Do estate agents really want to sell houses?

bylromarha

I rang about 25 last week to re-register as still looking.

I have had 6 send me details through the post, and heard nothing from the others. I wasn't asking for the moon either.

Do they want to sell me a house?

cattie

When I was last looking for a house, a couple of the agents in the area I was looking in failed to send me any property details. I felt if they didn't want me as a prospective purchaser then that was fine by me. Living in a big city there are always plenty more ea's eager to have you on their mailing lists. And with the internet as a tool, searching for property is much easier than it used to be.

With some agents though I think if they've had you on their books for a while they lose interest & don't see you as a serious buyer.

PoorDave

Estate agents don't necessarily want to sell YOU a house, they want to sell every house that comes in with as little ffort as possible. If you become the person who looks but never buys, and get to the stage where you need to re-register, they will think every house they have will be bought by someone other than you!

Estate agents are basically parasites. Hopefully with the increase in homes being sold directly (i've noticed several boards up near me for one of those web companies that helps you sell yourself with an EA), they will become a dying breed!

tomstickland

I've found EA's to be OK myself.

bylromarha

PoorDave wrote:

Estate agents don't necessarily want to sell YOU a house, they want to sell every house that comes in with as little ffort as possible. If you become the person who looks but never buys, and get to the stage where you need to re-register, they will think every house they have will be bought by someone other than you!

I do see your point, but the reason I had to re-register was because I did the phone marathon 8 weeks ago and got the same response. Only 2 continued to send properties from that over the past 8 weeks...and it certainly isn't an 8 week turnaround here so they're losing lots of potential sales by not getting interest.

Certainly makes me know which EAs I want to sell my house with.

NastyMatt

Once you have registered chase them up. The keener you are to buy the more likely they will contact you.

I am not an EA but I am buying at the moment and I have been very proactive with the EA's. I am not buying them I am buying a house.. I don't care what they are like. Plus you have to remember not every one is good at their job. You may have given your details to some one useless.. they have now lost your details.. got the details wrong etc So ring them!!

I keep an eye on the websites and every time I see a house I am interested in I ring the EA straight away - if I am registered with them we'll have a little bit of banter as to why I am not no.1 on their list to call.. If I am not registered I'll give them all the details.

I am also very flexible.. when they ask when I can view a property I'll move anything to make sure I can be available.

Reading this back I seem like some fanatic!!! But I'll say it is working as I have been rung about places they are GOING to value and about places that have just or about to fall through.

Make their job as easy for them as possible!