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Original poster

What would you do in these circumstances with Estate Agents?

27 replies

homeandstay · 19/07/2024 14:05

-Offered on a house on Monday as soon as we became proceedable

  • the house we offered on had other offers but none of them were proceedable

-our offer was the lowest of the offers

-house has been on the market for 8 months and vendors are moving across the country so wanted a fast sale

  • anyway, offered on Monday this week and estate agents said to leave it with them and they'll speak to the vendors as the vendors were still deciding what to do, they'd not declined our offer however wanted to see how the other offers were getting on

It's now Friday and I've not heard back, I've been ringing the estate agents numerous times since Wednesday and I keep getting told someone will ring me back and I've not heard anything.

  • we would even increase our offer slightly however can't get through to anyone

What should I do?

OP posts:
globalwondering · 19/07/2024 14:25

I'm an estate agent and I can guarantee you that if they had spoken to the vendors and had an answer for you, they will call and update you.

It sometimes takes time to have these conversations; vendors want to discuss with family or they work shifts or they haven't got back to us yet.

I understand it's hard waiting for a call back but when we have something to tell a potential buyer, we will absolutely call them!

I know everyone hates estate agents but it's a time consuming job and we're not just ignoring calls and doing nothing, I promise!

SkiingIsHeaven · 19/07/2024 15:12

@globalwondering why wouldn't you return their call to say that then. It's just rude and infuriating.

leeverarch · 19/07/2024 15:18

The agents probably want one of their own sellers' offers to be accepted. Double commission that way.

I'd be inclined to put a note through the seller's door and say that you haven't heard anything from their agent, despite you putting in an offer.

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 15:21

Leave a message that you're thinking of increasing your offer. Guarantee they will call you back immediately.

Then have the conversation you actually want to have.

globalwondering · 19/07/2024 15:22

@SkiingIsHeaven if I called every single person to tell them I had no news for them, I wouldn't have time to do my job. I am on the phone constantly, answering emails, chasing contracts, doing viewings and valuations, measuring houses, writing up reports.

People don't understand what our job entails so I'm used to the estate agent hate Smile

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 15:23

Estate agents are supposed to keep people informed so that they don't lose a potential offer.

That's what they're paid for. No excuses to say you're too busy. A text takes seconds.

globalwondering · 19/07/2024 15:24

leeverarch · 19/07/2024 15:18

The agents probably want one of their own sellers' offers to be accepted. Double commission that way.

I'd be inclined to put a note through the seller's door and say that you haven't heard anything from their agent, despite you putting in an offer.

The vendors seem to be waiting for a higher offer to become more proceedable.

Putting a note through to door to say you're the lowest offer and haven't heard anything back from the agent is unlikely to help.

SkiingIsHeaven · 19/07/2024 15:30

@globalwondering I would have thought keeping people informed was your job but hey-ho. If you are happy to provide a poor service, then crack on.

globalwondering · 19/07/2024 15:33

@SkiingIsHeaven I don't provide a poor service. I do keep people informed as soon as I have an update for them.

I am also offering the OP an explanation about why they haven't heard back rather than derailing the thread.

HappiestSleeping · 19/07/2024 15:34

@homeandstay wait it out. In negotiation, the will that weakens first strengthens the other, so if you offer more unprompted, it's likely that the vendor will keep pushing you. You don't need to offer more at this stage.

House buying is a game of patience and will.

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 15:41

@SkiingIsHeaven

Are you saying that what OP describes is a good service?

"It's now Friday and I've not heard back, I've been ringing the estate agents numerous times since Wednesday and I keep getting told someone will ring me back and I've not heard anything."

SkiingIsHeaven · 19/07/2024 15:48

@WallaceinAnderland absolutely not. The other poster who is an estate agent has explained the reason estate agents don't call back. That is their excuse. I think the OP has had bad customer service. I totally disagree with estate agent. I think not hearing anything following a number of calls is very poor service. I would not do that to my clients. I would at least email and say sorry but I don't have any news yet. Not saying anything is rude.

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 15:55

Yes I think the other poster is offering a terrible service if they think this is acceptable. I would be inclined to withdraw the offer as if they are this bad already, the whole process will be a nightmare.

globalwondering · 19/07/2024 16:00

I'm not saying the OP has been given good service. I've offered an explanation.

Baring in mind there are higher offers on the table, the vendor will be hoping that they will become more proceedable and so could likely have told the agent not to go back to the OP yet.

Agents are often following instructions of their clients. I can't say that's what's happened here, but it could be that the vendor is keeping the OP there whilst trying to get a higher offer from someone else.

It's easy to blame the agent but there are often many factors at play.

