NIGHTMARE HOUSE SITUATION

[MummyToBeAgain1]

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.

@littledrummergirl

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.

No harm in trying that, it worked for us but that was in other country.

@CorrBlimeyGG

You've been told that the seller is an elderly person with limited mobility, and there is a note asking people to contact the EA. It would be completely inappropriate to put a note through the door.

No, there is a note saying any viewings need to be done by the EA.

OP is happy to view via the EA. The note is not asking the vendor to do a viewing, it’s telling the vendor that her EA is not letting all potential buyers view.

Which is not in the vendor’s best interests, as well as being annoying for the OP.

EAs IME do not try to maximise price. They just want a quick and easy deal.

OP selling and moving into rented doesn’t necessarily make her a cash buyer – she might still need a mortgage to afford the house she wants. It just makes her chain-free/the equivalent of a first-time buyer – only without the irritating first-time buyer panics at the survey and misunderstandings of the process.

Sounds like a standard estate agent fuck up tbh.

The agents will wait until the current crop of interested buyers have seen it because they will want a multiple bid situation to push the price up. The sellers are highly unlikely to accept an offer on day one of viewings other than a cash buyer who offers significantly over ask.

It is much easier for cash buyers which is why people sell and rent - then they're in a position to pounce.

This sounds very frustrating, OP. But please don't lose hope. In amongst all the early viewers will be a lot of people for whom the property doesn't work and also time-wasters. Vendor is unlikely to accept an offer before the first few days of viewings. If an elderly Vendor (generalisation alert!) is choosing between different offers, a buyer who can move at her pace might be important to her. This would also be the time to drop in a note to explain you love the house and want it for a family home but wishing her well regardless. If she chooses to go with another Buyer, a personal note will put you in pole position to swoop in if things fall out of bed. Also, as frustrated as you are, don't piss off the EA as Vendor may ask for their advice on which offer to go with. Play the long game. Good luck!

@stuntbubbles

OP selling and moving into rented doesn’t necessarily make her a cash buyer – she might still need a mortgage to afford the house she wants. It just makes her chain-free/the equivalent of a first-time buyer – only without the irritating first-time buyer panics at the survey and misunderstandings of the process.

True but sellers look more kindly on chain free mortgagees with an offer in principle to those stuck in a chain.

I'd be a bit careful of putting a note through the door, you could come across as a bit too eager. Yes there might be lots of interest from cash buyers, in which case you aren't going to win in any situation, unless you offered really over the odds (would you want to do that), there's no incentive for a seller to pick you over a cash buyer. If you're in a market that's really hot, it's very tough so you have my sympathies, but I do know people who have sold and moved in with relatives or into rented to make it easier to buy. If that's what you've got to do to buy, it's beyond rubbish, but it's at least a route to a house that you want.

Alternatively, the estate agents could be lying, they often do, and they could be hyping this house up and they won't get a good offer from a cash buyer. All you can do is express your interest, and if it doesn't go under offer, enquire again to see if their position on you has changed. There isn't anything else to be done, but I would prepare yourself that you might need to sell and move into rented if you want to secure the house of your dreams.

@TatianaBis Oh, I agree, it’s a much better position and less stressful for her in terms of finding a property (barring moving children twice), it just annoys me when people say “cash buyer” when it involves a mortgage!

I think for me the hardest part is accepting that this process is going to be alot more complicated than I anticipated. I was not prepared for this at all.

In my mind - I would sell the current property and buy another. Real life is obviously not black and white.

I will have to go on rent - which for me means find a house on rent, move all the furniture, sort the billing, getting 3 under 6s used to the new rented house, getting the kids to the current school etc etc.

Then find a house to buy - sort that out and then get everything moved there.

Those of you who have been through this process. How difficult is it? Or, am I just overthinking and it's not so bad.

I think if it was just me and DH it wouldn't feel so difficult. However, with the kids - I wanted to make it as less chaotic but hey ho.

It's hell moving twice, I'm not going to lie - but I moved a lot in my 20s and when the kids were young - so I got good at moving.

For you the optimal solution would be to be offering on properties once you've exchanged - is there any option for delayed completion to give you time to find somewhere?

Equally if you only have to rent somewhere for a couple for months stop gap - you just do a furnished flat and that's less stressful than moving all your furniture.

Right. Keep calm. Most people manage buy and sell.at the same time, particularly with children.

However, it is really stressful and nerve shredding.

You will find a house.

But not necessarily this house.

It seems pretty clear that the vendor and estate agent both want a cash/investment purchaser rather than a mortgage purchase.

You just need to stay calm.

You can view this house, just not until next week.

I'd a family member selling their house and they were really difficult about viewings.They delayed and prevaricated all the time and it really wasn't the fault of the estate agent at all. A caller at the door would have horrified them so you should proceed with caution.

This happened to us so many times. It's infuriating.
House on RM but vendor hasn't said when they're starting viewings well why the fuck not? I managed to convey this information when I put mine on the market. Then you'd call later to find they were now full and not accepting any more bookings
In the end we'd just turn up if we knew what dates they were showing the property and blag it with a 'well Lisa at the office booked us in'

Estate agents definitely have 'favourites'. I agree 100%.

They reason they didn't arrange a viewing with me yesterday was because they already had in mind who they would be prioritising not because I had rang twice. I didn't pestor them - I politely asked if there was an update on viewings - it was a simple yes or no.

