I also think EAs also need to be very blunt with vendors too, rather than trying to fluff up the sales particulars.
Tell quite a a few of them that if they are serious about selling their house, it would really help if they actually did a bit of basic cleaning, tidying up, flushed the toilet, opened a few windows and wiped up the congealing food around the kitchen bin! I’ve looked around so many houses that should and could sell so much quicker if these simple tasks had been undertaken.
I know there’s a view that a serious buyer will look beyond these issues, but if that was the case, why do builders invest so much in show homes? You’re selling a lifestyle to people and the old cliche about getting someone to visualise themselves living in a home is so true. If they’re looking at some else’s mess, it’s impossible,
Ironically, some good friends of ours are trying to sell a decent property in a desirable area, but they live in a permanent tip - which is fine if they want to stay, but they’re always complaining that no one comes back for a second viewing and that the feedback is the rooms are smaller and darker than expected. They’re not, they’re just full of furniture and accumulated detritus and you can’t see the kitchen worksurface for boxes, appliances and washing up. I’m so desperate to tell them this is possibly the issue, but DH says it’s not our problem and something the EA needs to highlight.