Estate Agents Job

petunia100

Am I mistaken in thinking that when an estate agent shows people round your house that they should point out its good features and generally try to sell the property.

In my experience all they seem to do is show the people round pointing out really stupid things like like 'the understairs cupboard goes all the way back under the stairs'.

googler

Well, what ARE the good features of your property, if not good storage space?

How many viewings has your agent done for you?

mclaren32

If a person loves a house they will want to buy it, if they dont like it they wont. An agent can do precious little about changing a buyers opinion.

petunia100

googler wrote: »

Well, what ARE the good features of your property, if not good storage space?

How many viewings has your agent done for you?

Yes, but stating the obvious such as 'the understairs cupboard goes all the way back under the stairs' is pretty stupid and missing out vital information such as the property is chain free, has been re-wired and replacement windows/ fascias etc only a couple of years old seem to me seem much more important features to point out.

petunia100

mclaren32 wrote: »

If a person loves a house they will want to buy it, if they dont like it they wont. An agent can do precious little about changing a buyers opinion.

Obviously. But my question was when an estate agent shows people round your house is it their job to point out its good features and generally try to sell the property? Or are they just suposed to show them round?

MissMotivation

Have you pointed out to the EA what YOU think are the selling points? I know it sounds obvious but if they don't know then they can't point it out.

I hate it when EA's show a property and point out the obvious "this is the lounge" "this is the re-fitted bathroom". Viewers aren't stupid, they want to know about the stuff that they can't see, so yes, they really should be talking about when it was last rewired, how old the D/g is, when the boiler was last serviced etc etc etc.

If you aren't happy with the way the EA is showing your property you have two choices...tell them or do it yourself!

mufi

Can you show people round yourself? I, for one, hate being shown around by agents, and have yet to meet one who did it as well as those done by the vendor.

VIGILANT22

petunia100 wrote: »

Yes, but stating the obvious such as 'the understairs cupboard goes all the way back under the stairs' is pretty stupid and missing out vital information such as the property is chain free, has been re-wired and replacement windows/ fascias etc only a couple of years old seem to me seem much more important features to point out.

Is chain free etc, not advertised on your marketing material...Are you party to all the conversations the EA has with prospective buyers...As some have suggested it would be more productive giving this feedback to the agent, as they can do something to change it...All we can do is reply

petunia100

MissMotivation wrote: »

Have you pointed out to the EA what YOU think are the selling points? I know it sounds obvious but if they don't know then they can't point it out.

I hate it when EA's show a property and point out the obvious "this is the lounge" "this is the re-fitted bathroom". Viewers aren't stupid, they want to know about the stuff that they can't see, so yes, they really should be talking about when it was last rewired, how old the D/g is, when the boiler was last serviced etc etc etc.

If you aren't happy with the way the EA is showing your property you have two choices...tell them or do it yourself!

Yep I have told them about the selling points.

I will be telling them, but I wondered what their role is at viewings.

petunia100

mufi wrote: »

Can you show people round yourself? I, for one, hate being shown around by agents, and have yet to meet one who did it as well as those done by the vendor.

Good point. I didn't know that I could and also I thought that what I was paying them for. I thought that they were trained to sell, whereas I'm not.

mufi

petunia100 wrote: »

Good point. I didn't know that I could and also I thought that what I was paying them for. I thought that they were trained to sell, whereas I'm not.

Ah, but you can answer the vendor's questions (local schools, or whatever) far better than an agent. And you come, subconsciously at least, as part of the package. You can enthuse about the house, express your deep regret at leaving it, tell them how wonderful living in the area is, listen to what they want to do, and help them with ideas based on your working knowledge of the house. There's a huge list of reasons for doing it yourself, provided you haven't got two heads, of course:D.