Not sure how to deal with estate agents

[hoorayforharoldlloyd]

Saw a property that needs fixing up but is in the right area for us. Not all the rooms have photos on the ad on rightmove.

I called the estate agent to see if they were doing virtual viewings as we are moving to a completely different area so would want to check out the house fully before travelling up to see it. They said in person only - fine, I then asked if they had a pic of the bathroom and kitchen - totally understand they need refurb, just wanted an idea of the extent. They say not available. I asked if it would be possible to get a few quick pics from the person doing viewings tomorrow so we can see whether to travel up the weekend/monday next week - if she could have told me to piss off, she would have.

Is this normal? We are genuinely interested, first time buyers, have fully remote jobs so can move any time, mortgage in principle, very happy to come up to view, just wanted a basic idea of what we would be looking at to avoid wasting our time and theirs.

I also feel like estate agents cool off when I say we are moving from another area as we can't view the next day - is this paranoia or real? We're moving to the north east not some crazy selling the same day area of London.

on another thread someone said make friends with the estate agents - how?

If there are no pictures I'd assume the worst. If it's ghastly and both kitchen and bathroom would need immediate replacement, would the property be worth considering? If so then you could always just book to view it.

One question that I would definitely be asking, in this circumstance, is whether they're sufficiently present for the property to be mortgageable (assuming you need a mortgage). Lenders generally won't give you a mortgage if there's literally no kitchen, for example, but if there's a really really horrible, minimal one pretty much consisting of a sink and a bit of manky worktop then that's okay on that front.

I think they are being really difficult. If you haven’t already, I would explain your position as first time buyers, that you are serious about relocating etc. Saying that there is one firm of estate agents in my town that I refuse to deal with. Even when houses I would have considered were on with them, I didn’t bother, they are that bad.

That's so useful persipan, thanks - the silly thing is because there is a great garden for a home office and it's cheaper than what we have been looking at, we could afford to rip out the kitchen and bathroom and get them sorted properly. If they had been in any way interested in finding that out

You might be right Titus, maybe they are just awful!

Just feel a bit surprised by the reaction, I was being friendly and nice. Might try some other estate agents for a chat - is this how you do it?

When you say “ if it would be possible to get a few quick pics from the person doing viewings tomorrow ” you mean they actually have people viewing that particular property tomorrow? Is anyone actually living there?

no, it's probate, no one is living there now they are doing viewings tomorrow and asked if we could come tomorrow. So I didn't think it was cheeky to ask for a couple of pics to get an idea of the extent of the work - we could come up at the weekend so not a big delay.

If there are no pictures it’s usually an absolute horror show.
I’d ask them first if it was in a mortgageable condition!

Unfortunately first time buyers have a reputation as being risk averse time wasters so maybe the agent thinks she is going to do this extra work for no benefit. She is definitely being unnecessarily rude though. It sounds like you are just going to have to assume the worst re: those rooms and base your decision to view/not on that.

Oh really? I thought being first time buyers was a positive as no chain. Maybe it's because of the amount of work. We did speak to a different estate agent about a different fixer upper but they were very upfront that really it was in a much worse state than the photos suggested and wasn't a good choice for a first go. I really appreciated this and it's given me a positive view of that estate agent.

Oh well, will give this one a miss as don't want to deal with this estate agent, never mind the clearly enormous work!

EAs in the UK are useless, literally. That’s not an insult, just a fact. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can don a suit and become an EA, they need to know 0 about property. They are not qualified, like in the USA for instance. And houses sell themselves on rightmove, it has nothing to do with agents.
So unfortunately, agents don’t need to drum up business, you have to make all the effort.

It’s all very well thinking about the kitchen, what you need to look at is the condition of the roof, rot in floor boards, damp, damp proofing, electrics, walls bowing, gas and water connections, these are what makes home livable.

Then there’s things like planning permission, Or none at all, buildings that need replacing or demolishing, our houses, lean-to’s, etc.

One house we looked needed all the maths replacing in every single room, the dirt and dust would’ve been unreal!

Think carefully about hidden costs not cosmetic issues.

Just another thought, houses in-this condition are generally offered to builders who have contacts at the estate agents.

Which are easy swift interactions as they are cash buyers and don’t demand surveys etc because they only want to make a profit not a home. There’s less negotiation on costs.

I think they probably do want builders and a cash buyer - I just don't understand why they didn't just say so, would have been a completely reasonable response.

Was quite shocked at the rudeness at the time and made me feel wobbly as trying to move house at the moment is not brilliant - but hey ho, not the right house, won't used those agents.