What should I expect from our estate agent (buyers)?

[dinkydino123]

Hi. My partner and I are FTBs. We have had an offer accepted on a property in a short chain (the vendors are buying an end-of-chain vacant possession house). So far, we have instructed a solicitor, completed paperwork for them, and they are starting the searches. Our mortgage application has been submitted but not yet approved. We have decided on a surveyor, but not yet booked the survey.

I was just wondering how involved the EA should be. I haven't been impressed with our EA so far - she forgot about our first viewing and didn't show up, is slow to reply to emails or just doesn't reply etc. We have no idea how far the vendor has progressed with her own purchase and don't feel like we are being kept in the loop. However, as a FTB I'm not sure on the process and who should be keeping us up to date with stuff - is it the EA or the solicitor? How involved is an EA once the purchase has been agreed? Thanks!

She's not your EA. She works for the vendor.

Completely agree. Always remember it’s more you paying them, it’s the seller. You need to keep on them, be friendly but persistent, they should be the main point of contact for you. But they’re not your estate agent and remember they’ve got the seller’s interests in mind, not yours!

not you paying them

The Estate Agent acts for the vendors (sellers) - most queries will go through your solicitor/conveyancer for the buyer. If it's a chain-free sale then the solicitor will deal with most of it, if there is a chain then EA can be good at speaking to all the people/solicitors involved then.

EAs add value by making sure completion happens by chasing up and down chain, but like PPs said, they’re not really going to chase you, FTBs who’ve completed everything. Ask if there’s a progressor in the EA office? Not always the sales people who go with it after sale agreed and Memorandum of Sale issued.

Hi everyone - thank you for your responses. I absolutely understand that the EA works for the vendor and not us, but I just (wrongly) assumed that they would touch base with us to make sure we are still on it (as this is in the best interest of the vendor too). I'll have a chat with our solicitor instead. Thanks!

I'd say, expect them to look sharp and be sharks underneath.

In my sale, I said to the EAs 'will you ask the buyer if she wants my washing machine as counter top is an inch lower than usual and only a few machines fit.' He said no, it's on them to measure and dont tell them. I felt this was hiding the truth and it reflected very poorly on them.

So, they are money chasers with no scruples, and you're a fish on their line.

@something2say wouldn’t you have put that on your TA10 fixtures and fittings form as “excluded” and then a price next to it for solicitors to discuss? Not the part EAs usually get involved with.

@dinkydino123 keep hold of the particulars as that’s what your offer is on. When we got our TA10 the vendors put the integrated fitted electric hob excluded with the price of a brand new one next to it ! The particulars said fitted hob so they then retracted and apologised. Should have taken the measure of them through that to be honest, left with lots of issues in house.

Buying a house involves a lot of waiting. Seems like you've done your bit, though get your survey booked, as there may be queries raised from it. But I communicate with the solicitor mostly, especially as a buyer. I might ask the EA (as I did today) if something was included if I haven't had the fixture and fittings form. But only as I was standing in the house at the time.
EAs can be good at giving chains a nudge, as solicitors will generally only talk to their immediate counterpart, and can get caught up with box ticking (rather than using common sense), but your solicitor is the one to set dates, chase enquiries, look at all the documents and summarise them for you.

The solicitors will be your information however they probably won't kick in to action until further down the process
Good the process / milestones to give you an idea - that helped me

Good luck

You are buying via the EA so call / email then every time you have anything you want to know.

For e.g If the vendor is slow answering queries via the solicitor, get in tithe EA: they will chase.

They are working for the vendor but in the end they get paid on completion - it is in their interests to get it all sewn up, and they are generally, IME, more energetic or less patient than solicitors in chasing up.

@WhyDoIFeelAwful

She's not your EA. She works for the vendor.

This.

The EA we purchased through did have an after sales team that we could contact (to see where the vendor was up to) but they didn't do much except tell us what we wanted to hear. The conveyancer will be more helpful and they work in facts.

LOL - in our chain the EAs saved the day.
Very active in making sure things kept moving forwards.

The EA we purchased through did have an after sales team that we could contact (to see where the vendor was up to) but they didn't do much except tell us what we wanted to hear. The conveyancer will be more helpful and they work in facts

There are good estate agents and there are bad estate agents, not unlike most other walks of life.

A good estate agent should keep you regularly informed with updates from other parts of the chain, and how the process is moving along, as well as chasing up any areas that are falling behind.

A bad one will be utterly useless and more of a hinderance than a help.