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Original poster

To be peed off with estate agents?

35 replies

Sallymads · 03/06/2021 18:16

We are looking to purchase our forever home before baby no.3 makes an appearance. We found the perfect house, large rear garden, reasonably priced a couple of weeks ago, with the intent of putting in an offer after viewing.
I left emails to request viewings, left messages, spoke to not 1, but 3 different agents who said they would contact vendor to arrange a viewing and said it’s had offers, but none have been accepted and not one got back to me. Finally got through again this evening, to be told by a 4th agent it apparently sold weeks ago and they’re awaiting a survey?! Is it me or is it dodgy af! You can’t possibly tell me the 3 agents didn’t know it was currently sold subject to contract?! It’s still on all the websites as available, as well including their own! I’m so annoyed at their customer service!

OP posts:
readytosell · 03/06/2021 18:47

A lot of estate agents are completely rushed so it's not surprising some aren't totally on the ball. Mine are pretty good, but had someone asking about something that was already on their system the other day (though the person normally dealing with it is on holiday this week, so slightly understandable).

Ultimately though they work for the seller, not for the buyer. If the seller is happy, it doesn't really matter.

pilates · 03/06/2021 18:51

Yes sounds dodgy/incompetent, not surprising though. It wouldn’t take much to just say sorry it’s sold. I find it hard to believe that four of them got it wrong.

Moonshine11 · 03/06/2021 18:55

Yeah it’s pretty bad, doesn’t take much to say it’s sold.
But as pp they are incredibly busy, emails will be getting lost, people forgotten about etc

WorriedMutha · 03/06/2021 18:57

One agent told me last week that they don't mark them as sold until the survey is booked. On the other hand we've had an offer accepted today on final offers at noon and it's already marked sstc.

surreygirl1987 · 03/06/2021 19:22

Yeh that's nit good enough. Nothing you can do about it though- move on I guess!

Original poster
Sallymads · 03/06/2021 19:51

Yeah thank you, I get what you’re all saying. I just really don’t understand how it took up to 4 of them to tell me it’s sstc. I just find it frustrating, especially as we’d been trying to book viewings for weeks and they kept not getting back to us. Sigh. Never mind wasn’t meant to be! X

OP posts:
Livingintheclouds · 03/06/2021 20:59

There are a lot of poor agents out there. At the very least they should know EVERY house on their own books, whether it's 'their' listing or not, and also what else is on the market with other agents that is competing with theirs. An agent who showed me a property recently knew it all - his house, the most recent sales in the neighbourhood (asking and final price) no matter what agency handled them, how long things has been on, how prices had grown in the past year etc. And another agent showed me a house and basically only knew how to unlock the door. Now which agent would you choose to list your house?

mklanch · 03/06/2021 21:39

at the minute agents are so rude!
i called about a house that just go listed. she said viewing were taking place on the next morning (sunday). i said i couldn't make this but i can do monday....she laughed at me down the phone and said it will be gone by then so there would be no point in booking a viewing. shes not the only one thats done that.
i have some that have said we have an offer of full asking price but if you can offer more you can view. that should be made illegal.

IloveSooty424 · 03/06/2021 22:29

I agree it’s very bad form. We had an offer accepted on a house last month and I made it a condition of the sale that the house was taken off the market. It was taken off Rightmove within hours and SSTC on the estate agent’s website. I even walked past the estate agents window when I was in town this week to have a look in the window just to be sure! My house had gone. I’m a FTB so quite anxious about this whole process.

One local estate agent is notorious for marketing properties that are sold. They even put a new for sale board up outside one that had sold the previous month. I walk past this house every day on the school run so notice these things. When I enquired about it they said it was sold. I questioned them about the board and it being listed on Rightmove and their website and they were nonplussed.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 03/06/2021 22:43

@Sallymads

"I’m so annoyed at their customer service."

But you're not their customer.

Skysblue · 03/06/2021 23:06

Estate agents are good at pretending to care about buyers but they do not at all.

It’s a fairly scummy business. Mine was still advertising my old house in their window as for sale years after we had moved 👀

I guess they were stringing you along while waiting to see if the sale fell through or not. Is possible their client had asked them to do that.

Original poster
Sallymads · 04/06/2021 11:50

Update: had a missed call from the estate agents, rang back and a FIFTH agent has said it’s available and not showing as sstc on their system. So what the hell is going on?! She said she would chase it up with the vendors and find out exactly what’s happening and get back to me ASAP. So that’s 4/5 agents that have said it’s available. Fingers crossed I guess but I don’t want to get my hopes up! X

OP posts:
FeatheredHope · 04/06/2021 11:52

I have yet to meet competent estate agents.

Pissoi · 04/06/2021 11:55

Perhaps the buyer was struggling to secure a mortgage so they left it on the market in case it fell through?

Els1e · 04/06/2021 12:08

I would go and stick a note through the door saying you are interested in viewing but having problems making the arrangement with the estate agent. Leave your phone number and say you would appreciate them contacting you.

SeasonFinale · 04/06/2021 12:12

Why on earth is it on with 5 different agents or do you mean 5 people at the same agency?

mklanch · 04/06/2021 12:57

@Sallymads

Update: had a missed call from the estate agents, rang back and a FIFTH agent has said it’s available and not showing as sstc on their system. So what the hell is going on?! She said she would chase it up with the vendors and find out exactly what’s happening and get back to me ASAP. So that’s 4/5 agents that have said it’s available. Fingers crossed I guess but I don’t want to get my hopes up! X
its not fine and country is it?
catchyjem · 04/06/2021 13:05

If you a serious about finding a property then register with the agents and they will contact you when they get suitable new property on the market and you will get to see it before it hits Rightmove etc.

surreygirl1987 · 04/06/2021 13:41

What on earth?! Sounds very odd. I agree re putting note through door if don't get answers!

Original poster
Sallymads · 04/06/2021 13:45

We have thought about putting a note through the door, suppose we have nothing to lose! We’re registered with numerous estate agents, but nothing is coming up with what we want so far. It’s a large garden we’re after and they seem to be few and far between. I’m just struggling to understand, how the majority don’t know whether it’s sstc or not.
It’s not fine and country, no x

OP posts:
surreygirl1987 · 04/06/2021 13:47

Well goodluck! Does sound ridiculous!

Bluntness100 · 04/06/2021 13:50

@Sallymads

We have thought about putting a note through the door, suppose we have nothing to lose! We’re registered with numerous estate agents, but nothing is coming up with what we want so far. It’s a large garden we’re after and they seem to be few and far between. I’m just struggling to understand, how the majority don’t know whether it’s sstc or not. It’s not fine and country, no x
Becayse prob one agent is dealing with it and they aren’t in for whatever reason so the others aren’t sure if the seller has accepted an offer or not. It’s shit, but sod all you can do.
Workingfromhomemom · 04/06/2021 13:50

I'd be putting a note through the door of the property to ask directly what the position is. Maybe the seller hasn't accepted any offers but it'd be good to know their position.

I'm not saying cut the EA's out altogether but currently none of them seem to be getting their acts together

mklanch · 04/06/2021 14:21

i've registered with at least 12 different estate agents, they send me properties after they have reached the market or send me houses that don't suit my requirements. registering has been a big waste of time for us. its seems unless you know the estate agents personally you get sent nothing.

Cattenberg · 04/06/2021 14:59

[quote VeniVidiWeeWee]@Sallymads

"I’m so annoyed at their customer service."

But you're not their customer.[/quote]
I was a buyer. Now, I’m a seller and lots of estate agents want my business. Do you think I’ll choose one of the agents I remember as being unhelpful, disorganised and unreliable?

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