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Original poster

Agents expecting us to do viewings as they're too busy

26 replies

wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 16:16

Just that - agents have had interest in our house at last as I've dropped the price at my instigation. Was overpriced and been on the market for 6 months with only one viewing. I'm getting emails asking if viewing if convenient and can I show prospective buyers around. Said yes to 2 viewings today 3 hours apart so today has been a day I haven't been able to do much for myself. We're in countryside and it's about a 40 minute drive to any of the nearest towns! Just had another request for Tuesday and said anytime suits me as I'm at work and they hold keys - just help themselves to house just let me know when. They have come back with they can't show the clients around so the only option is for me or nothing will happen. I have said I'm not happy and my time has value too.

I'm looking for thoughts for those more experienced. Is this the new norm? If I ask for a reduction in fees, what's a reasonable financial agreement? To be fair, we live out of the way, not many agents are interested in acting for us and the house is low value for the area but I'm not going to be mugged off either. I can't WFH and partner will have to make a 30 minute, 10 mile round trip to be at home for viewing.

Also only realised when I did the viewings today that I had no idea if it was going to me and a couple/woman/ man on my own. No details supplied and I belatedly realised how vulnerable I was, letting unknown randoms into the house on my own. Thought of that poor estate agent Suzy Lamplugh and my safety being compromised by estate agent.

OP posts:
Parker231 · 12/08/2023 16:18

What does your contract say about viewings?

Changingplace · 12/08/2023 16:20

Absolutely not acceptable, I’d be telling them they either do the viewings (which they’re being paid to do) or you move to a new estate agent, and be prepared to do that immediately.

You’ll probably get more interest moving to a new agent anyway, getting the photos redone and it being a brand new listing at the reduced price.

Changingplace · 12/08/2023 16:20

I’m assuming that viewings were in your agreement with them for them to cover.

alittleadvicepls · 12/08/2023 16:21

So if you’re doing their job what exactly are they getting paid for?

Duchessofspace · 12/08/2023 16:22

Changingplace · 12/08/2023 16:20

Absolutely not acceptable, I’d be telling them they either do the viewings (which they’re being paid to do) or you move to a new estate agent, and be prepared to do that immediately.

You’ll probably get more interest moving to a new agent anyway, getting the photos redone and it being a brand new listing at the reduced price.

This - I’d argue that they are misleading their services and playing you - I paid the agent £10000 to sell my last house, easy money -

Ponderingwindow · 12/08/2023 16:24

They are being paid for the hassle of doing the viewings. If they can’t be bothered, I would fire them.

fiorentina · 12/08/2023 16:24

I’d be happy to do some but not all. I think that potential buyers can be put off by the vendor doing the viewings, means that they can’t openly talk at the viewing. Second
viewings with the vendor could be useful
though.
However, I agree what are they taking commission for if they can’t provide one part of the service.

Thechocolateshop · 12/08/2023 16:24

Hi
I’m in the opposite situation and I must admit I was shocked that they had offered. The agents are only available for limited days/times. They asked the seller if he could show me around and I thought it was a bit odd. I refused at first but then said I would agree if the seller was happy to do so. We are doing the viewing next week, I’m very appreciative of him spending the time to show me. I suppose I would expect the estate agents to do what I am paying them for if I was the seller. Allowing sellers and buyers to meet together with no middle man could cause issues. I wouldn’t like it personally, I think you should clarify with them what your agreement says, for the fee. Are there any other agents around with better opening times for viewings?

VerityRoss · 12/08/2023 16:31

I would move to an online agent and do all the viewings myself.

we had a similar thing 6 years ago where I worked from home and they would palm the viewings off on me (despite their office being 10 mins away). We ended up in a shitty chain (no thanks to the shitty agents not doing enough due diligence on the chain) and we ended up pulling out 7 months later as the chain just couldn’t progress. We then found new agents who had us a buyer in a month and completed 6 weeks after that.

This crappy behaviour is probably indicative of their general attitude and how they will treat you throughout.

Original poster
wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 16:49

Thanks - Reading the contract it has a 28 day notice period. There is nothing it about what their obligations are just ours! It's a national chain and has a good reputation but it's very shoddy.

OP posts:
good96 · 12/08/2023 16:50

Not acceptable and not professional at all.
You will be paying them their EA fees when a sale completes potentially and you’re doing the job for them?
I would be making a complaint. This is part of their job and if they insist on you doing the viewings and it sells then I would be more inclined to not pay the full fee. Just converse everything on email so you have a paper trail.

painochocolate · 12/08/2023 16:50

Can you go with a proper estate agent that actually wants to sell your house?

Original poster
wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 16:52

This a national agent.

