Feel as though I'm being 'mugged off' - property purchases

[Spooky2000]

Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid, but I've had 4 houses now where I've had EA's tell me that the property has had an offer and now isn't available to view before my viewing appt (three times), or has been removed from the market. I'm registered as a single woman who's buying and I've provided proof of DIP and deposit, ID etc and registered with several EA's. I have a surveyor and solicitor ready to go and have advised this, too.

Some of the houses I've gone after have sold before I've had chance to view because the EA is doing the viewings and doesn't have a timeslot to fit me in sooner, despite the fact that currently I'm available at short notice and 24/7. I really am beginning to believe it's because I'm a single woman and that there's some sort of seething resentment that I can afford this. I live in a small town, and am not local (evident by my accent). I've worked 2 jobs for 2 years to save this deposit.

Should I lie and say I'm buying with someone now just to get my foot through a door (literally!!) ?

Highly unlikely that being single and not from the area has anything to do with it. No one is going to take their house off the market just to avoid you viewing and, if others have sold before you’ve seen, it’s because someone viewing it before you has had an offer accepted.

Don’t lie to get your foot in the door or you risk not being taken for a serious buyer when they ask for your details, proof of funds etc.

Ultimately an estate agent wants the commission, they don't care who they get it from. If you are seen as a genuine person with the money to buy a property, they are going to be keen for that money to go to a property on their books.
I don't know where you are, but it sounds like you might well be in a genuinely hot market.
You need to make sure you are on the estate agent books, not just calling for specific houses. Get registered with them - agree that they can call you and email with potential properties. Build the relationship, that way you'll be in the group of people who are being invited to view before the property even hits rightmove rather than being in the tail end when it's too late.

With respect, I think you've just been unlucky and it's unlikely the EAs care about whether you are buying as a single woman or not. You must be buying in a very desirable location to have experienced what you have experienced.

No one is going to take their house off the market just to avoid you viewing - I get a feeling that it's the EA's rather than the Vendors.

I'm registered with loads now but the emails are coming out at the same time as it appears on Rightmove - I don't know what else I can do, tbh.

Thanks folks for your input this far. :)

But you would be able to see if the house was still available or had sold or not. The EA wants their commission, not a house sat unsold for months. They won’t actively go out of their way to not show you a house.

Which is kinda my point, really. Despite my saying that I'm available at short notice and 24/7, some seem to be 'getting in there' before me.

Take last week, for instance. Property came through at 4.30ish, Friday 21st Feb. I rang the EA immediately. I'm on the mailing list, yet I couldn't get in to see until this Monday 3rd, as there were no agents available they say to show me around. In the interim, an offer has gone in. WTF??

I am retired and looking in a very 'hot' market - anything 'decent' is sold in week. I have found that you need to look at RM at least 2/3 times a day for whatever may have been added. I said to my Son today - that I feel for anybody who is working as the slots for viewings go very quickly. For example house went on market Tuesday and I was scatching about for viewing for the Saturday on the Weds.

We have recently moved in a hot market. We got to see the house we bought before it went on the market because we’d done loads of other viewings with the agent, given really clear feedback on the stuff he’d shown us, and had sold our place. So he knew it was the right kind of house for us, in the right place, and we were ready to go. It’s really worth cultivating personal relationships through viewings (even if it means viewing some houses you don’t think are quite right).

There's a difference between being "on the mailing list" and being the person that the estate agent calls before a property is listed and says "I've got something that's perfect for you about to come on - do you want a viewing?". You need to have that personal 1-2-1 relationship with the agent, keeping in regular contact, so you are always on their mind when new properties come on.

I'm unsure but it sounds like you are waiting for EA to contact you when they have a new listing.

It's best to keep an eye on rightmove etc your self, they will usually be there first

So how do I do this please? Cultivate the relationship? Is it as a PP has said and be very clear in feedback and be super nice to the EA who's doing the viewing?

I have push notifications too so the moment a house goes on the market I get notified. Signed up for the emails. My trouble seems to be getting a viewing in before someone else gets in first and makes an offer.

Last year a number of houses came off the market as they hadn't sold and I've seen them now back on RM with a different EA asking for £10k more, so something is happening here. I think it's because houses were historically cheap here and people are realising that it has good transport links.

I had three viewings cancelled in the space of two days recently where houses that had been on for months suddenly sold. Houses I never thought would sell for various shortcomings have been marked as sold in Feb - not in small numbers, probably a dozen. There is a colossal rush to beat the stamp duty changes. It should return to normal pace pretty soon.

We had this with our last purchase three years ago. We have moved now but there were two houses we wanted to view but couldn't get an appointment. I get ticked off about it every time we pass them. They both sold eventually but one I know didn't go through until about six months after we had moved, so they didn't help themselves by not giving us a viewing.

