estate agents are useless

Wig

WillowCat wrote: »

I pretty much agree with the OP, especially on-line it's hard to find out essential details from some (not all) agents.

But my whinge goes further - I'd love to see floor plans on every property, and, especially, floor areas and plot areas. I'm only interested in properties greater than 1000 sq feet as I know anything less will feel cramped, no matter how many box rooms (sorry bedrooms) have been crammed in.

It's routine in other countries, why not here?

Absolutely agree, there is one here that gives floorplans, but they are not to scale, not even approximately to scale, making them next to useless.

RetroBob

I think you are making a fuss over nothing. I do that sometimes. Do you have OCD?

Wig

MissMotivation wrote: »

Here's a novel idea....when the EA jumps up and asks if they can help why don't you try this phrase.

Yes......I'm looking for a property with OFF ROAD PARKING in *this area* and at *this price*

Do you think that would help at all? :rolleyes:

Unfortunately you did not read the thread, that is exactly what happened and they said they could NOT TELL ME. They pointed out 1 or 2 from the wall, and and they were not suitable, then the phones were constantly interrupting us, and other customer coming in, (whom she also immediately pounced upon), mean while I'm left looking at a wall of properties and as it doesn't say on the cards which have ORP, I pointed to one (when she had a minute) and asked does this one have ORP "Oh, I don't know" came the reply, so I followed through politely with "Can you tell me which of all of these have ORP?" and she said she could not.

Wig

lil'H wrote: »

if you can do it so much better. why not set up your own estate agency?

I found that I had to build a relationship with EAs we did a load of viewings they got to know me and my requirements and before long they knew exactly which properties were right. Though I doubt they would have gone out of there way for me had I shown them the attitude you no doubt do.

You shouldn't have to do this, this is the 21st century. If I want a list of potential properties before I talk to them about specific properties they should be able and willing to supply it. It's as if you people don't understand they are turning buyers away by their attitude.

Wig

RetroBob wrote: »

I think you are making a fuss over nothing. I do that sometimes. Do you have OCD?

I don't consider wasting my time to be a fuss over nothing. If another EA in a different town can provide me with a thumbnail list printed out to my criteria within 5 minutes of me entering the shop. Contrast that with a visit to the ones in my town, where I am unable to see from the display which ones have ORP and I am unable to get a narrowed down list from the assisstant. I.e. I am expected to have to sit down and waste a lot of time going through every property individually, or else just take a couple of details from her on ones that she does remember have ORP, and deny me the opportunity to consider all of her clients properties that do have ORP.


OCD? Perhaps, I'm sure a lot of people have got that in some mild form. Doesn't make my point any less valid though.

MissMotivation

Wig wrote: »

Unfortunately you did not read the thread, that is exactly what happened and they said they could NOT TELL ME. They pointed out 1 or 2 from the wall, and and they were not suitable, then the phones were constantly interrupting us, and other customer coming in, (whom she also immediately pounced upon), mean while I'm left looking at a wall of properties and as it doesn't say on the cards which have ORP, I pointed to one (when she had a minute) and asked does this one have ORP "Oh, I don't know" came the reply, so I followed through politely with "Can you tell me which of all of these have ORP?" and she said she could not.

My issue with what you wrote is that you are tarring all ea's with the same brush. There is no excuse for agents not knowing their properties.....it's just laziness!

A lot of time in my office is spent on the staff getting to know what they are trying to sell.

The agent couldn't help being busy but she dealt with you in the wrong way. She should have offered you a seat and dealt with you when the phone had stopped ringing, if you were busy and couldn't wait then she should have taken your number and called you at a time that was convenient to you.

Not knowing whether a particular property had ORP parking or not is inexcusable

SavingSteve

To be fair the OP is advising would be sellets to pick their agents carefully, and OP does mention certain agents which are able to narrow down the search which should be totally possible in this day and age.

Of course the thread title tarnishes ALL EA's.

BTW - I agree with the concept 100%. If an EA can not set up a simple database, hell even an excel spreadsheet, with the basic info then they are in the wrong business.

The variation in the quality of descriptions I've seen on RM is crazy. Some have everything I could want so as not to waste sellers time with viewings if nothing will come of it. I mean floorplans, decent selection of pics, room dimensions, directions etc. Others have one paragraph.

If I were a seller OP's advice in his/her OP is priceless. Look at the market as a buyer and see how your EA compares.