From my conversations with them I can sense that there's something not right. The house was listed and I called them within 5 minutes to book a viewing. They lie and can't keep up with they lies.

As a poster mentioned that sometimes they try to sell it to a family/friend - this is exactly what came to my mind first thing.

I would sell the current property and buy another.

Really?? That's very naive, and nobody's fault but your own.

You need to manage your expectations, and adopt the mindset that this is a business deal, and you'll be spending probably the largest amount of money you will ever spend in your life.

Don't get attached to a property that:

• you've not seen inside
• you've not had properly surveyed by an experienced professional
• you've not had the requisite searches done by an experienced solicitor

Remember the mantra: there is always another property.

Look at a few houses. Learn what your deal-breakers are. Ask the estate agent what other properties they have like this one. Make appointments with other Estate agents. Make it very clear that you're a serious business-like buyer who knows what she's looking for.

Agents are a close knit bunch - if you talk to a few different agencies, they'll pass round the word that you are a serious buyer.

And try to be less hysterical. Don't harass them.

I would always prefer a cash buyer if they were reliable to minimize risk. Estate agents are often keen on a quick sale as it helps their cash flow and sometimes pressure sellers to accept a lower offer for that reason and sellers sometimes use them as a buffer against unwelcome buyers (those with long chains, divorce issues, etc.)

Given how hot the market is at the moment it may well have sold before going on rightmove.co.uk.

You really need to treat this like a job.

Go in person into the estate agents, with proof that you have a mortgage in principle etc and be really clear about what you want.

Then you Will be on the list to see things before they get listed.

Estate agents spend quite a lot of time trying to keep chains in place. If you had been selling through an EA, they would probably prioritise you for new properties on their books, in order not to jeopardise the sale you have with them By going it alone, you don't have an EA with a vested interest in ensuring you have somewhere to buy and you don't have an EA with a vested interest in keeping the chain intact.
So irrespective of cash buyers, you are always going to be less of a priority to an EA than someone who has sold a house through them and needs to buy or someone who is somewhere in a chain that they have commission tied up in.

And I know it's hard but you need to remove the emotion.

How many other houses have you seen?
What's your search area, how many houses in your budget come up each month etc.

The house was listed and I called them within 5 minutes to book a viewing. They lie and can't keep up with they lies.

This is a very gross generalisation.

Often, a prospective buyer will start to be looking around, and be in contact with a number of agents, with a description of what they're looking for. As suitable properties come up, the agent will contact those people on their lists of "Looking for xxx in Y town" etc.

So it's not lying - the agent will probably have a list of potential buyers fr properties like this one. They will be people who've gone to see them, talked through what they're looking for, and left contact details.

By the time a property is publicly advertised. it's likely the agent will have contacted the people on her list who've been in touch in general terms.

You too can be part of that process. Calm down, make appointments to see a few different agencies, discuss with them the sort of property you're looking for, and ask them that they contact you as such properties come on the market.

Have the details of a mortgage approval ready and so on. Be business like!

I'm not an agent, but I have bought and sold several houses. I've bought & sold in heated markets where it's normal to bid at auction; I've bought in a chain; and I've been a cash buyer. But I'd never behave as you are - treat the agents as people who are facilitating what you want, not as shysters. YOu may find that your respect is then returned.

Go in person into the estate agents, with proof that you have a mortgage in principle etc and be really clear about what you want.

Then you Will be on the list to see things before they get listed.

Exactly @Dishwashersaurous I'd advise the OP to go to several agents. Discuss what you're looking for with them. Ask their advice. Treat them as you would wish to be treated. Respect their knowledge.

Estate Agents are awful… you don’t need any qualifications to open an Estate Agent business or be an Estate Agent and there is no accreditation or formal standard to adhere to which is shocking considering it is the biggest purchase an individual will ever make! I have bought and sold 7 properties and all my Estate Agent experiences have been unprofessional and negative. In your case the vendor may well want a cash buyer without a chain (don’t all vendors!?!) but individuals managing this sale should get their story straight and do a better job in communicating the situation! Buying and selling property is super stressful, good luck.

Is it the same estate agents you're selling through? If so, I would put lots of pressure on them. Remind them that you are giving them commission and will go elsewhere if need be. They should be prioritising getting you in a chain.

If it's another estate agent there's nothing you can do, except keep calling and making yourself known.

Have you considered knocking on the door of the seller and letting them know what's happened? They may squeeze you in privately. I know if someone approached me, let me know they love my property and the agents were being twats, I'd probably be more than happy to show you around and negotiate with you - so long as you were in a strong position, which you seemingly are

@MummyToBeAgain1

As much as I want to - I won't be knocking or posting a note. If the situation was different - I probably would. However, as the vendor is elderly I don't thnk it's a good idea and I certainly don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Rightly so, those who are cash buyers will have priority but as a poster said above how many cash buyers can there be? In a space of a day.

I live in West Yorkshire and I just can't see a flood of cash buyers here.

Does the house need doing up? Is it going cheap. I’ve personally been looking in West Yorkshire also and I’ve found estate agents are pushing and pushing property developers to the front of the queue so they will get the sell again a few weeks later when it’s been done up . It’s all shit but sadly it’s all money money money currently .