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Original poster

Selling. Estate agents.

14 replies

onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 05:41

I have decided it's time to move so I called a couple of local agents to come look at house give me an idea of price etc.

Haven't decided or signed with anyone yet.

They both asked to bring someone round...'"in the area looking at another property but we think they would like yours"

I was a bit flustered (first time to move as a widow) but said ok.

Now both want to come back again, one with his wife, one with her adult daughter.

Is this usual? Seems weird now I am thinking about it. Haven't signed with either agent, no measurements, no photos, no details, no EPC (?). No decision on price. Is this some new estate agent trick?Confused

Anything I should be aware of? Miss being able to talk stuff like this through with my husbandSad

OP posts:
Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 05:42

Aaargghhh. What happened to my paragraphsBlush

OP posts:
BrexitBingoGenerator · 10/05/2019 05:55

Hmm, that is weird. Maybe ask them to hold off until you’ve decided which agent to go with and signed a contract? If someone really likes your house, they will wait for it to be fully on the market first.

Trippedupagain · 10/05/2019 08:41

I've never heard of this before and it seems indecent haste by an EA. I'd tell them to wait until its properly sorted and you've gone on the market. Could it be that the EA knows these people and is undervaluing your house so they have it at bargain price? Once an EA has introduced someone to a seller, they have the commission, but if you haven't signed anything then that surely doesn't apply? All very odd and you totally have my sympathy doing this for the first time as a widow, that's really hard. Flowers

dimmu · 10/05/2019 08:52

We invited a few EAs to do a valuation for us, and after the valuations two of them wanted to bring people over before we had instructed anyone. We refused, but even after we listed our place with one of them the others have been pestering me for viewings for their clients.

Not sure how it is in your area, but over here there aren't that many properties coming to the market and the competition between EAs to get listings seems fierce.

Sorry for your loss, must be so hard to be doing this on your own.

Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 09:31

Thanks for responses. Am now wishing I hadn't agreed...must learn to say NO.

Am researching online about this EPC (didn't exist last time we sold/bought)...apparently is legal requirement to have BEFORE marketing...vendor (me)... can be finedShock

Both estate agents must be aware of this so I'm a bit worried that they are so casual

House is just a (nice Grin) little semi bungalow...but they are very popular and usually go quickly round here.

Think I should call both agents and say...woahhh...slow down...give me a chance to sort things out in my head.🤔

OP posts:
Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 09:54

Gah...nice Grin...not Shock

OP posts:
dimmu · 10/05/2019 09:54

You can check online who does EPCs in your area and get someone to do it. Should cost around £50, but I am not sure as a friend did ours for us. Don't get the EA to organise this as they overcharge, mine was trying to charge over £100 for it.

Just check how much similar properties have sold for your area and which EAs sold them. Then ask at least 3 of them to do a valuation for you (with no viewers!). I wouldn't necessary go with the highest valuation. We went with an EA who seemed nice to deal with and who had recently sold a place like ours. Also negotiated the commission down from their initial offer.

Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 09:55

Why are all the 'grin' emoticons coming out as 'shock' (Android app)?

OP posts:
UnrelentingFruitScoffer · 10/05/2019 09:57

Just remember all Estate Agents lie and cheat, most of them all the time. Anything they do is aimed at getting more out of you.

The market is quite slow, so the apparently keen purchasers could be fakes to make you think they have a good crop of ready buyers.

In any case, if you think the house will sell itself quickly, why pay a traditional percentage fee ? An online estate agent like Purplebricks or one of its many competitors will do the same job for a flat £500.

Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 10:09

dimmu...thank you.

I have now cancelled any further 'one off' viewing with one...told agent my concerns 're EPC...he said I only need to supply EPC within 1 month of viewing (£58.90 inc vat) but understood my concerns...and will come round after weekend to go through figures etc...put something in writing for me.

Gonna call the other agent now.

I was never this...flaky...before. But it's like...in my head I can hear my late husband..."oooh you don't wanna do that" (Harry Enfield style)...and it's just throwing me a curve cos I can't...'debate' it with him any more...so I end up going round in circles

OP posts:
Original poster
onedayiwillmissthis · 10/05/2019 10:18

unrelenting...yes I did wonder about the potential buyers. Maybe agents trying to 'lure' me in to signing with them.

But I wanted/need a local agent to handle the viewings etc...can't guarantee my emotional state etc

This was 'our' home...we had plans...etc...now without him it's too much...too many reminders. I can't even enjoy the garden anymore without getting upset cos he's not able to see itSad...it just feels wrong somehow.

I need to move...forward.

OP posts:
tootyfruitypickle · 10/05/2019 12:21

Hello OP, I also, would be wary of agents. Take things at your own pace and do not trust them at all. On the plus side, it seems like you may sell soon, which although must feel a bit shocking, is better than constantly having people traipse through your house month after month, especially when this is such a difficult decision for you. You can slow down the pace through the conveyancing, just set your own pace and tell your solicitor what time scale you want. But you definitely want to get straight in your head what price you want etc before you start negotiating with people or you'll be on the back foot.

dimmu · 10/05/2019 14:28

Sounds like a fresh start somewhere else could be what you need. And it's probably best to use a traditional agent rather than online one if you don't want to do any viewings.
We are now under offer and it took over 30 viewings to get there, don't think I could have handled them myself. I also like it that I haven't met our buyer in person, and can hassle the EA when I need to know something.
Just take your time selecting the EA, make sure it's someone who's good at communicating with you and happily answers any questions you have. At l the end of the day you will have to deal with them a lot in the weeks/months to come, so you want someone who always gets back to you asap.

Mildura · 10/05/2019 15:39

@UnrelentingFruitScoffer
The market is quite slow, so the apparently keen purchasers could be fakes to make you think they have a good crop of ready buyers

You don't know where the OP is selling. You don't know the type of property the OP is selling. You don't know the price of the property the OP is selling.

Therefore it is impossible to make a statement to claim the market is slow at the moment.

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