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Original poster

“One off” estate agent viewing Is this too good to be true?

55 replies

Stresssy · 20/06/2023 08:37

my house is currently on the market with an online estate agent. It hasn’t sold in 6 weeks. Decided to request two valuations from local ES’s and they were done yesterday! I then received a phone call yesterday from another local estate agent requesting a “one off viewing” they claim to have a buyer who’s purchase has fallen through and my house is exactly what they are looking for. They have their mortgage and everything in place! The contract will be for that one viewing and we can negotiate sellers fees as there will be no viewings or advertising. I feel like this may be a cruel EA tactic to get me on their books? Has anyone ever heard of this? And why hasn’t this buyer who’s purchase has fallen through, requested to view my property through RM? Has anyone had this happen to them? I would love to know. I will of course keep you all informed. 🤞🏼

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 20/06/2023 11:36

I think it likely is a sales thing, but as long as you know that, and aren't going naively (which you're not), I'd go for it!

SabrinaThwaite · 20/06/2023 11:45

This “one off viewing” EA’s costs are negligible - no creating property particulars, no marketing etc - it’s more like they are looking for a fee for directing their clients to you?

Galatine · 20/06/2023 11:50

Very suspicious. I smell a rat, (but, I'm not sure what sort), why don't these buyers jus t walk across the road and talk to your agent?

MyDogStoodOnABee · 20/06/2023 11:53

I gather you’re being facetious. Why not ask the agent to send his client via the estate agent being used and stop poaching?
I suspect the agent is finding a property as result of a sale falling through and not wanting to lose commission selling the prospective viewers house. Why should the seller pay twice?

MyDogStoodOnABee · 20/06/2023 11:56

Mildura · 20/06/2023 11:30

Why not ask the agent to pay the OP £1500, and a weekend away somewhere nice?

Show quote history

Yes why not?
the OP didn’t instruct dual agents and the second agent is poaching for a reason that will benefit them only!

Sarahtm35 · 20/06/2023 12:02

My husband owns an estate agents so I have a fair idea how these things work. It’s not a sales tactic he uses personally and I can’t see any harm coming from it. They may use it as an opportunity to sell you their services but you’re allowed to decline and atleast you’ve given your property an opportunity to sell.
the only issue you may have is with your online agent. It may be cheaper for you to go down this route but they have no incentive to sell your property and even if they do manage to find a buyer they won’t put the required leg work in to get it completed. You’re always better off paying a higher fee to a smaller agent who has their heart and soul into getting your property sold, rather then some faceless cold organisation that’s only interested in getting it listed.

MonumentalLentil · 20/06/2023 12:09

Freyya · 20/06/2023 10:41

I’d be tempted to go for it but would want to know what they want from you in terms of fees.

However, it is not possible for the buyer to have their mortgage in place. Mortgage offers are for specific properties so they would have to redo it.

If there is actually a buyer, they may have a mortgage to port to the next property so would actually have one in a manner of speaking.

Sarahtm35 · 20/06/2023 12:12

MyDogStoodOnABee · 20/06/2023 11:53

I gather you’re being facetious. Why not ask the agent to send his client via the estate agent being used and stop poaching?
I suspect the agent is finding a property as result of a sale falling through and not wanting to lose commission selling the prospective viewers house. Why should the seller pay twice?

Because estate agents don’t like to deal with online agents. Why would the agent point their client towards the online agent when they know it will result in a frustratingly long wait and possible tears for his client and possible loss of income for him.

Mildura · 20/06/2023 12:17

MyDogStoodOnABee · 20/06/2023 11:56

Yes why not?
the OP didn’t instruct dual agents and the second agent is poaching for a reason that will benefit them only!

Show quote history

The OP wants to sell their property, an agent from whom they have received a valuation is saying "actually I think I have someone who will buy your property a t a price you might accept." All they are asking for is an agreement that they receive a fee (reduced from normal levels by the sound of things) if the viewing results in a successful transaction.

Asking for them do do it entirely for nothing is frankly a little ridiculous.

How on earth does the OP not benefit from this arrangement?

areyouhavinglaugh · 20/06/2023 12:21

Why can't this epic buyer just arrange a viewing through purple bricks?

Because the agent is trying to make the fee himself and collect commission off it.

Anyone can look through right-move and request a viewing!

Possibly might be for the EA? And he'll buy it and get the commission ?

I used to be an estate agent

OldTinHat · 20/06/2023 12:23

I used to work in estate agency and yes, this is a thing. Sounds genuine to me. Nothing to lose!

