My agent's response to 3 weeks no viewings

Toto

Yes I do for sure Clutton, thats why I think all rooms should be photographed if possible. I want to see tons when I am deciding what to view. Who wants to just see pictures of the outside? Why would I bother to go and look at something if I have no idea if the inside is a nightmare?

This is why I am so frustrated by my agent's insistance the pictures go before he will consider taking more.

thelawnet

bobsa1 wrote:

Just looked at your house and I notice that EA in my area say things about the room, eg spacious etc yours doesn't seem to do that,

They aren't spacious though! They are flippin' tiny!

Estate agents will try to put a spin on anything, e.g., weird paint job becomes 'characterful', etc. But they have to have something to work with - a 700 square foot house with a 13x12 lounge, 9x9 kitchen, etc. is anything *but* spacious.

icklejulez

Im in the same predicament as you and had the exact same thing last time, problem was last year i was tied in for 3 months and pregnant so by the time the 3 months were up I didnt have time to move so was stuck in a 2 bed house with 2 kids. This time I thought sod it, go for Bridgefords there pushy etc and we'll pay the astronomical percentage" guess what... useless. 3 photos, one week before they can even get the details online and they lie about previous houseprices in the area.

Therefore Ive just uploaded my details on houseladder.co.uk for free and there is somewhere along the way all the terminology you would need that states your contract with an agent is based on them being your sole agent, houseladder is not an agent and therefore any sale you make via them means you do not have to pay agents fee's. i could not state it all now, but for 5-10mins work uploading your property you will come across the 'sell', I think on the 1st page after you click sell my home, basically there advert. I thought what have I got to lose!

cuffie

clutton wrote:

i always get suspicious when i dont see photos of a particular room on EA details, and i have looked at several hundreds, if not thousands in the past few years. My gut instinct of "there is probably something wrong with a room if it is not photographed" is nearly always right" - do other prospective purchasers think the same ?

I tend to agree....one of the EA that came round to value (don't get me wrong - nice enough) from one of the "biggies" (rhymes with "Theives!") said that in our area they like to put one piccie of the front of the house and maybe just one other of the inside to "create interest!!!"...have to say I don't agree - I like to see what the house looks like inside too.

Toto

Ok now maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but, please look at these 2 websites again. Do the pictures on the 1st one look brighter to you? It looks to me as if they have lightened the kitchen especially. But I was told yesterday this was against regulations. All of the pictures are still on all of the websites. I don't know what to think anymore with this agent.

1st pictures on agent's website

http://www.centurionestates.co.uk/index.php?option=com_hotproperty&task=view&id=495&Itemid=

Rightmove website

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-4924806.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

I had a dear friend do a mystery shop for me yesterday and frankly I was horrified at what she said. I am just waiting to see if she receives details of my house in the post because it wasn't verbally suggested. It seems the agent was almost putting her off the area by his comments.

I am going to do another mystery shop next week, so we will see what happens with that too.

pawpurrs

cheeky toto, love it, if they are putting people off your house then thats wrong and I would sack them immediately. Even if that is their personal opinion, they are acting for you and how can they hope to sell something by slagging off the area?

Iona_Penny

I love the idea of 'mystery shopping':rotfl: your own property! I sometimes work with a photographer who 'does' top of the market propertiesfor agents, and I think from my experience your pictures are poor. I realise it's hard but I feel as you said the rooms look cropped, and are there no bedrooms in this house?!! As has been pointed out though it is traditionally a quiet time for viewing as people are on holidays.

Toto

Well today I received a mailing showing this week's local paper advert, and guess what. they have added the picture of the house next door which was sold by them 2 months ago. So I lost my rag a bit, called them and said I was counting the days till I could remove myself from this contract.

The result is, they are coming to take new pictures tomorrow, which has pleased me.

The agent then threw in that they are trying to arrange a viewing, yeah right I thought, probably getting one of your mates in just to shut me up, because there was no mention of it until the end of my slightly grouchy phone call.

Still, new pics is a step in the right direction, and they will be doing some bedroom photos too. I will keep you all updated.

I am soooo stressed!!!!

WindyMiller_3

Hi Toto,

Im in a similar situation, house has been on the market for two weeks and ive had only two viewings. I know at least its '2' but ive heard that there should be lots of initial interest in the early weeks

Picking EA is tricky, I picked mine on the enthusism he had for the property as he appeared to have identified the "plus points" of the property. Another EA who had sold similar properties in the street came in and without asking went up the stairs! :mad: He spent less than two minutes looking around and then said "right then what do you want to ask me ?".

Well the arrogance of the man, dont get me wrong he was confident that he could sell it as he had sold others in the street, but I just didn't like his arrogant attitude - now I am regretting this.

My EAs pictures are not good, they make rooms look small and he refused to photograph the lounge saying that its "odd shape" wouldnt look good in the photos. The photo of the large kitchen/diner does not show any of the floor area!

So like you they are getting told to do new photos, luckily I only have a 14 day notice period - if photos are poor then i'll swallow my pride and go with "Mr Arrogant"

Oh well, nothings ever easy is it ?

Windy

pawpurrs

To both of you, if your really not that happy, I would tell them you want to leave the contract immediately. As an ex EA, I would never hold someone to a contract, that wasnt happy, whats the point, if they are that unhappy they can just refuse any introduction.

I am selling myself and just changed agents what a difference photos look great, and within a week four people want it (all be it not proceddable), talk about stress!