Estate agent experiences

[user1465146157]

We were on sale with a local estate agent and found them to be a little non responsive - they set up a WhatsApp group for us but never replied when we messaged on it (there were about 14 people on it)

after a couple of group viewings they kept insisting we do the viewings ourselves.

we decided to come off sale for various reasons and after a few months we would now like to go back on again.

do we go to a new agent or just stay with the original one?

is this usual process for them to palm off the viewings to us? I suppose it might be. Are we expecting too much? We just thought they’d help us sell a bit more but they did nothing. They definitely have a lot of sales in the area.

we’re considering going back to save time, especially if all other ones are like this. Would be easier than getting new pictures done etc.

any thoughts appreciated!

When we moved last year we sold with a local family firm instead of a big chain. The house we bought was sold by a different small family owned estate agent.
Both were excellent, hard working and communication was really good. They were also great at moving things forward.
If there are any independent EAs near you, I’d try them.

Get some other agents in to do appraisals, look on Rightmove or similar for who is selling property local to you. But check your contract with the old estate agent for clauses about selling your property to someone they have 'introduced'. If there is a clause ask them for a list of people they have 'introduced' your property to. You don't want to end up having to pay fees to two agents.

No, that's not normal, agents normally prefer you not to be present at all for viewings. The agents we're using were very proactive, calling potential buyers and always called to book in viewings to make sure timings were convenient for us

Book some viewings with other agents and see who handles the process best from the buyer perspective.

id certainly change from what you say above