If they are a high street agent, have you been in to see them face-to-face? What time of day do new listings come out? Perhaps try to physically call in then so that they know you are literally there and available.

That used to be the old trick with high-street temping agencies: be there 9ish in office wear, sit in their waiting area as the calls come in and you would get work because they know that you are available.

It's a few years ago now, but we built a relationship with our EA and had missed out on a couple of properties (the market was hot). When our current house became available the EA called us before it went live and we viewed it before it was officially 'on the market', put in an offer that day. The EA also 'sold' us to the vendor, saying we were credible, ready to move, blah blah. In a hot fast moving market you need the EA onside. Ultimately they want the commission as soon as possible for as little work as possible, so be persistent, build a relationship, show them what's in it for them. Make your advantages as a buyer clear.

This happened to me, frustrating as a cash buyer with no property to sell. I couldn’t understand how properties were already under offer within a minute of them appearing on right move and me phoning up.

A letting agent (so no direct skin in the game) admitted that professional landlords with a good sized property portfolio get an early heads up on buy to let suitable properties, and professional developers get an early heads up on desirable higher value renovation properties.

My tip is to basically be a pain in the arse. Be pleasant and friendly but call in or phone them every single working day. Reiterate what you’re looking for. Ask them to call you as soon as they get a suitable new instruction. They will soon want to get you off their back.

Why on earth would being single matter. I'm married but its been made clear that I am buying alone with my cash and the home will be solely in my name (DH being disinherited and it will pass directly to the children) and its been zero issue at all.

We have only had 2 houses in 2 years cancel before viewing, both had sold. Most hold off on selling before having all booked viewings as someone else could offer more but if the get the price they want and want to move quickly then they might not honor the remaining viewings.

Is it all through one agent or multiple? while you being single should have zero baring on anything occasionally you can get 'blacklisted' by an EA and they will be WILDLY awkward but usually they will make excuses and refuse to even book a viewing. We had this when one EA told us we HAD to have a mortgage even though I had proven I was a cash buyer (note: they get kickbacks from forcing people to use their mortgage agent, I refused and they blacklisted me).

My last house had had 5 viewings before it went on rightmove and we had an asking price offer from one of those the day it went on rightmove.

This happened because the EA said they would invite buyers on their mailing list to view on the Saturday (went on RM monday) before seeing images, with just location and specs. This generated the 5 viewings and offer.

Incidentally, the offer came from a buyer who had sold their own property thro the same EA. So they were desperate to complete the chain. I think this was another motivating factor for the EA.

Are you currently renting? It could be that others who have something to sell are using that as leverage with agents (sell me this and I'll sell mine with you) But otherwise I agree being on a mailing list is not the sale as being active in relationship with EAs. They will have possible buyers lined up as soon as people mention they might want to sell. In our town they even do proactive marketing "we have a buyer in your area, looking for x". In your position I would go into the agents that tend to sell what you like where you like and introduce yourself a prospective buyer, show the proof of funds etc, explain what you want. This can get you on their ring before on market list, and therefore at top of pile for viewings.

In a hot market it's key to build persistence and build relationship with agents. Whilst trying to sell with same agent they had a house that they were doing a valuation on, a 3 bed detached but we wanted 4, but was in a road we loved. I was able to wrangle a viewing with the family before it went to market, during the viewing, I made an offer and shook hands on a deal there and then. I imagine many people's would've been annoyed but you have to act quick and with conviction..been here over 10yrs+ and were able to extend into a 4 bed anyway. Keep looking.

You need to call the estate agent regularly before things come onto the market and make sure they know exactly what you want, the area you want to buy in, the number of bedrooms, others essentials or undesirables in terms of garden/ parking/ layout etc. If something has come up that looked perfect but is now gone phone up the estate agents and make it clear that you are looking for a similar property and also ask if they can let you know asap if it comes on the market again. Put in the time to ensure that the estate agents know you are serious and ready to buy, it takes time for the EA to take photos and write a description etc to get it online but often they will inform people they think are serious and ready about a suitable property before they’ve done this so before it actually gets put into the market which it sounds like is happening here. Make sure you are answering calls and always giving feedback after a viewing too. I’m a single woman who bought alone and once I was serious and ready to buy this is what I did and I didn’t feel like the estate agents were reluctant to sell to me.

our house had 4 viewings the day it went live: I know 2 of those at least had been contacted by the EA before it went up to let them know it was coming and did they want a viewing. One of those families offered the same day.

It won't be on rightmove before the agent knows about it as it's them that list it on there!

If you're buying in certain areas, OP there could be preference to offer to a local ahead of you but I very much doubt anyone is bitter that you can afford to buy on your own.

I think this could be a factor. EAs looking to preserve chains within their own estate agency. There are without doubt people who get first look because their house is sold with them and they want to keep than chain going.

I too think they will prioritise people who are signed up with them to sell their properties.