Do estate agents actually want to make sales?!

[Fluffetta]

I’m wondering if this is typical or if I’m being unlucky. I’m a proceedable buyer with no chain (lump sum settlement from divorce) and no one seems to want to sell to me! I’ve enquired with 3 agents.

2 of them I rang to ask to book in for viewings in particular properties. They took my details, said they would speak to the vendors to arrange and get back to me. 48h later, I’ve heard nothing.

I did have one viewing with the other where the agent could not have been less bothered and didn’t try to discuss the property with me at all - ok, not so bad. He didn’t follow up with me so now 3 days later I rang to ask for a second viewing, which he has booked in but the phone call lasted about 10 seconds. last time I did viewings over 20 years ago, they’d want to try and find out a bit of feedback or where you’re at or be a bit proactive. This property has been on since August.

I promise I haven’t been rude to any of them, and the only property I have bought previously was over a decade ago and went through without a hitch so I honestly don’t think I’m blacklisted…

I’m not complaining, as it doesn’t really matter - I’m just surprised as there aren’t many buyers for houses at the price point locally, and loads have been on the market for months. I mainly feel a bit annoyed on the vendor’s behalf! Just wondered if this is how it is now?

I can’t edit - should say over 10 years ago not over 20. I’m not quite old enough for that!

It'll pick up in the new tax year. Lots of people hoping to beat this years stamp duty deadline now.

These days, a lot of EAs flog a ton of other services: recommended conveyencer, mortgage broker, archictural services, RICS valuation, EPC certificate, alongside the many, many things they flog with their rental arms which can include such minute things such as PAT testing on a plug in kettle in a rental!

They make so much money from the extra services they get kickbacks from that some of them don't really seem to care if they sell houses or not.

I had a similar experience as you last June with the biggest EA in our area - who flog around 13 different services other than selling houses. Annoyingly, them + 1 other always get the best properties.

But, tbh, imo they don't really get paid enough to care much anyway.

The best EA in my town ONLY sell houses, they'll only take on a certain type and it's only in 1 area and they do it really, really well. Almost everything I see come on with them sells within 2-4 weeks because it's their entire business model. They don't even offer to do an EPC for you.

They probably can't survive otherwise.

Volumes these days are pretty thin.

You viewed 3 days ago and want a second viewing already?

What do you think will have changed in 3 days?

And it's going to get a lot worse this year.

I've already seen my first 'vendor will pay stamp duty' advert (for a non new build), and last week the OH saw a '£250 high street voucher' for renting a mid-priced house advert. I've seen loads where they offer deposit free rentals, never seen one where they give you money to rental.

Most rentals are just sitting there doing nothing too.

Oh ok so they maybe actually don’t care that much then! That’s interesting, thanks all.

@housethatbuiltme i don’t think anything will have changed as such but before paying hundreds of thousands for something I want to cast my eye over it again, and take my mum with me for a second opinion. I’m going again because I think I want to offer and if I like it after the viewing on Monday, I plan to buy it. Is it bad to view twice? I thought everyone did. The property is vacant so it’s not inconveniencing a family or anything.

My DS found this.

He started looking last May and the only viewings he initially got were by doing a request through Rightmove.

Then one agent that had a lot of property in his budget started to arrange other viewings when he applied for one ... so " oh if you are looking at number 3, would you like to also look at 323 around the corner?" They were the only agent to do that though!

Just before Christmas the market went very quiet and one agent actually called him (although he has a purchase going through so wasnt viewing)! He was so surprised they had called that he texted me!

They do do quite a lot of work in the initial marketing flurry and in keeping chains together but I think they are very laissez-faire nowadays about holding onto good potential purchasers.

They were the same back in the 90s when we were looking for our first home. We traipsed around the estate agents and left our details with probably a dozen estate agents, expecting to actually hear from them when something new came on the market that matched our criteria or price reductions, etc. Literally nothing. Why waste their time writing down our details if they had no intention of contacting us? Makes no sense at all.

Been going through similar with our son over the past 2/3 years with his move to a different city. Took six months to even get a viewing on a flat to rent - we filled in their online enquiry forms, "request a viewing" forms, etc., but absolutely no response at all. Not even courtesy email/text to say the property had been let. When we finally were deemed worthy of a viewing (OH literally phoning the agent as soon as something appeared on Rightmove), we were one of only 6 people who were being given viewings and it was made clear to us that there was no time for thinking or negotiation - if we wanted it, we had to say that at the viewing and provide our "best offer" for them to put forward to the landlord who would then choose their preferred tenant that afternoon and they'd expect the holding deposit by close of business!