Aprilsh0wers · 20/06/2023 12:29

This is a sales tactic. I’m an ex estate agent (ex for a reason - so many are sneaky and corrupt). My company used to push this tactic in order to get a contract signed with the seller. I have known agencies do ‘one off viewings’ with their friends just to get a body through the door and get the seller to sign a contract.

It is utterly immoral and whoever is actively looking in the marketplace will have seen the listing on Rightmove or any of the other advertising platforms. I would ignore these agents and stick with your current.

Mildura · 20/06/2023 12:30

Because the agent is trying to make the fee himself and collect commission off it

Well yes, obviously.

OP sells their property (potentially).

Agent gets a bit of commission, if the sale happens.

Everyone wins a bit.

roses2 · 20/06/2023 12:43

I've had this before albeit with a rental not a purchase. When I started to question the agent about the person, what they did etc the agent stumbled when speaking and couldn't answer much about this person which made me think it was a fake viewing. You don't have anything to loose so why not go for it then you can get a sense if they are trying to make you think they can generate a lot of interest through singing via them or not. If the agent backtracks after the viewing then there's your answer.

Original poster
Stresssy · 20/06/2023 14:30

I feel so disappointed. 😞 it was a sales tactic and I will explain why so anyone who gets this type of call from EA’s you know exactly what to ask and know if it’s genuine or not!
The estate agent have my details due to me viewing one of their properties 20 days ago and I shared information that I shouldn’t have! I’ve just kicked myself! 😖
EA called me about 45 mins ago to say they they had sent the details of my property to “supposed buyer” who’s house purchase fell through” turns out they’re looking for a 4 bed not 3…… so I said well wouldn’t you have known that if their purchase has just fallen through? He said, well they may have extended your property, even though my property is fully extended and still a 3 bed 😏 mmmm ok! Well thanks anyway I said and it was so nice of you to reach out. He then says, can I just ask why you chose to get valuations from 2 other EA’s and not us? I said well, the other two are highly recommended from friends and will market my property well. He told me their EA is the best in my local area and they would like the opportunity to market my house and sell it for me 🫨 They will negotiate fees blah blah blah 😒 absolute sales tactic was written all over it. If you get a similar call from EA ask lots of questions and don’t let them string you along. It was only 1 day thankfully 😅 but still what a sneaky move!

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 20/06/2023 14:53

Well done for sniffing it out though and not letting them get away with it or earning from it.

Good luck with the agent you choose!

Original poster
Stresssy · 20/06/2023 15:15

Thanks @Chewbecca i should live Thursday evening 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Melroses · 20/06/2023 15:18

I think they are getting desperate in the current climate. Watch for them trying to sell mortgages to prospective purchasers when they should be progressing the sale.

Delphigirl · 20/06/2023 15:21

I sold my house exactly like this. Thought it was the estate agent angling for an instruction. He said “they will buy it”. Told him he could bring that one buyer in and if they bought he would get commission but I wasn’t instructing him. He said no probs.
He brought them in, they made asking price offer and completed. He said “told you” 🤣

So it sounds good to me - bring him in!

WelshNerd · 20/06/2023 15:21

I don't know if I'm being dense but how did they know you had valuations with other estate agents?

Delphigirl · 20/06/2023 15:22

Oh sorry just seen your update. Too bad!

Mildura · 20/06/2023 15:22

not letting them get away with it or earning from it

Unless I am completely missing something, the only way said agent would have earned anything from it would be if they managed to obtain an offer that the OP would be happy to accept, that proceeded to an exchange of contracts.

Chewbecca · 20/06/2023 15:29

Mildura · 20/06/2023 15:22

not letting them get away with it or earning from it

Unless I am completely missing something, the only way said agent would have earned anything from it would be if they managed to obtain an offer that the OP would be happy to accept, that proceeded to an exchange of contracts.

They would also have 'won' by getting you to instruct them instead than the agent OP had chosen. That was their aim, there was no waiting buyer.

yut · 20/06/2023 15:32

When we were selling our house we got a leaflet through the door to say "we have a buyer interested in your house, call us" from an agent, called them and there was no buyer, they were just trying to get us to use them as our agents.

mobear · 20/06/2023 15:48

I’d agree to it on the basis of a one off contract with a very low commission. If he’s confident he can sell it, and it only requires him to do one viewing, he should agree to it. If not, I think you know he’s messing around.