Selling house

[Funnyface1]

Hi, I'm new to this subject and just looking for advice. We bought our first house nearly two years ago and now want to sell and move on. We've had it valued and have picked an estate agent, due to sign this afternoon, photos being taken on Thursday.

The estate agents have called me this morning and said they already have a viewing for me. Does this seem plausible? It's not even on the market yet. I know they can be telling people about it but I'm wondering if it's a tactic to make sure I go with them.

Any other advice for selling/getting a house ready would be hugely appreciated. I've never done this so want to avoid mistakes and the house sitting on the market for ages. Thanks!

I know they can be telling people about it but I'm wondering if it's a tactic to make sure I go with them.

It might be, but lots of estate agents keep books of would-be buyers that they contact when something suitable comes up - I saw my current home and put an offer in before photos were taken.

In most places nationally there is a shortage of vendors, so do negotiate the EA down on commission if you haven't - no need to accept their opening offer.

Totally plausible. They'll be contacting their 'hot' buyers who are waiting for a house like yours to come on.

Yes. I registered and I get called up, lots don't even hit photo stage and end up being Sstc by time they do teach right move ( around me anyway)
Good luck

Oh dear, I wouldn't know where to start on negotiating them down, I'm not good at things like that. I just want to sell it and do whatever I need to do to make it appeal to buyers.

I wish I had the balls to try negotiating though.

Oh dear, I wouldn't know where to start on negotiating them down

"Your draft contract allows for commission at 5%, which isn't competitive - we've love to work with you, but we'd like to see this come down to 3% which we feel is more realistic in the current market. Could you offer us that?"

You can do it in writing and hide behind your keyboard .

Of course it is, estate agents will have people on their books looking in specific areas. When I sold my previous house on the day the agent came to measure up she told me there were 6 people interested in viewings. We booked them all in for the Saturday and it was sold by the Monday. The same estate agent then had a house on our preferable road come up, rang us and we viewed and offered on it before it even hit Rightmove.

You've already told them you are going with them. So I'd assume they have given some actively looking buyers the info, I doubt it's a tactic, it's fine and a good sign, don't be concerned.

This is all good news then. Didn't want to start out mistrusting them but if this is standard practice then great. Viewing is tomorrow evening, pictures are Thursday so now I have to get a move on making it look good. So much kid clutter!

They may have had people aking for a certain type of property and have said we have one about to come on.

I was getting a flat I owned ready to go on the market on the Thursday but the agent bought a young lady round on the Wednesday before it had even hit Rightmove and she made an acceptable offer straightaway. We waited until after the weekend to accept as they had 4 more viewing on the Saturday. If it is a first time buyer type property they probably do have people waiting.

It happened to us
There was a list of about 10 people who were looking for houses on my road..
Sold the house within a few hours to highest bidder!
So it can deffo happen!

So nice to hear success stories, would be amazing if it sold as fast as that!

It's certainly likely but I would warn you that these kinds of viewings (assuming that they have approached house hunters and not the other way around) rarely result in sales as, more often than not, the buyers will be looking for something entirely different. You are better off signing a non-exclusive contract with serveral agents as they will all work harder to sell your house before the competition does.

I just wanted to update this and say that it was genuine. A man turned up and said it's exactly what he's looking for and that must be why they called him. He made an offer yesterday and we're not even on the market until Tuesday! Happy days if all goes well.