosAngeles · 04/02/2022 14:50

I have said this on another thread, but this is why so many people are selling and moving back in with family or renting while they house hunt - to break the chain.

Wonnle · 04/02/2022 14:51

Realistically how many people are cash buyers with no chain involved ?

There is a bungalow near where i used to live that has been for sale for over a year in an area where they sell within days , the woman who owns it is doing the viewings herself and has been through at least 8 estate agents in that time ! We viewed it and apparently she had had loads of offers but she wanted more money , way more than it's worth .

We came away with the feeling the place isn't actually for sale and she's just a bit mad !

Wondergirl100 · 04/02/2022 14:53

Hey Op we are moving at the moment and yes it is mega stressful. You need to be more patient! sorry but the reality is - if you were in the sellers shoes, of course you will prefer someone chain free.

Can you focus on renting? we are moving into a rented house then we will be cash buyers

Agents do tend to hype stuff up so they will book loads of viewings - but the situation you describe does sound pretty normal unfortunatlely.

They are saving your time really - if there are 10 people booked in and none are in a chain - what is the point you viewing?

TonTonMacoute · 04/02/2022 14:54

It sounds like you were unlucky with your timings but if the EAs feel they will get a sale from the current viewers then so be it.

TBH if there are a lot of cash buyers interested in this property then it could easily end up going to sealed bids and may eventually sell for a lot more than the asking price anyway.

Frustrating, but I would not waste any more time worrying about it. In certain parts of the country the housing market is completely bonkers I'm afraid.

Wondergirl100 · 04/02/2022 14:54

@Wonnle - you would be surprised! Nine years ago when we sold our flat in east London there were at least 2 cash buyers - we didn't go with them though!

If you are in a popular area - london/ south east etc, there will be cash buyers - where people get their money I dontknow - previous sales/ family money etc

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