estate agent selling enhanced marketing pack?

worto03

Hi,

Just after a few opinions on this. It started with the estate agents saying if we had the HIPs pack done by them we would get a free enhanced marketing pack which included :-

a featured property with bigger pics on rightmove instead of a normal ad
a glossy brocure instead of a plain one
100 glossy colour fliers that thye send out to people on thier books that they think might be interested in my property.
free floor plans

I said no to this as they wanted £460 for the HIPs pack and I've found someone who will do it for £220 so now they are offering this enhanced marketing package for £99 - do you think it's worth paying the £99 seperately for it?

I don't want to throw £99 away because I fell for a sales pitch but if the things above will help to sell my property at nearer the asking price then £99 is well worth it?

Cheers,
Worto.

princessamy86

What's their fee without the marketing pack?

poppysarah

I'd want to know what they do for "normal marketing" and then compare that to other local EA.

worto03

What's their fee without the marketing pack?

they don't do the hips pack without the free marketing pack so I'm going with someone else now for the hips pack.

I'd want to know what they do for "normal marketing" and then compare that to other local EA

for normal marketing they do :-

a normal listing on rightmove
a plain colour brocure
& I'm not sure about the floor plans - I'll have to double check that.

The estate agent fee is more expensive than the other estate agent I tried by about £400 but they have valued my house at £5000 more so in the long run if they can sell it at that higher figure which they seem pretty confident in doing then it's worth it (they have offered to lower the estate agent fee by £400 if we don't get within 5k of our asking price)

What I'm trying to work out is if people think the enhanced marketing pack is likely to sell my house any quicker and at a price closer to the asking price or if it doesn't make any diference? I thought it might be common practice so people on here may have some idea.

It's my 2nd home this time so I've never sold before.

princessamy86

It sounds complicated, but actually not a bad idea. For £99, you're getting a lot more advertising, and like you said if they sell your house for £5k more, it will be £499 well spent. In my experience, rightmove premium listings do get a better click through rate (amount of times a person clicks through for extra details on the property), which results in more viewings. I've never done anything like the brochure drop, but again it sounds a good idea. Can they sell your house for £5k more than the other agent? I don't know, but if they can then their fee will be justified.

The bottom line is, are you prepared to lose £99 if they can't fulfil their promises?

worto03

The bottom line is, are you prepared to lose £99 if they can't fulfil their promises?

Thanks & yes I think risking £99 is worth it especially as we have an eye on a house but they won't accept our offer until we have sold ours so speed of selling ours might well come into it.

I think I'll carry on with my hips pack from someone else for £220 and pay the £99 for the enhanced marketing pack making it all £320 ish all together instead of £460.

Cheers,
worto.

RX-78

This sounds more like a scheme to get more money out of you!

Just because they valued the house £5k more than others doesn't mean they can sell it at that price - if anything they have probably inflatted it to get your business. I'd see it as a bad sign, especially in today's buyer's market. Also it reflects EA's selfish practice - they seem more concerned about getting you to sign the contract so you cant escape than selling your house at a realistic price. What's the chance they "advice" you to drop the price after a few month to gain more interest?

Also charging extra for service when they are already more expensive sounds poor. I'd suggest at the very least bargain with them and tell them they can do the "enhanced" sale for free or you'll go with someone cheaper - they'll have justify their higher fee somehow. Also bear in mind should you be unhappy with the EA and decide to leave, I assume you wont get this money back?

worto03

Just because they valued the house £5k more than others doesn't mean they can sell it at that price

I know - thats why I'm having a bit of a nightmare deciding what to do - on one hand I hate being ripped off for any amount and every £100 makes a diference when your moving house but on the other hand £100 in the big scheme of things really isn't much?

I'm back where I started - I think maybe there isn't a right or wrong answer - it's just time to go with a gut feeling and hope it works out knowing that worst case I've wasted £100

Thanks for all the answers anyway

new_home_owner_3

enhanced pack i would tell them where to stick it, theyre just trying to blag money from you if its on right move people will see it, i dont think premium listings stand out that much on right move.

It reminds me of the old shoe saleperson trick when they try to sell you the added polish that was supposed to make your shoes look newer for longer.

shiny brochures are not going to sell your house, market at the right price and get it on right move and you will get results.

@princessamy how can you say "The bottom line is, are you prepared to lose £99 if they can't fulfil their promises"

A estate agent making promises now you are taking the P!SS.

Next thing you will be saying is believe everything estate agents say .:o

avrn

Hello Worto - please could you let me know which company you are using to get your HIP done from? Have others you know used this company before?

Many thanks
avrn