EA valuation visit query

Robert_Sterling_3

Estate Agents often put a flyer through our letter box offering a free valuatiuon without obligation.

QTPie

googler wrote: »

So, with the advance intention that you were planning on selling to the neighbours, you invited three separate agencies to your home, to spend around three hours with you, and you had no plans to actually do business with any of them.

Can I suggest; Zoopla? OurProperty? Nethouseprices? Myhouseprice? etc etc

Those sites were either not around or not very established when we were looking to see (2003). Also those sites are not 100% accurate - a good estate agent with good local knowledge will be more accurate (well using 3 of them to get a median/average price estimate).

PLUS we "HAD THE INTENTION" of selling privately (sam as the OP) - there is never any gaurantee that you WILL sell privately... If we hadn't successfully negotiated the sale privately, then we would have selected one of those three agents.

OP, do NOT tell the agents that you are intending to sell privately. Get the valuations (in writing if you want), negotiate you private sale and then, if you are successful, you COULD give them the courtesy of telling them... but - to be honest - I doubt they will be holding their breaths.

Estate Agents are very willing to come around and give valuations - they are salesmen (and women) and they are their to sell their services... they win some, they loose a lot (it is the way their business works). But the OP should use the valuations as a serious opportunity to interview them: incase the private sale does not work out and they therefore need as estate agent...

QT

QTPie

bunnysw wrote: »

And would they still be happy to do a free valuation if they weren't expecting to get the property on their books after all?
Thanks for the weblinks too - will look into those.

I doubt it very much. Se my post immediately above this one...

QTPie

bunnysw wrote: »

We may of course have to use an agent to sell if it doesn't go as planned (which knowing our luck! :rolleyes:) so although I do feel a little bit 'bad' I may end up using them anyway.
Thanks fir your help though.

As above, you should treat it as though you are going to use them (i.e. interview them thoroughly). Then go on to negotiate your private sale (by yourself), if that doesn't work out (quite possible in this market...) THEN you will use them. No point in using them to negotiate your private sale - unless you like handing money away for nothing :rolleyes:

QT

Doozergirl

It's fine to call agents in. If they are good enough at their job then you will feel compelled to use that agent if you don't succeed in what you want to do. In fact, you may even decide to use them straight off. It is their job to sell you their services.

It's normal practice to call in three agents - two of them are going to be rejected - and I am happy to call in as many agents as I need until I feel happy. The last house we sold, I called in 6 agents in the end because I wasn't entirely happy.

bunnysw

Thank you - you are all so helpful on here! :beer: