Choices Estate Agents in Surrey

Jessica7

Just wondered if anyone has any experience with the estate agents Choices? Looking to sell my house in Surrey and they offer no fees for sellers (buyers pay commission) and no tie-in period. They also ask buyers to pay a deposit of £500 if their offer is accepted as an incentive to only make serious offers. Seems a very good deal for sellers as you can always commission another agent if they don't achieve a sale for you.

Is there a catch?

Thanks

00ec25

Jessica7 wrote: »

Is there a catch?

yes - as a buyer I would never use them or look at their properties if that's how they operate

verytricky69

yes they are soooooo unprofessional. I am also in Surrey. We used them to try to sell our flat about a year and a half ago. They use high pressure tactics and make you feel that you must sell at a crappy price cos you wont get any better. On about 6 occassions they told me I had a viewing so i spent an hour or so making the place spotless- then no one turned up- they didnt bother to phone me to tell me and twice I saw the choices EA in the car outside leave without even giving me the courtesy of telling me. They gave me next to no feedback on any viewing and if I ever rang them they'd fob me off- put me on hold- or wouldnt know who the hell I was anyway!

We remarketed our property a coulple of months ago with a really good S.London/surrey EA (Peddar Wates) they were brilliant, they got to know me and I them straight away, they got us loads of viewings (all of which turned up) and we sold in 3 weeks. They gave us regular feedback and always called us back straight away. We are exchanging next week hopefully.

As a buyer- seeing a property with choices would put me off a bit but tbh I would prob go and see the property.

You do get what you pay for I'm afraid. My advise is AVOID!!!!

whitesatin

verytricky69 wrote: »

yes they are soooooo unprofessional. I am also in Surrey. We used them to try to sell our flat about a year and a half ago. They use high pressure tactics and make you feel that you must sell at a crappy price cos you wont get any better. On about 6 occassions they told me I had a viewing so i spent an hour or so making the place spotless- then no one turned up- they didnt bother to phone me to tell me and twice I saw the choices EA in the car outside leave without even giving me the courtesy of telling me. They gave me next to no feedback on any viewing and if I ever rang them they'd fob me off- put me on hold- or wouldnt know who the hell I was anyway!

We remarketed our property a coulple of months ago with a really good S.London/surrey EA (Peddar Wates) they were brilliant, they got to know me and I them straight away, they got us loads of viewings (all of which turned up) and we sold in 3 weeks. They gave us regular feedback and always called us back straight away. We are exchanging next week hopefully.

As a buyer- seeing a property with choices would put me off a bit but tbh I would prob go and see the property.

You do get what you pay for I'm afraid. My advise is AVOID!!!!

I am also in Surrey. A friend of mine used them and there were no viewings whatsoever. She changed to another agent and has now sold.

I am also selling but would no way use an agent who charged the purchasers a fee.

googler

Jessica7 wrote: »

Is there a catch?

Well, if your buyers are also sellers, and not FTBs, then they'll be wondering "Why should I pay as a buyer when I'm already paying an EA as a seller?"

theGrinch

surely buyers will just take any buying fees into consideration and pay less.

there use to be a lot of posting on this company on singingpig - all removed now. I would avoid them.

Tony_R

I'm from Croydon, around 5 months ago we saw quite a nice house were insterested in viewing, but as soon as I found out I would have to pay the fees we decided not to bother. So I'd imagine you won't get as many viewers.

We've since found somewhere else, but since then then the original house has come back on the market under a different EA. If they had listed under that EA originally we would have viewed, and who knows, maybe bought it.

gnimia

I'm not in the area - but would say reputation means a lot... as EAs know. Theres a certain EA beginning with F that I barely ever make veiwings with, just because I've had bad experiences with them in the past... As I'm an FTB and good prospect, they seem to know I dislike them - and keep ringing me - it would have to be the perfect place on paper for me to even veiw with them!

theGrinch

they would advertise freely available auction properties (i.e. ones they are not instructed on) and get naiive people to pay fees to sign up promising them help to buy them. its all very very dodgy.

Jessica7

Thanks all for the advice, very helpful.