Expectations from Estate Agents

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

We have been on the market for 4 weeks and only had 2 viewings within the first couple of days. While I realise the agent can’t force people to view I would hope for some level of communication from them during this time.
I had to chase for feedback from the viewings and was told quite bluntly that they try 3 times then accept the viewers are not interested if they don’t respond. For me it isn’t to get an offer that I like feedback but more for information on their thoughts regarding the property. If I hadn’t asked I am sure they would not have even attempted calling them.
Sadly we are tied in to a sole agency agreement for 12 weeks so unable to change agents.
I am sure in the past I have been offered marketing statistics and regular updates regarding interest or lack of. What is the norm in selling nowadays?

It’s unhelpful, but different agents (both firms and individuals) are different.
Are you keen on the feedback because you’re thinking you need to explain or change decor or explain a particular quirk of your house? Or you need a particularly quick sale and aren’t sure if it’s priced to sell?

In terms of the service they give the basics are decent photos, clear description, priced appropriately and on all property websites like zoopla etc. They should give you info on specific questions, eg what’s activity like on this estate, at this price point, etc, or to your set goal (I want to have offer by x, what can we do - open house, virtual viewing etc).

My aunt has just sold hers and in honesty found the feedback less than helpful- the kitchen too small, decor not to taste, garden too big… all things she didn’t want to (or need to) change for the right buyer who the home actually suited. Good luck!

I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on feedback, it’s prettty pointless anyway. It’s a case of either ‘we like the house and offer you £x’ or ‘we don’t like the house for reasons you can’t change’. When I sold I told the EA I didn’t want feedback. If there is an offer tell me, otherwise I’m not interested in the pointless drivel excuses that buyers come out with when put on the spot by the EA.

Ultimately with so little interest it sounds like the house is priced too high to be attractive to buyers.

As PP said it’s probably a price thing - lower the price and see what happens.

I didn’t find feedback very useful when selling our house. The vast majority was so stupid I assume they just said anything that popped in their head to get rid of the estate agent. It was never anything we could improve about the house, just signs that they hadn’t done their research before viewing or there was a massive dealbreaker they knew they were almost certain not to overlook but viewed anyway.

round here the good properties get offers in week 1-2. Others hang around for months and it’s always to do with price.

viewers are comparing houses in the same price range so know what’s good value or isn’t. You can’t always tell from online.

Reasons I didn’t buy a various houses I viewed and didn’t give feedback for:

• The garden was too sloped
• It felt too 90s new build
• I had seen another completely different house I liked better
• Location

None of this would’ve been helpful to the vendors and so we didn’t share it. I’m not sure anyone ever has any helpful in these scenarios. If it was something like “I don’t like the living room walls”, then surely you’d buy it and redecorate. If it’s “the kitchen is a bit dated”, you’re hardly going to put a new kitchen in, are you?

So what are you hoping to find out?

We had feedback from one viewer when we sold about 5 years ago. They said the garden was too small even though the dimensions were on the listing description and floorplan. DH jokingly offered to knock down the extension to make the garden bigger.

I don't give feedback on viewings... there is literally nothing nice or helpful I can say. I either didn't buy because its utterly terrible or because its fine but not suitable for me.

I think I have only ever once bothered to tell an agent what I thought and that was a house in terrible condition (had been abandoned for 10 years since owner died. Roof leaking most that time and the windows had been replaced but shattered glass everywhere so clearly broken into at some point) in a not bad but way not very accessible place (away from amenities, no public transport, no parking etc...) on for very top end of the market price. Photos deliberately taken to hide/crop out all the damp and damage and no mention of it.

IF there is an issue, its also not my job to help you cover it up to dupe someone else either (because if I walked away due to an issue it will be a really expensive one to fix).

Having recently sold, I can tell you every piece of feedback I received was a waste of time and just pissed me off- hours cleaning for someone who can't look at a floor plan/pictures/Google maps.

However, my agent was proactive in getting it. And a proactive agent is really important, not least after you sell, for keeping it all together.

The market seems slow where I am, but 2 viewings in 4 weeks seems particularly poor. Presuming the estate agent both picks up the phone (not all of them do!) and is super accommodating with viewing requests, the price may be an issue.

It’s unhelpful if they haven’t offered you any feedback.

