How long would you give an estate agent before changing firm?

[Pinkgin00]

Our house has been on for sale for a few months. We had 2 viewings immediately and had nothing since. The agent hasn't been particulary forthcoming, I have to chase them for updates. They have suggested a price reduction, but I am checking Rightmove frequently and the house appears to have been valued in line with similar houses.

The agent hasn't really said much, other than the market is quieter than usual. This may well be the case with all the uncertainties right now, but I have seen other houses go on the market and being under offer within a week.

I am feeling a little deflated with the lack of interest and wondering if we picked the wrong agent, or if I need to be more patient. This is the first time we are selling a house, we live in an area that is in demand with excellent transport links, schools etc so I naively thought we would have had more interest.

Houses sell themselves

no agent is going to convince someone to part with hundreds of Thousands of pounds due to their approach. The buyer either wants it or they don’t

people scroll rightmove themselves

frankly I don’t see a place for traditional agents in the near future

so really it must be the price plus market conditions

I know, my thinking is more around by me being present, I can answer any questions that the potential buyer may have. However equally, I understand that it may put some buyers off. They have already asked several questions via the agent.

Our agent said they’d put ours on for an inflated price and that we should expect to actually receive x amount for it. It sold in about 2 months but we had a couple of unique selling points that similar houses in the area didn’t have.

We ended up getting less than we advertised for but not by much. Only had about 6 viewings.

I’d hold out for about 3 months if I were you. If it doesn’t sell then you need to reduce the price if you’re serious.

I would tell your EA that you want to handle the second viewing. That's what I did, I could tell them all about the history of the house, what we had done to it, the quirks and the great bits, the neighbourhood, blah, blah. Also wanted to say I've lived here 22 years, it's great etc.

I showed them round, left them upstairs and said now take a good slow long look talk about it without me, be honest about it with each other about what you want to do without me there - so no offence taken you can talk freely, and meet me downstairs when you're ready and we can talk. I told them that the American side by side fridge could be a bargaining tool if they wanted as unlikely to take it to new property (massively downsizing).

We had a lovely discussion, and they offered as soon as the estate agent office opened next working day.

Edited to say: we got £20k on our over offers price point.