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 16:01

None of that is relevant though. If the office says someone will call, then someone should call. It's basic manners and professionalism.

They can easily say the vendors are still considering the offer. How hard is that.

Terrible service imo.

Newgirls · 19/07/2024 16:10

Op send your offer via email. The agent has to put it forward.

neveraneasylife · 19/07/2024 16:15

The OP is not the customer. The Seller is who the estate agent is working for. I agree that if OP hasn't heard it's because the Estate Agent has not received instruction from the Seller, their client. Absolutely do not phone and leave a message saying you want to increase your offer. Playing games will not help and they're more likely to think you're an unreliable purchaser. The estate agent will have laid out the options for their client and is away a decision/instruction from their client.

neveraneasylife · 19/07/2024 16:16

Awaiting a decision I meant sorry

Roselilly36 · 19/07/2024 16:23

Was the offer very low? We had a very low offer on our house once, we just laughed when the EA called to tell us, as we didn’t take it seriously at all. Could this be the case. Also EA maybe busy today dealing with queries from vendors and buyers due to the outages, must people opt for Friday completion (too stressful for us we always insist on Mid week) I would email, and ask for a response to your offer. Which I will expect will be a no, then you can counter, but sometimes when an offer is low, EA and Vendors must think it’s not worth the effort as they doubt whether the buyer is serious. Good luck I hope you get an answer,waiting is horrible I know.

Winter2020 · 19/07/2024 16:26

It sounds like there is a lot of interest in the house so they are stalling making a decision to see if they can do better.

Increasing uour offer at this stage, with multiple people interested, might only reinforce the idea that they can get more - i.e. you would be increasing your offer when they haven't even said no yet.

It might be better for you to just wait and hope no one else follows through with it. In the meantime keep looking at other houses.

If someone makes a higher offer you are likely to be asked if you want to beat it.

You can give an ultimatum of when your offer will be withdrawn if you like but it might not pay off if they choose not to accept when feeling rushed.

takeaflight · 19/07/2024 16:29

The EA did say they would call you when they have news !

if your desperate for the house why not offer the asking price, you said you would increase your offer.

leeverarch · 19/07/2024 16:45

globalwondering · 19/07/2024 15:24

The vendors seem to be waiting for a higher offer to become more proceedable.

Putting a note through to door to say you're the lowest offer and haven't heard anything back from the agent is unlikely to help.

Show quote history

I wasn't suggesting that the OP told them that theirs was the lowest offer - just that they'd made one and heard nothing back from the agent yet.

We all know what some estate agents are like. They tend to put their own interests before the interests of those whose houses they are selling, and will try to manipulate the situation to their advantage. The sellers might not even know about the OP's offer - the agent may not have passed it on.

An ex was an estate agent. I know what they're like!

Gamergirl86 · 19/07/2024 17:10

Sorry but estate agent bashing is not going to help anything. Someone has come on, given their opinion as an EA and everyone can't wait to have a pop.

Unfortunately the EA doesn't revolve around you and your sale/purchase. They have 100s of clients at different stages of the buying and selling stage and like @globalwondering said, if they had to call evrytime they had no news they wouldn't be able to do anything else.

They've said to the OP they'll call back when they have an answer. They don't have an answer so why get worked up?

I know it's frustrating from the buyers side but accepting an offer, especially a low one, is not as easy as yes or no. I expect they're considering all their options.

And putting a note through their letterbox would be an automatic no from me. I would feel pestered and awkward not going through the EA.

EntirelyMadeofBosoms · 19/07/2024 17:12

homeandstay · 19/07/2024 14:05

-Offered on a house on Monday as soon as we became proceedable

  • the house we offered on had other offers but none of them were proceedable

-our offer was the lowest of the offers

-house has been on the market for 8 months and vendors are moving across the country so wanted a fast sale

  • anyway, offered on Monday this week and estate agents said to leave it with them and they'll speak to the vendors as the vendors were still deciding what to do, they'd not declined our offer however wanted to see how the other offers were getting on

It's now Friday and I've not heard back, I've been ringing the estate agents numerous times since Wednesday and I keep getting told someone will ring me back and I've not heard anything.

  • we would even increase our offer slightly however can't get through to anyone

What should I do?

If you can't get through, how are you being told someone will call you back? Are you leaving voicemail messages?

Are you sure you were told you'd get called back, or were you told someone will call when there's an update?

I think something is missing from this story.

Twiglets1 · 19/07/2024 17:24

WallaceinAnderland · 19/07/2024 15:21

Leave a message that you're thinking of increasing your offer. Guarantee they will call you back immediately.

Then have the conversation you actually want to have.

What? Say you’re thinking of increasing your offer when they might be about to accept the existing offer?

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