OP posts:
shivawn · 12/08/2023 16:53

We're selling at the moment, fees are 1.8% of the final sale price. I already think fees are rediculous for the amount of work they're doing, if they asked me to do viewings for them I'd laugh down the phone and immediately sack them.

How much are they charging you?

Twiglets1 · 12/08/2023 17:02

How are they so busy in a quiet market? They are taking the piss if you agreed they will do the viewings

Original poster
wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 17:13

Also paying 1.8% inclusive of vat. I also think that neither viewers today were in a position to proceed. Adds insult to injury.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 12/08/2023 17:20

wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 17:13

Also paying 1.8% inclusive of vat. I also think that neither viewers today were in a position to proceed. Adds insult to injury.

I would be phoning them on Monday to say in future I would like them to do all the viewings. And not to bother showing people round who aren’t in a position to proceed.

C152 · 12/08/2023 17:24

I would change Estate Agents, if you can (appreciate you said it's been hard to find an agent given your area and the price of the property). If you're doing the viewings anway, would an online 'agent' that just offering basic marketing be an alternative option?

MNetcurtains · 12/08/2023 17:25

C152 · 12/08/2023 17:24

I would change Estate Agents, if you can (appreciate you said it's been hard to find an agent given your area and the price of the property). If you're doing the viewings anway, would an online 'agent' that just offering basic marketing be an alternative option?

This, then you can stipulate weekend viewings only.

Housebuyingfamily · 12/08/2023 17:29

Changingplace · 12/08/2023 16:20

Absolutely not acceptable, I’d be telling them they either do the viewings (which they’re being paid to do) or you move to a new estate agent, and be prepared to do that immediately.

You’ll probably get more interest moving to a new agent anyway, getting the photos redone and it being a brand new listing at the reduced price.

Not much of a threat if the house has sat on the market for 6 months. They’ll probably be glad to write it off as a dud.

Original poster
wantmorenow · 12/08/2023 17:43

Ironically they didn't suggest reducing the price once - it has been me dropping it by 10k once a month for 5 months. I think it is now realistically priced. We are not going to be buying so can proceed easily too. Lots to think about.

OP posts:
ClematisBlue49 · 12/08/2023 17:56

I'd give them the 28 days notice asap and move on, whether to an online basic service or another EA if you can find one. They have not been proactive in any way, and don't deserve the fee they would get should you be successful in selling as a result of one of the viewings you have done yourself (having also set the price yourself with no professional guidance from them). If you're not in a hurry to sell, I'd refuse non-accompanied viewings until the notice period is up.

fullbloom87 · 12/08/2023 19:45

We run an estate agents and occasionally our vendors will agree to do their own viewing if it's convenient to them and they're happy to do it.
But we would never ever force them to.
At the end of the day you're paying them for a service.
Maybe they are busy but it's their job to fit viewings into their schedule and if the clients are serious potential buyers they will work with the agent to view the property. If it means having to take time off work, or go later in the evening they will.
Just make it clear that you don't want to do your own viewings, it's not what you've agreed to and that if they insist you have to you expect a reduction in the final fee.

fullbloom87 · 12/08/2023 19:48

alittleadvicepls · 12/08/2023 16:21

So if you’re doing their job what exactly are they getting paid for?

Advertising and marketing (rightmove is very expensive)
Dealing with solicitors, surveyors etc
Photography
Acting as a go between clients (often very full on txts at midnight, tears etc)

Most of what an estate agent does is for free. Often you can deal with a house for months and earn not one penny but spend a good £2000 on it.

LibertyLily · 12/08/2023 20:08

We've sold six houses and one flat over the years and on several occasions we've ended up doing the viewings ourselves. I think it can depend on where you're located in the UK and also - possibly - be dependent on the property value.

The first four properties (one flat, three houses) were on the south coast of England and apart from the flat which we'd already moved out of, the estate agents asked us to do majority of the viewings - usually because they were "too busy".

The last house was in a much higher price bracket and the EA did most of those themselves, although tbh there were only a handful before we got an acceptable offer.

The buyer of that house had actually been to prison for murdering a child (although later released after a retrial), so I was a bit 😱 when the EA said he wanted to meet with us one evening to discuss their offer.

When we moved to a different area of the UK we found that the Essex EAs did the viewings, but the Wiltshire ones expected us to do them. Funnily enough, on the one occasion we were asked to do a viewing in Essex we received an asking price offer and in Wiltshire the viewer actually made an asking price offer during her viewing.

Even when we sold a property via auction (West Midlands), the EA took it for granted we'd do the viewings ourselves.

It's a complete rip off imho and we probably should have complained, but otoh our experience is that EAs don't make much effort to acquaint themselves with a property and make so many mistakes, it can be beneficial to do them yourself.