MissMotivation

SavingSteve wrote: »

To be fair the OP is advising would be sellets to pick their agents carefully, and OP does mention certain agents which are able to narrow down the search which should be totally possible in this day and age.

Of course the thread title tarnishes ALL EA's.

BTW - I agree with the concept 100%. If an EA can not set up a simple database, hell even an excel spreadsheet, with the basic info then they are in the wrong business.

The variation in the quality of descriptions I've seen on RM is crazy. Some have everything I could want so as not to waste sellers time with viewings if nothing will come of it. I mean floorplans, decent selection of pics, room dimensions, directions etc. Others have one paragraph.

If I were a seller OP's advice in his/her OP is priceless. Look at the market as a buyer and see how your EA compares.

There are lot's of EA software packages on the market, the trouble is that none of them compare to an EA's knowledge of the properties they are marketing. It's all very well have a package that will tell you which properties have ORP, number of bedrooms, price etc but to accurately match properties to a buyers requirements there would have to be so much information inputted then it would take forever to register the buyer on the database and then match them with the properties available.

Most software packages only match on 3 criteria......price, area and number of bedrooms because these are often the three most important things for a buyer.

The best software package in the world will not be able to deal with a buyer who comes into the office and wants a property in 'a nice area' that has 'three good sized bedrooms' or 'potential for ORP' or be able to compete with a negotiator who has an in depth knowledge of the properties they are marketing, good local knowledge AND common sense!

Wig

MissMotivation wrote: »

There are lot's of EA software packages on the market, the trouble is that none of them compare to an EA's knowledge of the properties they are marketing. It's all very well have a package that will tell you which properties have ORP, number of bedrooms, price etc but to accurately match properties to a buyers requirements there would have to be so much information inputted then it would take forever to register the buyer on the database and then match them with the properties available.

This is balderdash and completely misses the point. Buyers want to be able to come in for a quick initial visit, and just ask for a list of all properties with one or two features that are essential to them. They get the list within 5 minutes and can look at it when they get home. Then they can either look at the ones they select in more detail on the internet or come back for a more detailed chat about the ones they have selected from the printout.

Most software packages only match on 3 criteria......price, area and number of bedrooms because these are often the three most important things for a buyer.

Then they are not fit for purpose. Tell the publishers you want to be able to easily add on further search fields. If they won't do it, then as the poster said you can do it in Excel.

The best software package in the world will not be able to deal with a buyer who comes into the office and wants a property in 'a nice area'
This is subjective, it could be done to a degree on computer, but this is not what I am talking about.

that has 'three good sized bedrooms'
This could be done on computer, depends how detailed your input information is, but again it is not what I am talking about. A printout of all 3 beds would suffice for the customers initial enquiry.

or 'potential for ORP'
This can easily be done, and is exactly what should be offered

or be able to compete with a negotiator who has an in depth knowledge of the properties they are marketing, good local knowledge AND common sense!
You should realise by now, that I am talking about allowing buyers to come in briefly and pick up a narrowed down shortlist of all your properties. Then come back later (or immediately) to discuss the ones they like from the list.

MissMotivation

Wig wrote: »

This is balderdash and completely misses the point. Buyers want to be able to come in for a quick initial visit, and just ask for a list of all properties with one or two features that are essential to them. They get the list within 5 minutes and can look at it when they get home. Then they can either look at the ones they select in more detail on the internet or come back for a more detailed chat about the ones they have selected from the printout.

Then they are not fit for purpose. Tell the publishers you want to be able to easily add on further search fields. If they won't do it, then as the poster said you can do it in Excel.

With this kind of attitude I'm not surprised the EA didn't have time for you.....I've tried to help and offer you solutions and reasons why what you were asking in your first and subsequent posts was unrealistic.

If you had just asked "Why can't EA's just give me a list of all the properties they are marketing" then my answer would have been "they can"

The trouble is that you are asking for a list of all properties that have ORP.....how can an EA possibly cater for every scenario....lists for this....lists for that etc.

Put yourself in a Vendors shoes for a moment. Would you be happy if a buyer went into the agents that are marketing your property for them just to give the buyer a list of all the properties for sale and not actively try and SELL your property to them? I don't think so

I go back to my orginal post......why not just ASK the EA what properties they have that match your criteria....spend a little time explaining exactly what you want and then maybe you will have a little luck in getting a property that matches your requirments and not have to come on here being quite abusive when all people are trying to do is help!