My agent's response to 3 weeks no viewings

Toto

Hi all,

Yesterday you all helped me out with looking at my details for my house which hasn't had one viewing in the 3 weeks it's been on the market.

I asked my agent (after 3 not returned calls) to please lighten up the pictures in photo shop to represent how the rooms actually look, because some of the pictures do look a bit dull. I also asked that they add a floor plan to the web pages.

His response was that the regulations don't permit them to alter pictures in any way (fair enough, I want a truly representitive image). So I asked that they take some more. The agent said he would rather just remove the dining room and living room pictures all together and just leave the kitchen, outside and garden. He said that my living room and dining room weren't striking so weren't selling points and were better off left for viewers to see in person. I actually feel the more pictures the better, I want to see loads of room pictures when I look at houses online. He insisted though that he was right and that before he will add anything or take more we should try with fewer pictures.

As for the floor plan he said they don't do that, but were thinking about it. I asked that they start with mine and he said they wouldn't do that.

I am feeling a bit down with my agent and am kind of regretting my choice right now. I'm just not feeling they are that bothered now they have secured my house for the time being.

I don't want to cause any problems with my agent because I feel if I do they will make less effort to sell my house. So all I will do is see how it goes over the next few weeks and make decisions then. I know it's early days, time of year etc but he did say they were getting viewers for other houses, lots not as nice and more expensive than mine (not sure if that was trying to make me feel better, it didn't :rolleyes: )

Oh well, time will tell I guess.

Thanks again for all of your help and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

sanfrancisco

They always say that thing about the pictures!! Mine said that. I agree with you, I think the more the better. They sound like lazy so and so's. I have never sold a house (all of two times) and got the agent right the first time. You live and learn. How long do you have left on the contract?? You could ring up others and see what their multi agency fee is? Or if only a few weeks you could get the others round in preparation for moving to them to make the transition quick (take photos etc).

Toto

I am tied in for 6 weeks with a 2 week notice period, so it's 8 weeks in reality. 3 weeks have gone so 5 weeks left. I am thinking about changing and certainly will do if things don't improve. It isn't the fact the house hasn't sold or anything silly like that, it's just I feel like they aren't at all concerned about me now. It took me 4 phone calls to actually speak to my agent despite 3 time being told he was on the phone and would call right back. 6 hours it took me to actually speak to him. I do think a mystery shop is in order to see if they suggest my property.

I think in the mean time I will try to sell the house myself, I will take some pictures and try to figure out how to do a floorplan then advertise on one of the private sales sites. This of course would give me more scope to reduce the price a little.

As for other agents, do you all think the smaller companies or the larger chains are a better choice?

It's just all left me feeling a bit flat today,

CB1979_2

@ Toto, if you knock up a hand drawing with the dimensions on (and scan it to me), I could do you a floor plan in AutoCAD, save it as a PDF & a JPEG as well, if you like. theoretically the agents could then up the jpeg floor plans onto their site as it's in the same format as the photos, would obviously be beneficial if when you click on a photo it enlarges as well though.

I'll do all this free of charge, I HATE Estate Agents!!!!!

wabbit02

Toto wrote:

I am tied in for 6 weeks with a 2 week notice period

does that mean you can cancel after 4? is it a sole agent agrement for the first 6 weeks? If so get someone else in next week so that you can go on their books when the 6 week period as well. Having 2 agents to deal with is a bit of a pain from a bookings point of view - but as long as you sell the house right.

Toto

CB1979 wrote:

@ Toto, if you knock up a hand drawing with the dimensions on (and scan it to me), I could do you a floor plan in AutoCAD, save it as a PDF & a JPEG as well, if you like. theoretically the agents could then up the jpeg floor plans onto their site as it's in the same format as the photos, would obviously be beneficial if when you click on a photo it enlarges as well though.

I'll do all this free of charge, I HATE Estate Agents!!!!!

What a lovely offer, thank you so much for that. I will do a drawing for you, it's made my day thank you x

Iona_Penny

Just be careful if you try and sell the house yourself while still under contract with the agent, I believe that they will still claim their fees from you. Perhaps you can make all ready to go ahead yourself and spend some of the money on your own advertising when you are out of contract.

Toto

Iona_Penny wrote:

Just be careful if you try and sell the house yourself while still under contract with the agent, I believe that they will still claim their fees from you. Perhaps you can make all ready to go ahead yourself and spend some of the money on your own advertising when you are out of contract.

Yes I will do that. I will make sure I am out of contact before going ahead, who knows in the few weeks left they might even sell the house! I will give them fair chance first. But before I go ahead with another high street agent I think I will try house network.

jennifernil

Personally, I think floor plans are essential, I always look for them. Mind you, some agents' plans are so awful.............!!!!!

CB1979_2

yep, ditto to above.

I do this day in day out as a job, and have helped several of my friends, just simply for space planning, getting in new furniture, etc.

obviously the plans are only as good as the measurements though!

sorry toto for going off on a tangent, when you get the scans just pm me and I'll sort it out for you

clutton_2

playing devils advocate here for a minute - if we assume this EA is not idle, is there a reason why he might recommend that certain rooms are not as appealing as others ? we never look at our own homes like others do -- is there any redecorating needs doing, de-cluttering, hiding all that personal stuff that Anne Maurice goes on about (it is true !) - have you done enough "magnolia" painting to allow vendors to create their own pictures in their minds as they walk in ? Is there an animal smell/nicotine smell - any other type of smell ? (Not being personally offensive at all here, just trying to suggest alternative view point.) Photographs will never make a room painted in dark colours look light - magnolia, light colured fabrics thrown over dark settees, and clean windows will lighten things up.

if you do go with another agent, don't agree the details until you are 105% happy with them

good luck