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Original poster

Estate Agent or not?

17 replies

noddyholder · 29/10/2005 08:34

I am pondering whether to use an estate agent this time Their fees are about 8000!If you have done it yourself who does the initial bits like accepting offers and forwarding solicitors details etc?Thanks we are selling to improve our finances and this seems so high

OP posts:

golds · 29/10/2005 08:47

All the estate agent does when they receive an offer, is get you to accept it, then they ask the buyer and you for solicitor details type the information up and forward a copy of it to both solicitors with a copy of house particulars and contact details.

From what I remember (don't quote me - used to work in EA) thats all they really do, plus chase everybody. Seems alot to pay. The down side of course is doing the advertising yourself and giving out your home telephone number on the advertising.

Original poster

noddyholder · 29/10/2005 08:52

I am concerned that if I don't use one they will be difficult when I come to buy IYSWIM as I am still going to be buying locally

OP posts:

lars · 29/10/2005 08:52

A friend of mine sold to Housing association, she got the market value, but mean't no estate agent fees involved. larsxx

golds · 29/10/2005 09:06

I shouldn't see why they would be difficult with you (I assume you are referring to the agent of the new house) afterall you will be buying off them, if they are, then surely they risk losing the sale and seriously peeing off the vendor of that property.

If you do, just make sure you are totally accurate in your property details, you could get into all sorts of bother if you say something that can be disputed. Collect some property details and make sure your wording sounds alike. Adding bits at the bottom about fires, boilers etc., not tested covers you. Good luck

Original poster

noddyholder · 29/10/2005 09:08

Thanks I think I will take some photos today and see how they look

OP posts:

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 09:30

I bought my house private.. i didn't have any problems. oh accept when the Keys where released no one knew where they were.. i got them though

(and i used to work on a Saturday as and Estate agent)

Scaryskribble · 29/10/2005 19:14

Are you serious £8000, I payed about £350 and thought it was a bit much. Shop around see what deals they have and how good their advertising is, no point in paying loads for a wee card in their window. Any new agents setting up will be desperate for business to fill the books. I didn't bother even getting quotes from a few because of how they treated me as a buyer.

skinnycow · 29/10/2005 19:15

Have you shopped around for fees Noddy? £8000 is extortionate

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 19:18

And independant family run types tend to give better rates.

Agree ScarySkribble - i wont go near some for the same reason, other did my head in ringing as soon as they had a new house when buying but prob would sell with them for this reason..

Scaryskribble · 29/10/2005 19:22

All of them take your details when you ask about houses but only 50% bother to let you know when something was in. I thought this was a great indicator of how they would market my house.

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 19:28

Yep.. that's the reason.. you have to ring them for the details only for them to bloody ask if you want to go on the Mailing list.. i already am and you don't send me anything!

Heres a tip, when looking for a house and they take your details if they ask if your house is on the market, sold etc.. always say SOLD that way you'll be a priority as you are ready to go ahead with a sale (so quicker money for them!) we had a folder of peoples details whose houses where on the market etc that we never ever even looked in whne sending out details..

CarolinaFullMoon · 29/10/2005 19:32

the buyers' agents may well be a bit odd - we bought our neighbour's flat without going through an agent, and the agent selling the house she was buying wanted to see written confirmation that we had a mortgage offer before they would deal with her.

A ruse to shore up their crappy profession IMHO. It was a PITA.

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 19:41

Just from working as an Estate Agent on a Sat opened my Eyes.. people would ring up with offers and they wheren't even put forward as 'it wouldn't be worth the commision if they accepted' people would (very stupidly) tell the agent they would pay up to x for it but wanted to try a low offer to start with, again offer not put forward, buyer told it was refused until they offered the highest they could go to then it was put forward..

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 19:46

convinced to go private yet?

just googled it and there are a lot of sites, didn't go into them though.. have a look at this

Frieda · 29/10/2005 19:49

Definitely knock them down on the percentage, noddyholder (and don't forget to add VAT to the figure). Round where we were, the agents were mostly quoting 1.75-2% but would easily go down to 1.5 - or 1.25. Get a few quotes and play them off against each other.

GeorgieVickyLou · 29/10/2005 19:58

Agree with Frieda, you can always knock them down.

Going Private i would imagine could be quite stressfull for a seller, do you really want people you've never met ringing you up and coming into your home when it's just you there? at least with an agent you can ask for Accompanied viewings, they know the chat.. My DP hated me doing viewings in empty properties, was always worried it may be a rapist etc i was showing around.. sounds unlikely and never happend to me but i did see his point..

ladymuck · 29/10/2005 20:44

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