To those selling in these difficult times Part Deux. AKA sellers support network!

sonastin

I'm quite happy with my current EA so far.

First EA was from the countrywide chain and boy do I regret that decision - if they put a tenth of the effort they put into signing up vendors into actually selling the properties once they are on their books I'd be amazed. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.

In choosing the new EA, we spoke to local independents. In contrast to the barely-out-of-nappies-wouldn't-know-a-recession-if-it-bit-them-on-the-backside crowd at the first EA, the staff at the one we went to have been working there for a minimum of 10 years (well, except the 14-year-old son of the sales director who was in for work experience at the time!). Some of them had been there over 25 years. That told me that they've weathered more than one economic downturn and they pay their staff a decent enough wage to keep them happy working there and doing their jobs properly.

There's been nothing outstanding in their service but by the same token, I can't fault anything either. They've done exactly what you need from an EA - produced decent marketing material, brought the property to the attention of buyers, shown a couple of people round and then negotiated a "no-way-that's-just-to-low" offer from a serious buyer upto an acceptable offer. Updates on surveys and mortgage offers for my buyer have been pretty prompt too so I would say so far so good.

If all EAs were like this as a minimum, we'd have to find a new candidate for lowest-of-the-low profession!

monkeys_bunny

yea i have heard that the Countrywide people are a bit poo

sonastin

Its quite scary how easily I can spot their tactics now - when someone posts on here with tales of woe about their rubbish EA and the first bit of the story sounds familiar, I think "that sounds like part of the same chain". Then more of the story unfolds with more of the same complaints and then it turns out we all know who the problem is. Its like they are carbon-copied up and down the country!

The thing that bothers me is that I bought through them when I bought this place 8 years ago (part of why I went with them initially), and I used their mortgage advisor at that time too. The more horror stories I hear about their tactics, the more I question whether I was truly naive back then and just missed all the signs. But in all honesty, I can't fault how I was treated back then - mortgage product was competitive and what I expected, EAs weren't pushy or obnoxious (except the stoopid question of "can I ask why you're offer is less than the asking price?" - "yes, because I don't want to pay asking price for it").

Have they descended into scum-dom over the course of the last 8 years, did I get lucky in the individuals I dealt with then and their suitability to my circumstances or am I still looking back with rose-tinted naivety? It matters not one jot at the end of the day because I have been very happy here for the last 8 years. But I am curious about whether countrywide have always been cowboys!

happyrichard

Hi

Just thought I would pop my head round the corner and say hello to the group.

My wife and I have just placed our flat on the market. In choosing EA we went for the ones we thought were best when we were buying a few years ago. We also managed to get a realistic deal with them where they earn more commission for the higher price achieved.

Its early days, but we've had one viewing.

My question was, they did not call us after with any feedback. I gave them a morning to contact us and then ploughed in with a call. The guy who showed the place was out and so I left a message. Am I being unrealistic to want feedback immediately? Reading on here, some people seem to get it sooner than others.

I really hope we can find a buyer, but knowing the market...

Thanks

Blodwen

monkeys_bunny wrote: »

so anyway, anyone actually happy with their EA?

From reading above it seems like a fair few people are, which is encouraging. I was really not impressed with mine but then they got us 2 viewings in 5 days, so I started to think they weren't so bad. Haven't had feedback from last viewing but am annoyed agan as the EA did the viewing (as we were at work) and then left all the lights on when he left :mad: The weather was a bit dull but it was the middle of the day so not sure why he even needed all the lights on. It's not a big deal but I do worry if they do any viewings while we're away for 2 weeks in August...

ETA: thinking about it, I said THEY got us the viewings but I suppose Rightmove did. If this EA doesn't manage to sell it for a decent price in the next 2 months I'm definitely going to an online agent.

not_loaded wrote: »

You’ve turned up on this thread (the incorrect one, as there is a similar ‘buyers’ thread around that might suit a self-satisfied person with a very sizeable deposit in the bank) and let’s face it, you’re not contributing anything useful you’re just upsetting people.

You clearly haven’t managed to ‘put aside any self-righteous prejudice or preconceptions’ with your rather nasty posts on here.

:T

Completely agree. Re. self righteousness - this was aimed at me and I managed to bite my tongue, but totally agree with your reply; nothing is more self righteous than 'look at me, I did it this way and this is therefore the only way, haven't I done well'

kprice580

Hi all

I've not been on here for a while, been VV busy!
Just wanted to report that since having the house on the market (approx 7 weeks) we have all of NO viewers
We have today reduced the house from £172,950 to £169,995.

We have had three people ask for info 2 of which was BTL, who would want it at rock bottom which we cant afford to let it go for!

I hope all is going well for everyone else

Katy x

Blodwen

happyrichard wrote: »

Hi

Just thought I would pop my head round the corner and say hello to the group.

My wife and I have just placed our flat on the market. In choosing EA we went for the ones we thought were best when we were buying a few years ago. We also managed to get a realistic deal with them where they earn more commission for the higher price achieved.

Its early days, but we've had one viewing.

My question was, they did not call us after with any feedback. I gave them a morning to contact us and then ploughed in with a call. The guy who showed the place was out and so I left a message. Am I being unrealistic to want feedback immediately? Reading on here, some people seem to get it sooner than others.

I really hope we can find a buyer, but knowing the market...

Thanks

Hi Richard,

My EA normally gives feedback 2 days after a viewing. A day or 2 seems to be the norm as far as I have experienced it, as when we've been called for feedback for something we've seen it has been the next day at earliest. I suppose they want to give the viewer(s) a bit of time to think and discuss it. If they haven't rung in a couple of days though I'd definitely be calling them. Other people's EAs may get feedback sooner though, just my experience

happyrichard

i've just had a call back from the EA and he said that they had actually shown 2 people round yesterday- separate couples- and the feedback was good.

i told him that we should be informed about all visits, but was nevertheless pleased with initial interest...maybe its time we start looking ourselves (want to hold off until we have an offer so we can feel more realistic on price etc!)

tyllwyd

happyrichard wrote: »

My question was, they did not call us after with any feedback. I gave them a morning to contact us and then ploughed in with a call. The guy who showed the place was out and so I left a message. Am I being unrealistic to want feedback immediately? Reading on here, some people seem to get it sooner than others.

You do have to be realistic about feedback - if they give the viewers the evening to think about it, and then give them a call the next morning, the viewer might not be available, so you have to allow the EA at least a day to chase it up.

We're on what should be house move number 5, so we've dealt with a fair few estate agents. I do like the ones we are with now - it's an independent firm with two partners, so we know that the person we are dealing with has a vested interest in making the sale. He's an intelligent bloke, easy to talk to, and doesn't give us too much flannel. I'd always go with an independent rather than a big chain, especially one where you can't ever get hold of the same person twice.

monkeys_bunny

hey richard

my EA give a week, generally because the people looking in my town tend to be seeing a few properties during the week so the ea give tghem enough time to think about everything. but i do like to chase them as im impatient haha