I'm an Estate Agent. What do you expect from me.

silvercar

Just to contradict most things that are being said (even though I agree with them).

We are hopefully buying (fingers still crossed) a house through an estate agent whose door I promised myself I wouldn't cross. I'd heard horror stories of properties changing hands and prices changing between viewings. I'd known of them taking sellers to court to gain commission when they hadn't actually made the introduction. Their sales negotiaters are arrogant teenagers etc.

Why are we buying through them? Because they have sole agency on the property I want. Plain and simple.

td

I think floor plans are a must - much easier to get a picture in your mind.

Map links on internet and as many internet sites as poss.

Some EAs have a little sign underneath saying text this ref to this number to find out price - thought that was a great idea.

I hate it when you go to look for a house you've driven past but you can't find that one without looking through all of the others - a simple search facility for street names would help.

Have full details on website.

Always send out paper details thru post - not just email - if they're round the house they're in your face.

Have how long the houses have been on market and council tax bands on details.

td

Ian_W

Use all those wonderful EA sayings we all know and love:

Delighted to offer for sale - we'll never shift this one
Imposing - big & ugly
Charming & quirky character cottage - looks old outside, wait until you get inside
Close to all amenities - pub one side, chippy the other, 24hr garage opposite
Good school catchment area - but not in catchment area of a good school
Requires some TLC - with a sledgehammer
Requires some updating - with a bulldozer
Requires complete refurbishment - forget the bulldozer, just blow on it
Has great charm - dated
Ideal for FTBer - cheap
Ideal for investor - even cheaper
Period features - artex ceiling and woodchip walls
Good commuter links - fronts onto the A1 or backs onto the west coast mainline
Good sized kitchen - small
Galley kitchen - smaller
Compact kitchen - tiny, 2 rings & a microwave
Garden laid to lawn - owner can't be @rsed with gardening
Sunny med type coutyard - backyard with whitewashed wall
Sea glimpses - stood on the wardrobe with binos

And the one I love best ...
Much improved by present owner - dodgy DIY and death by laminate

But most importantly, as other have said, be HONEST particularly when you value MY house - You know it's worth £25K more than any other on the street, cos mine's PURFIC!!

BobProperty

Ian you missed a few:
Substantial - anything slightly bigger than average
Superb opportunity - need to shift it or ...for me to sell you the mortgage as well
Be quick to view - please, please view or vendor will go to another agent
Low maintenance garden - vendor covered it in 2 tonnes of gravel
Any phrase that includes any two of the words: Individually Decorated Taste Vendor's Style - bring sunglasses and don't laugh at vendor's attempts at interior design copied off TV programmes

Meeten

I am in the process of selling a place, it is not near where i live at the moment.

Here is the experience.

Get 3 agents round to quote me a price.
Choose an agent on the basis that the quotes are similar, but this one in particular wants to get hte ball rolling and has people that are interested -they can see the place even before it hits the website.

Leave with a good feeling.

2 weeks later, get a plone call that we should reduce the price to attract attn.

2 weeks later - I am the one that is making all the calls!!

2 months later - they ask me if they can give the keys to my place to someone and let them have a look round as they are short staffed!

Still no sale, but a SOLD (subject to contract) in v small letters board outside!! Would've been good if they had told me, rather than me find out by a neighbour asking me who the new person was!!!

So, what would I be looking for in an agent?
1) can't say it enough, but HONESTY
2) contact - I specifically asked for a weekly update - but I didn;t mean that I HAVE to be the person that calls all the time - unless there is something wrong!
3) listen to the vendor - why advertise it as freehold, when I filled inteh form saying it was leasehold. Then argue with me .....
4) no lies - don't tell me that the solicitor has mucked up - he is my brother, and keeps me informed of every step that has been made - don't try and cover your tracks using someone else!

Hope that helps ......

now i am off to call my EA and see what bu||sh|t they have to tell me this week ......

bylromarha

Ring me back when you say you will.

This morning, I am waiting on 2 phonecalls that were promised yesterday afternoon.

Revelation

Provide accurate information.
Have some integrity(unlike most of your profession!)
Provide a decent service with photos that you have taken time with and floor plans.

booey_2

Please be gentle with FTBs. Most of us are confused and completely overwhelmed by all the information being thrown at us. However we are not idiots, we can smell damp :rolleyes:

Please keep online sales information up to date. I am bored phoning up after seeing a place online only to be told it's gone.

Also, if we say £xxx is our limit we mean it!

Good luck!

ripoffuk_2

A fixed reasonable set price for selling rather than a percentage. Say £1,500.
And above all save yourself money and your buyers time by only sending them details that meet their requirements rather than every property you are desperate to sell.

Also open all day saturday and sunday when people have the time to visist and view homes!

xela_17

If you don't have floorplans, at least have proper room-by-room descriptions on rightmove with phrases like "with door leading to..." so buyers can visualise the house. Some estate agents don't even have descriptions on the details they send out!!! Just a picture of the front and a list of rooms. Those are last on my list to view, if I go at all.