House on market - disappointed with photos

[Sparkle86]

Hi - I'm a lurker who's popped up to seek some advice please.

I've recently put my house on the market - ideal 1st time buyer property, in a popular area. Its on with a local estate agent - who's confident we will achieve the asking price. I've not signed anything with them, so could go to another agent locally (most houses here sell with one of the two local agents)

However, its gone on the website this morning and I'm incredibly disappointed with the photos. One photo is of my bed, one of the bunk beds in the 2nd room and one of the TV fireplace, and one of the wardrobes(?) - they really don't show off the rooms at all and give no feel for size of the room. There is no bathroom photo either.

Considering asking the agents to come and retake them, or take them myself when I have time to spend getting good photos that give the impression of size etc. However, I don't want to pee the agent off - this is my first time selling and I'm not really sure how it all works.

WWYD in my situation?

I would ask them to be taken again. Remember the estate agent is working for you and if they're not doing what you want, tell them. They will make no money if they don't sell your house so it's in their interest to market it properly.

However, I don't want to pee the agent off

You've got this the wrong way round! You're the customer!

Have a look on Right Move and tell them the standard of photos you expect, based on other properties on there.

I don't think the agent works in a 'usual' way - I've not had to sign anything, and don't have any sort of agreement with them around notice or how long it has to be up with them for beyond the agreement around fees. So, I suppose with that in mind, I don't want to come across as difficult this early in the process so they don't market my house if that makes sense?

I'm going on holiday next week, so will ring them when I come back and ask them to come out and take better photos.

It could be the layout/shape and size of my rooms that make photographing them difficult though, couldn't it?

How many estate agents did you consult before you chose this one? I'd be tempted to put it on with someone else or at the very least ask for a copy of their terms and conditions.

Why did you choose this agent? Sounds irregular if you've no agreement.

How many estate agents did you consult before you chose this one? I'd be tempted to put it on with someone else or at the very least ask for a copy of their terms and conditions.

How can you not have signed anything? How can they be marketing your house without a contract between you? How do they expect to get paid if you haven't actually employed them to sell your house?

www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/guides/how-to-sell-a-house/estate-agents-and-finding-the-best/

Lots of useful information about selling a house on the which.co.uk website, OP.

I'm about to put my mum's property on the market. I got 3 valuations from 3 independent estate agents and then compared their terms - fees, break clause etc.

I've not decided who to market it with yet but this will be based on what they can tell me about how they plan to market it, their understanding of the local market and their general willingness. Once I've decided, I will ask them if they are prepared to negotiate on their fees.

In other words, I'm interviewing them and making them work for the business.

If you think they won't want to market your house with them if you request better photos taken then I suggest you have no trust and should go with a proper agent who does sign contracts and knows what they are doing.

Leaving it until next week is a bad idea in my opinion. Photos are incredibly important and if people see these they won't look again if they see your house on line so you have missed your chance to show your house in its best light. If you want to sell your house you need to get realistic about it and who works for who. No house sale means no move for you and no fee for the EA. Surely you should both want the best chance you can have.

For heavens sake get something in writing asap before you accept any offers from anyone. Otherwise you could be on here after your holidays saying the agents are asking for 3% or something and you have no paperwork to say otherwise. or if you end up going to another agent the first one will be round saying they want a fee as well. You are really exposed here if you allow them to advertise your house without a proper agreement.

Sorry, I've probably not explained very well - I'm typing at work so trying to get it all out in breaks.

They are sending me a copy of the terms and conditions laying out the business, but don't formally ask me to sign anything. We've agreed a rate of 1% or £1250+VAT if the 1% is less than that sum. I could go and pick this up now if I needed a copy, but happy for them to send it out today to me.

The ares is 99.9% served by 2 local independent agents, both of whom have been out and valued the house. I didn't like the other agent, so didn't list with them. The agent I'm listed with, I bought the property with 7 years ago, and had awful experiences trying to view with the 2nd agent. Hence the decision to list with this one.

The market here is quite strange (I'm based in the UK though) bigger chain agents don't get a look in, its all done through local independents and tend to be people from the local area who buy here. Independant who's listing my house has a great reputation and sells lots locally (been established 25years, family business etc)

I've spoken with them, and they will come out when I'm back with a camera with a wide angle lens to take better pictures for me. They are actively marketing the property via the mortgage advisers, rightmove, website, local paper and recommendations by the agent.

I am surprised they didn't e-mail the links for the advertising to you before they went live. This is what we do. That way you get to see the photos in advance.

They should most definitely re-do them and quickly.

I think your second post portrays a very different scenario. Sounds like you have a verbal contract then, so not sure you can just switch anyway.

Definitely don't wait, get it sorted today.

Tell them you are not happy. Better to wait a week and go live with decent pictures than have crap pics for a week then redo.