First Time Buyers/First Time Sellers

MissMotivation

Reading these boards here I'm amazed at how many people have questions about the purchasing and selling of property.

As an Estate Agent with over 10 years experience there is very little I don't know about the housing market/property etc now I know that many of us have bad reputations and that in general the general public have little to no confidence in us, this makes me really sad as my colleagues and I must be amongst the few EA's that genuinely want to help people.

At the end of the day we all know that EA's work for the people selling the property, however, without buyers we would be out of business pretty quickly...so I am NEVER too busy to give anyone, buyers or sellers, any advice/help that they need.

The other thing that I find strange is people who don't get mortgage advice BEFORE they start househunting, there is nothing worse than when someone falls in love with a property only to find that once they have seen an adviser they can't afford it.

What I'm basically trying to say is that these forums are fantastic but they just prove that there are too many people out there that don't feel comfortable walking into an EA and asking their advice, most EA's out there, myself included, love giving advice.....as far as I am concerned there is no such thing as a silly question. Next time you have a question...ask the agent.....we are not ogres....we are not going to laugh at you etc, after all without YOU we wouldn't have jobs!

(PS I'm not saying don't ask questions on here either lol)

Dead_Eye_Jones

keep up the good work, I had some bad experiences, but my agent in the end seemed very helpful - even if I was quite cynical towards him, oops!

I think many people enjoy being helpful and enjoy doing a job well, there is no reason to think there arent many such people in the industry.

ukmonkey

One thing for me, is that there is BNO advice given about this sort of thing at School. When at school (I'm 22 by the way, 23 towards the latter end of this year), I received NO advice about Finances, such as credit cards, loans, hire purchase, house buying, mortgages, debt, etc etc.

Are we supposed to just "know" this asif by magic?!

I'd, quite frankly, be embarrased to walk into an estate agent's office, asking what I think would be perceived as silly questions. also, I'd not want to put any future deals in jeapordy (sp?) by showing to an EA how little I know. For example: I put an offer in to an EA, they realise that I was "the guy who didn't even know how much a survey would cost" or "who had no idea as to how he submits an offer on a property". I suspect (wrongly or rightly, I don't know) that they'd try and screw me for every penny I had by exploiting my lack of knowledge.

I frankly find it disturbing that the young people of today (and that includes me, I hope!) have little or, in the majority of cases, no financial guidence throughout their education. Personally, I'd much rather know how to buy a house than what happens if you mix pottassium and water.

*gets off his soapbox*

MissMotivation

ukmonkey wrote:

I'd, quite frankly, be embarrased to walk into an estate agent's office, asking what I think would be perceived as silly questions. also, I'd not want to put any future deals in jeapordy (sp?) by showing to an EA how little I know. For example: I put an offer in to an EA, they realise that I was "the guy who didn't even know how much a survey would cost" or "who had no idea as to how he submits an offer on a property". I suspect (wrongly or rightly, I don't know) that they'd try and screw me for every penny I had by exploiting my lack of knowledge.

I think most agents would prefer to deal with someone who knows little but IS prepared to listen and take advice rather than someone who thinks they know it all but knows very little.

It's our job to advise on things like making an offer, how much surveys cost/what sort of survey to have etc.

Remember one day you will be in the position of selling a property.....who would you prefer to use....an agent who screwed you out of every penny or an agent that took the time to explain the house buying process. There is no benefit in an agent not looking after each and every single person that walks through their door!

seven-day-weekend

ukmonkey wrote:

One thing for me, is that there is BNO advice given about this sort of thing at School. When at school (I'm 22 by the way, 23 towards the latter end of this year), I received NO advice about Finances, such as credit cards, loans, hire purchase, house buying, mortgages, debt, etc etc.

Are we supposed to just "know" this asif by magic?!

*gets off his soapbox*

There is no room/time for such things, other than in a very superficial way, in the National Curriculum.

Somehow I think, as in learning about sex and morals/ethics, your parents are supposed to teach you, and not delegate it to the schools!

lynzpower

I have learned pretty much all i have learned about property, renting, buying and selling a) through my parents who are avid movers b) through bitter experience renting in house shares c) through my own groping in the dark experiences of buying. Im crapping it about selling too. d) reading, watching property programmes, reading the internet, newspapers etc.

I made a quick phone call to a local agent yesterday to discuss me marketing though them and although I was impressed in a 5 minute phone call he said things like " dont worry about that" " we dont need to talk about that just yet" and so on. I dont think he was unusual. It was the same when we were letting through EAs too. "oh just tick this box to say you are non smokers, the LL only wants non smokers!" and all that jazz.

Estate agents are salespeople first and foremost. Additionally, I made another speculative enquiry some months ago about possibly valuing my flat and my phone didnt stop going for 2 months. They just want my money, not to guide me through any process. I would be in a very sorry situation if I expected my EA to help & guide me through the process, leaves me completely open to exploitation. However, its great to hear from so many EAs on here as I know they are not out to make cash out of me.

No offence, but its a sales based relationship.

F_T_Buyer

MissMotivation wrote:

What I'm basically trying to say is that these forums are fantastic but they just prove that there are too many people out there that don't feel comfortable walking into an EA and asking their advice, most EA's out there, myself included, love giving advice.....as far as I am concerned there is no such thing as a silly question.

I have to say, that is what I love about forums. On here, no one here is going to make money out of me, so why give false/incorrect advice.

I've always been the type of person who asks myself 'why am I given that advice?', 'what are they going to gain'. This doesn't apply to just Estate agents, but it's almost anything from mechanics, to finance, to what is the best gadget for my needs.

If my car needs repair, and I'm not sure what exactly needs doing, I go off to a car forum where's there lots of knowledgable posters willing to give me advice before I get a mechanic's [read salesman's] advice.

So stick around, i'm sure lots would appreciate your advice!

Property_Magnate

Miss Motivation,

You make a good point ... you work for the seller. Buyers should understand this during negotiations.

But, if you weren't an Estate Agent in the last housing crash, you still have much to learn my dear.

MissMotivation

Property_Magnate wrote:

Miss Motivation,

You make a good point ... you work for the seller. Buyers should understand this during negotiations.

But, if you weren't an Estate Agent in the last housing crash, you still have much to learn my dear.

Point taken, but I am interested in today's, and the also the future, housing market and not what happened in the early 90's.

Property_Magnate

No, point missed.

You have only experienced the good times. You will really learn your trade when times are difficult.