BBC1. Axe the Agent - Property Programme

chickmug

TDS wrote: »

Talk about kicking an industry while it's down. Having said that, I've lost count of the number of times that EAs have absolutely no knowledge of the house they're showing me round.

Thats why I am anti accompanied viewings. EA's often use part timers perhaps an older retired person who can go out at the drop of a hat. I believe in the sellers showing people around and as only they will know the house and the area as they have lived there. There are cases where it is useful to have the EA on standby to answer the techical questions - perhaps?

PasturesNew

chickmug wrote: »

I believe in the sellers showing people around and as only they will know the house and the area as they have lived there.

Not very convenient for people who work full-time. House viewings after 8pm at night, in the winter, aren't good. And at weekends Saturdays are out of the question as you have to do all those things that you can only get to Saturday mornings, or Saturday afternoons, which just leaves Sundays.

It's also not always good for single people to do viewings unaccompanied, as they pointed out in the programme this morning.

Some buyers don't like the sellers showing them round either.

Also, if you're buying and the seller's showing people around, they're more likely to have not kicked the family out. But if you're viewing and it's an agent they'll have all gone out. There's nothing worse than trying to view a house, being shown around by somebody clutching a dribbly baby, with a toddler grabbing her skirt or trying to talk to you and 2-3 wild dogs running in circles.

chickmug

bookduck wrote: »

You can't say "lovely, lovely", "this is perfect", "I want to move in now" because when you knock down the price, people will be less likely to drop as much. You might even be able to get the existing owner to re-decorate and take a price cut

Now we are talking of a different scenario.

Viewer calls and starts with a long list of the properties faults. At the end of which you could feel depressed. But I say "Hang on there is this the same home I am selling which is in beatiful condition" A negotiating ploy which agents hear all the time.

In the old days I would let the person go through the extensive list to hear a very low offer at the end of it. In latter days I could see where the conversation was leading and would cut in and ask outright is this leading up to your making an offer. The viewer would say yes so I would say well just make the offer as the house I priced IS in accordance with the condition.

To really get to know how EA's think you have got to understand it from ther point of view and what they listen to day after day.