No Viewings

Debbie1980

twisty - I have found a similar thing to you.

In the past few months I've contacted different estate agents by phone asking to view a property they advertise. I tell them we are FTBers good to go, but although they may well arrange a viewing of the property I'm calling about, they don't ask me if I want to see any others, or suggest others for me to view or ask my requirements or say shall we put you on a mailing list.

It seems very odd to me - we are serious buyers so i can't understand why I'm not getting pushed to see anything else. It feels like I'm the only proactive one out of us, by ringing them when a new property comes on. Can't see what I am saying or doing that makes them want to avoid me like the plague!! Am I blacklisted somewhere!!

BlondeHeadOn

I am beginning to think I had better get some of my friends to mystery shop my estate agent for me - it's worrying that so many posts here suggest that agents aren't following up on possible buyers.

What has happened to EAs? I remember when I was buying a house a few years back I almost daren't answer the phone because the EAs I had registered an interest with kept phoning constantly! I was deluged with mailed details as well, for all sorts of properties not just the ones I had specified.

Any EAs on here like to comment? Are estate agencies generally in deep apathy at the moment...?...?.....

jade1986

I was suprised, thought they would be hot on contacting an interested buyer!

chickmug

ILW wrote: »

To be honest you do sound to be a bit of a tyre kicker.

But from my point of view, when I was in business, some 'tyre kickers' decide to have a nosy around and get so unsettled with where they are living they actually turn into serious lookers and then buyers.

So my view is all are welcome as you never know.

terrierlady

viewings on new homes developments are down due to Aug Hols etc plus the people who are in and out of the homes in less than 5 mins are usally the buyers, we get lots of visitors who dont buy,they want decor ideas, they are out for the afternoon and its a cheap way to spend 30 mins or so, not ready at present to move just eyeing up whats out there to buy, in this country we still have not got the message that you need to have sstc to buy another if you are dependant on that sale to get the funds for your new home, we dont take reservations from people who are not 100% proceedable unless they are on one of our moving schemes.Viewings are strange one week you will get 3/4 another week none but be assured that come Sept the viewings will pick up the only exception is an area where there is a good school and people are searching for a quick move.Good luck to us all trying to sell in these times.

not_loaded

Ignore the unjustified criticism twisty!

chickmug wrote: »

But from my point of view, when I was in business, some 'tyre kickers' decide to have a nosy around and get so unsettled with where they are living they actually turn into serious lookers and then buyers.
So my view is all are welcome as you never know.

I agree with this ‘all are welcome’ concept. You can call viewers all the names you like, but if you want to sell you’ve got to have viewers.

My wife and I have jumped to conclusions with some viewers. Those conclusions, after a few more minutes are shown not to be the case. Within just two viewings we realised that although a viewer may seem unproceedable at the time, that also can rapidly change.

To get on topic… we’ve had eight viewings in just a month on the market. All eight booked in July, and diddly in August. I feel the explanation is that holidays are relaxing, and house buying/selling is not.

Roll on September!

Goodymp

My flat went back on the market on Friday after my investment buyer pulled out (a few days before exchange) due to moving away from the area and deciding she didn't want to manage it from a distance. I've had 6 viewings since Saturday - 2 investment buyers, 4 FTBs, but no offer. The majority of feedback is that the place is too small, its a 1 bed flat and yes it is small. Nothing I can do but be patient. It took 3 weeks to sell when it was on the market in April so fingers crossed it won't take much longer this time.

Jemima5317

Hi,

Thoughts:

My house (which I adore) was quoted by the agents marketing it as "in good decorative order". Which it was. It was BEAUTIFULLY decorated, to a very high standard.

only problem: it was beautifully decorated to a very high standard to very specific tastes - bottom of a wine bottle green room, heinz tomato soup coloured room, dark red room... (it's a 2 bed terrace - so we're not talking the odd room here and there). It also had no central heating. Feedback from viewers..."it needs too much work doing".

However fab your taste is, neutral wins votes. If Mr and Mrs "bright is beautiful" are your potential buyers, well, they can live with neutral til they get their hands on it. If your potential buyers are "neutral is king" - anything bright and colourful and loud could make them quake in their boots.

I know it sounds stupid - i really do know. But when I was looking to buy (and I am the sort of person to follow for investment advice - as in, whatever I do, do the opposite, you'll make a packet) I did look for bargains, and you'd be gobsmacked by how many people won't look through cosmetics. My vendors (who were lovely) were gobsmacked by people saying their house needed too much work and couldn't understand it. Called by to pick up post about six months post completion, and chap said "blimey - you've painted <this room> cream. <my partner> told me to paint that cream to sell the place - I said <he/she> was being stupid, it was a beautiful room and anyone would love it". Errrr. No. They had taste for sure - the house was kept beautifully - it was just their taste - when you say you're in good decorative order, just beware you're not allowing your own taste to say that - I got my house for 40 grand less than the 2 identical houses sold for six months before I bought NEXT TO ME IN THE SAME TERRACE WITH HALF THE GARDEN I'VE GOT - just because I was prepared to do the "hassle" of central heating and could look through the decorating.

If you're already neutraled out, definitely try mystery shoppers at your EA, but also maybe ask THEM why you're not getting the viewers. They're working for YOU after all - they don't actually get paid if you don't sell your house. It is in their interest to get it sold - if they don't, they don't any money after all.

Echo a lot of other comments - get good photos and make sure they're on particulars etc. When I was looking, the places that looked absolutely amazing had already gone by the time they made it onto rightmove... OK, I'm a genius, and bought near the top of the market, but even still.. one of my co-terracees (is that a real word?) just sold their (identical) house (1 month ago) for 20 grand more than i paid 3 years ago... and see above ... I have 40 feet more garden than them...:D

karie

Debbie1980 wrote: »

It seems very odd to me - we are serious buyers so i can't understand why I'm not getting pushed to see anything else. It feels like I'm the only proactive one out of us, by ringing them when a new property comes on. Can't see what I am saying or doing that makes them want to avoid me like the plague!! Am I blacklisted somewhere!!

Us too, Debbie. My boyfriend and I are just waiting for the right property (at the right price). There are about 8 estate agents in the town where we live and at max two of these are proactive - and even then, not hugely so. We have offered on 5 houses in the last year (1 offer rejected and we wouldnt/couldnt go higher and seller wouldnt negotiate, 3 went to sealed bids and we didnt win, 1 went to auction and we pulled out before bidding as we did a survey which came back highlighting too many serious issues). Amazingly, the estate agents who were selling these houses have done nothing to get us to view other houses since then, and considering we are clearly serious buyers who have offered and even paid out on surveys, i cant understand this at all.

And most of the time the agents dont even bother calling for feedback after the viewings!!

oh well...

Treacle44

I'd keep hassling the agent, find out how many mailings they've sent out, how many hits on their website and rightmove.

Must admit we went with our agent as their advertising is excellent, virtual tours, 3d floor plans, picture plus slide shows etc, our house has been on the market for 4 weeks, we had 5 viewings and accepted an offer £10k under asking price last week.

But we also kept in constant contact with our agents to make sure they were on top of things, thats what their fee is for.

Good luck.