Estate Agent not negotiating on fee.

chickmug

wildbri wrote: »

sell it yourself and save a lot of money, Theres nothing complicated about it, just advertise show interested people around and do a deal. might cost you a few pounds to put it on the net or newspaper at most hundreds and save thousands....regards...bri

Copied from a past post of mine: -

I hope you have a straight forward transaction when you find a buyer. I have always said finding the buyer can be the easy bit but getting a sale to completion is not. Every year we (as EA's) find only a handful of sales sail through, most have issues arising that need a lot of sorting and then the ones where there is very substantial time needed to move it through the issues that keep on arising.

A good bargain but in my opinion only usually where the buyer is a good position, tells the truth, is thoroughly checked out, has no or a very short chain and where the sellers house gets through the valuation and structural survey type of issues.

rizla01

chickmug wrote: »

True and I have been in the position where I have been asked to go back and put the property on the market. The party, by then, knows my commission and other terms but decides to try and haggle me down. My reaction is always polite but I am prepared to walk away. I expect them to be as tough as they want to be when considering who to use but not to drag me back and try it on then.

Hi Chick.

What a lot of people don't see is that if you are prepared to be brow-beaten into working for less money, then the prospective buyer will also be able to manipulate you which in turn will cost the seller if you are not able enough to be able to put up a good enough argument on behalf of the vendor.

A strong negotiator is just that, in both directions.

Before now, I have refused to employ an EA BECAUSE he reduced his commissions too easily. I want to employ a salesman, not an order-taker.

Incidentally, little story here re a particular EA.

I once had a very attractive EA round to value my house (about 11 years ago) and offered her a glass of wine (Being late in the day and a nice warm evening). Another followed and in total she must have been there for over an hour now.

I found myself warming more and more to this person and after a while became a little suggestive which went down quite well. I then suggested that after she had finished work, that she popped back later to finish off the bottle, which she did. She's still here.

chickmug

cruella_de_vile wrote: »

WHEN! Not if!!

Good idea though!

I read through all the posts on this forum and smile especially at the ones giving critique to the Rightmove links. Yes the EA's need to try harder, because some are absolute 'carp' at taking a decent photo and writing legible and correctly spelled details, but sorry to say it is usually 'price related'.

I have always said, and sometimes my thoughts are repeated on the forum why not make periodic (weekly) reductions until you find the level at which someone is biting. However that is not to say you should not ensure all else with the marketing is up to par.

chickmug

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

SSR

How do you consider it fair to charge a vendor who genuinely does sell the property independently of you? It must happen.

Why do you not simply pursue those who claim to have sold independently, but actually to a buyer you introduced, without the need for a SSR contract?

Fair because the seller decides to employ is knowing our terms and as far as we are concerned all open and 'above board' in plain English. We only deal SSR but when we used to offer SA or MA each of these two latter options was at higher percentages.

I will only deal with peope with integrity and have learned to spot those who I feel will be dodgy and believe it or not, several times each year, turn down the chance to act if I dislike or don't feel I can trust the seller.

I am in it to enjoy it and my long experience has led me to the policies we operate. I come on this forum to help out and give an insiders point of view to the mind of the few (I admit) decent agents.

cruella_de_vile

chickmug wrote: »

I read through all the posts on this forum and smile especially at the ones giving critique to the Rightmove links. Yes the EA's need to try harder, because some are absolute 'carp' at taking a decent photo and writing legible and correctly spelled details, but sorry to say it is usually 'price related'.

I have always said, and sometimes my thoughts are repeated on the forum why not make periodic (weekly) reductions until you find the level at which someone is biting. However that is not to say you should not ensure all else with the marketing is up to par.

I personally, when buying a house, only vaguely look at the details and would rather have a good look around the property/area etc and make my mind up then rather than go off sales details.

I think we are 'priced to sell' we are being very realistic and think we have a good chance of selling (quickly :eek:).

chickmug

rizla01 wrote: »

I once had a very attractive EA round to value my house (about 11 years ago) and offered her a glass of wine (Being late in the day and a nice warm evening). Another followed and in total she must have been there for over an hour now.

I found myself warming more and more to this person and after a while became a little suggestive which went down quite well. I then suggested that after she had finished work, that she popped back later to finish off the bottle, which she did. She's still here.

I loved reading this - are you not embarressed to admit to her being an EA?

MarkyMarkD

Frankly, chickmug, 1.5% + VAT is a high rate for SSR. Unless you are in a deprived area with very low average values.

chickmug

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Frankly, chickmug, 1.5% + VAT is a high rate for SSR. Unless you are in a deprived area with very low average values.

As an agent sorry if the rate I get is more than you like to hear but it is. I have great pride in the service offered and I said in an earlier post a very high percentage of repeat or reccommendations type of business.

If I were looking to sell, and not in the business, I would wear a totally different hat and would screw EA's down as my whole life is about good negotiating.

cruella_de_vile

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Frankly, chickmug, 1.5% + VAT is a high rate for SSR. Unless you are in a deprived area with very low average values.

That is what I have been quoted and I don't live in a deprived area and there seems to be a steady flow of houses being sold.

Just had a thought - maybe chickmug is my estate agent?! :rotfl:

LandyAndy

rizla01 wrote: »

Incidentally, little story here re a particular EA.

I once had a very attractive EA round to value my house (about 11 years ago) and offered her a glass of wine (Being late in the day and a nice warm evening). Another followed and in total she must have been there for over an hour now.

I found myself warming more and more to this person and after a while became a little suggestive which went down quite well. I then suggested that after she had finished work, that she popped back later to finish off the bottle, which she did. She's still here.

Under the patio.;)