What do you do when your estate agent is rubbish?

googler

chickmug wrote: »

Interesting that one new client want me to sign THEIR agreement as well as being expected to sign the agency one. A first ever for me after a long career in the business. So perhaps their should be 'two way agreements' and that will catch the dodgy slimy EA's out:D

You mean you had TWO different agreements? When a customer signs an EA agreement with you, don't they get a copy of it?

chickmug

googler wrote: »

You mean you had TWO different agreements? When a customer signs an EA agreement with you, don't they get a copy of it?

When I was working clients were never asked to sign on the spot. They were able to have the agreement, to read thoroughly, change (if they wanted to (rarely anyone did)) and return to us.

It was a case of a client who had written up an agreement of their own and expected me to sign that if I was asking him to sign our agency copy. I was willing to do so but by the time I was ready to leave and sign up (with him) he said forget it. It included our agreeing to his terms he outlined - a lot to do with wanting to maintain confidentiality, only a partner would ever handle the day to day matters & especially so once a sale was agreed, etc.

I think he had bad expereices with EA's.

Jacks_xxx

This particular agent told my father that he couldn't take the photographs or measurements unless my father signed the agreement immediately...

Jacks_xxx

angelavdavis wrote: »

The EA would claim it was down to their marketing and tell OPs parents to cough up!

That is why you put everything in writing when you are unhappy with an EA's service - so you can produce this evidence in court when they try it on and you refuse to pay them!!!

Really? That's so depressing. There have been written emails but most of the contact has been by phone or in person.

Love Jacks xxx

chickmug

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

This particular agent told my father that he couldn't take the photographs or measurements unless my father signed the agreement immediately...

Unfortunately that seems to be the norm. What I used to do was unusual. Even potential sellers were taken aback. However I did no work until I was in receipt of the signed agreement. I would nevr ask anyone to do anything with which I would of been unhappy to do if the boot was on the other foot.

McEvoy1968

Could always go the FSBO route - new startup zungalow.com and createestate.com are a new take on this.

googler

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

This particular agent told my father that he couldn't take the photographs or measurements unless my father signed the agreement immediately...

Unfortunately, time is money. How much time would YOU spend working for someone without a contract of employment? Not much, I'd wager. Would you do all the photography, measurements, etc if there was a possibility (without a signature, without an agreement) that you wouldn't be paid for your time?

googler

McEvoy1968 wrote: »

Could always go the FSBO route - new startup zungalow.com and createestate.com are a new take on this.

Yeah, but if they're 'new startups', who's going to look at them? They're not at the forefront of my mind, why would they be the first place anyone else would look?

Without some miraculous Search Engine Optimisation, they're not going to be flying high in the search engine rankings for a while, so how will house-hunters find them?

angelavdavis

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

Really? That's so depressing. There have been written emails but most of the contact has been by phone or in person.

Love Jacks xxx

You live and learn Jacks sadly. This guy sounds like he will know every trick in the book, you have to cover your back! When we sold OH's house July last year, we followed all our phone calls, etc with a letter confirming the conversation, marked "delivered by hand" and posted through the door. No disrespect to your parents, but if your Mum and Dad are anything like mine, they have a tendency to forget or not recall conversations. Sales people can run rings around people if they suspect they are unsure of themselves. Putting it in writing clears up any question of misunderstandings.

chickmug

angelavdavis wrote: »

Sales people can run rings around people if they suspect they are unsure of themselves.

So sad but true and at times perhaps a case to put to Watchdog on TV?