The thing is they know they hold all the cards when demand outstrips supply. Anything remotely decent (condition and price) sells/rents immediately. It's only the dead duck properties that languish, i.e. grossly overpriced, run down, or "strange" in terms of layout, decoration, features, etc. and they're not going to waste time marketing those as they know "normal" people would run a mile, so just sit back and wait for developers/landlords/renovators, to buy them or until the vendor sees sense and reduces the price, and then the market takes over again and buyers show interest.

I think most people view twice.

My DS did on 2 of his 4 offers.

Although the one he's actually buying he only viewed once. He's viewed a second time since.

Houses are funny things and I think they sell themselves really. We said no when we stood outside ours on the driveway but viewed to be polite as we had made an arrangement. When we got inside although it needed a lot of work doing it was amazing and we changed to a yes!

Perhaps Housethatbuiltme has mistaken this for AIBU… nothing wrong with viewing more than once, and not far apart…

I have always gone for a second viewing before making an offer!

As have people who have bought from me (sold 4 times now)

You like it a lot on the first viewing, then think of things you didn't look for or notice, and want to be sure.

Normal.

I thought they were bad 10 years ago when we moved here.

We were constantly chasing them to get veiwing and then having them cancel at last minute - and when we again explained we'd be traveling some distance at some cost strugging and couldn't do re-arranged time then acting surprised we'd lost interest. The other end selling wasn't great either.

My Dmum next door neighour trying to sell - she picked an agent 4 weeks ago - they've been back 4 times once with a surveyor another time with phographer - no sign and not in paper yet- and neigbour 80 year old window asking is this delay normal - and I'm like no it's not. We agreed to sell last house was in paper and on-line by end of the week.

We've always viewed twice.

First is does this agree with pic and desciption could it work - second time is where do things go is this better than other options is it worth the price asked.

We have done about 12 viewings the past few months through a lot of different agents, the only two where we experienced something like this were big national chains, smaller local ones were always really responsive and chased for feedback etc. Weirdly one self employed independent agent was brilliant in the viewing stage, showed us 3 properties, one of which we were planning to offer on at the time, and just ghosted us afterwards.

It’s entirely reasonable to view twice in a short time surely. If you’re interested and considering an offer, you want to view again, to look for the smaller things you may not have noticed the first time.

Our experience has been that smaller local firms are better than national chains, who don’t seem to do joined up thinking.

I think a lot of EAs are a bit useless and not as motivated to make sales as you would think.

Not really sure why but I don’t think your experience is particularly unusual @Fluffetta

My DS is buying and the agent is independent. He was a bit like that. Perhaps not as bad a ghosting but absolutely rubbish at saying something and then not doing it. I very never met the guy but get the impression he's got that sort of personality that loves getting the instructions and offers and then sort of loses interest because he's moved onto the next "shiney thing".

But eventually a sales progressor got involved...also independent. She's been brilliant! I don't think the chain would have fallen through unless something major cropped up but she's been easily available and seems to have access to talk to all.the parties.

When I bought my first house in 2011 during a buyers market, estate agents were all over me, chasing up, checking in, telling me about new properties etc. etc., nowadays it seems as if they can’t be bothered.

In my opinion they’ve had it easy for several years where houses would sell with little or no effort, but times are changing and they will have to start chasing buyers and actually trying to sell houses. That’s just my opinion.

Currently looking and cash buyer, and honestly some EA just don’t even bother getting back to me. It’s exhausting trying to deal with the estate agents at times. I’ve called all estate agents and told them my situation and what I’m looking for; not once had a phone call saying this is going to come on etc.

We bought recently and lots of the agents were crap. But one was amazing! He listened to our feedback, showed us stuff before it got to market, and eventually sold us our new house - which I probably wouldn’t have gone and seen if he hadn’t suggested it might work actually. He earned his commission!

I do think those personal networks are important for getting sales that get all the way to completion - the agents we used to sell our house had already shown our eventual buyers a few places so got them through the door quickly and got us an asking price offer. Smallish independent who just really knew the area.