Put pressure on your Estate Agent but how?!

quietheart

I keep reading to put pressure on your estate agent so it's our property that is fresh in their mind etc but how exactly do I do this - what should I be asking? I think I'm just too polite, but I ask how it's going and hit a bit of a brick wall. Could do with some ideas!
They already ring with feedback after each viewing and our house has only been on a couple of weeks but I'm keen that it doesn't become a couple of months or more....

Jorgan_2

Are you getting real fee back from the agents, it needs to be specific, not just 'nice house, it wasn't for them.'

Do you have a timescale in which you have to move? If so is your agent aware of this? Ask them to provide a specific marketing plan of your property, when its going to be in the paper, house of the week on their web site, that sort of thing. If they have a plan, which you have both agreed to, then you have something to measure their performance against.

The World Cup does affect the market at the moment, some people are reluctant to view, some are reluctant to have viewings. You want quality viewings, not quantity.

PJD

Are you under a sole agency contract with this estate agent? If so, for how much longer?

quietheart

Jorgan wrote:

Are you getting real fee back from the agents, it needs to be specific, not just 'nice house, it wasn't for them.'

Do you have a timescale in which you have to move? If so is your agent aware of this? Ask them to provide a specific marketing plan of your property, when its going to be in the paper, house of the week on their web site, that sort of thing. If they have a plan, which you have both agreed to, then you have something to measure their performance against.

The World Cup does affect the market at the moment, some people are reluctant to view, some are reluctant to have viewings. You want quality viewings, not quantity.

Feedback has been honest, all like the presentation, one wanted bigger rooms, one thought it was too overlooked at the back, attic room was too far from downstairs bathroom (for a buy-to-let) etc.
It's a good idea to ask for a plan, might throw them completely but it won't do any harm.

quietheart

PJD wrote:

Are you under a sole agency contract with this estate agent? If so, for how much longer?

we have to give 3 weeks written notice the competition was 8 weeks....

terrierlady

If you are really unhappy.go over their head, speak to the manager at the office , do you speak to the same person each time?
Express your concern ask them to note it on the file etc.
Call in and speak to them rather than phone.Get to know the agent dealing with your sale.
World cup is effecting the viewing figures everywhere plus this sunny weather and two weeks is not very long in truth its the quality of viewings like my mate above has stated,you could ask for only people who are sstc or cash purchasers to be given details but this cuts your market down.
What you really need is people who are well aware of what they are viewing, your timescale and ready and able to purchase now rather than carpet treader's, having said that carpet treader's can be the best advert for a home, speaking in the local hairdressers at the school gates etc.
Keep up the presentation and I'm sure you will be sstc in no time good luck.

plane_boy2000

Sounds to me like they are OK. Are you sure you are not trying to blame them because your house hasnt sold as quickly as you would have liked?

PJD

rovers wrote:

we have to give 3 weeks written notice the competition was 8 weeks....

I would hand in the written notice now. That'll give them another three weeks which is a decent amount of time seeing as they've had three already.

After their notice is up, sign up one or two others, (negotiate a rate, dont accept the one they offer) - if you want to keep your current agents on, tell them you want to carry on with them at the same rate, otherwise you'll leave. (There's plenty of agents out there, but the likelyhood is that they dont want to lose the business anyway).

quietheart

plane_boy2000 wrote:

Sounds to me like they are OK. Are you sure you are not trying to blame them because your house hasnt sold as quickly as you would have liked?

Not trying to blame anyone actually just want them to think of us before the others, no harm there!

alared

First thing tomorrow morning ring them up and ask them why haven`t they sold your house in this "bouyant market" when everyone (according to them) is fighting each other to get a foot on the ladder.
Tell them you want a weekly update and if they can`t sell it you`ll find someone who can.
Why are you going to pay someone thousands of your hard earned pounds for shoddy service and a bunch of excuses.
Give them a time limit and if they don`t perform,give them the Alan Sugar

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YOUR FIRED

quietheart

Thanks for the words of wisdom.
The estate agent we chose gave a lower valuation (£167K) our next favourite said £175K but they weren't flexible over fees so we went with a better deal on fees and a more personal service and put it on at £172,500. I know they want us to reduce it and will use that as the main reason it hasn't sold. It's hard to compare as all the houses round here are so different but I've seen sheds sold for £170K recently not far from here on worse roads so feel our pricing is reasonable..... time'll tell i guess!