However, 2 viewings in 4 weeks (zero viewings in more than 3 weeks) does suggest the house has been valued too high.

The best thing to attract more viewings is to reduce the price by around 5% or down to the next Rightmove banding.

I'm afraid I agree with the others.
Feedback is rarely helpful. If you are now getting no viewings and have only had 2 in total, it's a pricing issue. Try reducing as suggested.

I actually been watching something about this and often houses that get little to no viewings are usually untidy/dirty, hoarded, unfinished or have too many indoor pets but on for 'full' price. People can see from photos they aren't worth viewing.

If something is dirty people assume not looked after so other problems.
If somethings hoarded people can't see the rooms or if there is problems.
If someone has dozens of unfinished jobs/DIY projects its sets alarm bells off about what they may have done without permission or bodged.
If someone has destructive indoor pets people know that will have big issues (smell/damage etc...).

These things should be really bloody obvious to a seller but some get so use to living as they do that they don't see an issue with it. There is not any nice way to tell someone their house is a filthy, stinky, bodge jobbed, overcrowded hovel though so people just don't waste time viewing them instead.

If the seller was getting lots of viewings but no offers then it might be price or something more hidden but why is no one booking viewing? most likely because something must be obvious from the photos. It could even be that they see the neighboring house is dirty/hoarded/abandoned/party house etc... or something and thus will be an issue.

A house we viewed had no photos online and was the worst smell I ever smelt (backed up sewers), big drooly dog making a mess, hoarded, damaged with awful structural issues and damp... it still sold though because it was 'cheap' (although not cheap enough for the work imo). So price does play in a bit even a nightmare house can sell but it needs to be low enough to tempt viewing if there 'obvious' issues.

I agree with a lot of your post @housethatbuiltme & I have been amazed sometimes by sellers who don't notice the obvious re their house being dirty/untidy/smelling of pets (not aiming this at you @TulipsfromAmsterdam). But I also think people won't bother viewing a house that looks clean, tidy etc but is just priced too high.

Speaking for myself, I know I have sometimes seen a nice house online but not viewed it because the seller seems unrealistic, which is a problem in itself. I have thought to myself, I will keep an eye on that house so that if/when the price drops, I can arrange a viewing. I can't be bothered to get into a back & forth negotiation with the seller until they have lowered their expectations somewhat.

For me reasons not to view are price too high, location, not enough bedrooms, not enough bathrooms and toilets, no parking, too open plan, size of rooms, too small garden, traffic, flight path, too much work needed. Not bothered about superficial things like decoration that is easy to fix, clutter that will be gone, newness of kitchen/bathrooms if serviceable. Of course everyone has a different check list, but most things the vendor can do nothing about.

Have you checked your details are accurate? Dimensions, no of rooms, photo of every room etc? When we were getting no viewings I checked our 'location' and it was a mile away! It took us out of the primary school zone where really we were one of the closest. Once sorted although not accurate, the viewings picked up.

I think I was hoping for feedback as closure. One viewing was so positive I hoped for an offer so once received feedback I realised it wasn’t coming.
If it was something we could change it would be helpful but the feedback was regarding drive too small and yellow lines on main road so at least we know.
i have reduced the price despite agent telling me not too as she thinks it’s priced right!
One issue is next door has sold after belonging to a housing association for 50 plus years. It’s is definitely a doer upper and will involve a lot of work. Not sure I would choose to live here if building work is expected.
I just need to be patient I guess.

It will be the price. If you are going to lower you need to think about viewing windows. A lot of people take time off viewings over July/Aug and restart in September. You have already missed the spring window.

Sadly being next to a large building project does reduce the value of yours. Can you wait til it’s finished next door?

We sold last year and the agent always gave feedback after viewings, but I found it completely unhelpful. People say things like “it’s too far away from London”.

Forget feedback.

People just either say stuff that winds you up because it was in the floor plan or detail anyway. Some people are positive because they dont want to upset you. Some people lie on feedback anyway just to.move on.

You are selling a very long term financial commitment. Most of the time there's nothing per se wrong with your house its just it didn't meet their criteria, or they just didn't get "that feeling its home", which are both very personal and wouldn't give you anything to go on anyway.

" I can't be bothered to get into a back & forth negotiation with the seller until they have lowered their expectations somewhat."

That's exactly what we did with the house we're buying. I ignored it for months until it had had two reductions.