Picking estate agent - slow to get back to me

[stripeydress7]

I've had an estate agent around for a valuation based on a recommendation. The valuation was significantly less than others, but I thought it was fair. He suggested we might accept £15k under that price. Despite saying we want to be on the market, two days later we have no paperwork and no sign things are moving. I've called twice, he sounded surprised each time to hear from me. He keeps mentioning how hard it is - do they not want our business? Should I go with someone else? Or am I being totally unreasonable?

Is your property not especially expensive or easy to sell?

My experience is agents just want their fee so if your property is not something that will sell itself they cannot really be bothered...

I've had a look and the price we want to go at is definitely the more realistic end of the market. If they aren't keen, should we just go with someone else?

They said our bathroom was small but we do have a large kitchen so it seems like that is potentially a matter of personal taste...

Ours was slow and the start and has remained slow / not communicating. It maybe if they priced low they didn't especially want it.

You could get one of the others to advertise at a lower price if they are keener and that's what you prefer, think its sensible in this market.

Have a look at how many of your kind of house are in your area. In mine there are many, many 2 bed terraces that are just not selling and I'd be surprised if many estate agents would want to take any more on. Could it be that the market is flooded with your kind of house?

Looking on Rightmove there are 30 for sale with another 24 sold STC. Of the 30 currently for sale we'd be in the bottom third of prices.

Should I look for an estate agent who is more enthusiastic?

Yes. I'm sure there are good estate agents out there but my experience is they are completely enthusiastic and responsive to win your business, and after that generally slow and lacking in basic commerciality.
So if they can't even be arsed to close this in a timely way, imagine how crap they will be once you've actually got them working for you.
They don't want the business, find someone who does!

@Cavagirl

Yes. I'm sure there are good estate agents out there but my experience is they are completely enthusiastic and responsive to win your business, and after that generally slow and lacking in basic commerciality. So if they can't even be arsed to close this in a timely way, imagine how crap they will be once you've actually got them working for you. They don't want the business, find someone who does!

This: I deeply regret my choice of agent

@stripeydress7: do you have friends/family who have bought (as well as sold) in last years... can you ask what they think of local agents?
If not, neighbours who have moved in somewhat recently?

My agent has a good reputation locally but just haven’t followed up with any buyers

I'd change agents. As an expat I often lament on the ways of the Uk but not in this industry having experienced agents in another country. My UK experience was of lazy, passive and disinterested sales people who seem to forgot who their client is (driving down the price for a quick sale). I had to push them to organise viewings, advertise and take better quality photos. Where as Australian EA's work extremely hard proactively marketing and selling properties, fast turnaround and always push to get the best price for their clients.

I genuinely advice anyone with a standard property, not complicated one, to go with online agent.
save a fortune.