FTB - unhelpful estate agent

googler

I think the OP is reading too much into one visit.

Regardless of the amount of the transaction being considered, my point about one (short?) visit vs. multiple visits stands, along with the possibility that the OP merely called at just the wrong time.

Hailstorm

Did you tell the estate agents you had only just started looking?

In my experience if you tell them that they only show you the overpriced crap they can't shift in order to make you think that is all you can get for your budget.

If you tell them you have been looking for a while and have seen several properties they are more likely to think you know what you can get for your money so will not try this trick.

A tip to get the agents on your side is to always give feedback after viewings. This helps to give the agents a clear and detailed picture about what you want. If they then get something in that matches what you have been telling them in your feedback then they will think there is a high chance you will put in an offer so will contact you about the property.

betmunch

With regard to the complain or not complain issue.

If you were to complain and point out what happened on your visit a good manager will realise the day you came in, that the negs dog had just died or whatever happened and will chuck out the complaint knowing it was a one off.

Or if its the 12th complaint of the month will know there is something fundamentally wrong with the employee

Just because you complain about poor attitude doesnt mean the lad will be immediately dismissed. It will be looked at with human eyes rather than complaint = consiquences

FTBFun

blackshirtuk wrote: »

I understand your husbands concerns about leashold, consider this:-

2 bed house £250k freehold
2 bed flat £250k leasehold 99 year lease

after 30 years assuming no house price rise !?!

2 bed house 250k
2bed house 250k but you need to pay freeholder to renew lease as mortgage companies don't like leases under 80 years an wont lend. this could cost 10's of thousands, more if property prices have risen!?!

I know which i would prefer.

But if you don't stay for 30 years? Say 5? Then it makes no difference.

Also the leaseholders are legally able to club together and buy the freehold at some point before 80 years.

blackshirtuk

FTBFun wrote: »

Also the leaseholders are legally able to club together and buy the freehold at some point before 80 years.

At further expense!

jozbo

blackshirtuk wrote: »

I understand your husbands concerns about leashold, consider this:-

2 bed house £250k freehold
2 bed flat £250k leasehold 99 year lease

after 30 years assuming no house price rise !?!

2 bed house 250k
2bed house 250k but you need to pay freeholder to renew lease as mortgage companies don't like leases under 80 years an wont lend. this could cost 10's of thousands, more if property prices have risen!?!

I know which i would prefer.

same here - the lease business is so long and expensive we've decided to extend our search for a 2 bed place into SE london (rather than E10-17 as before). that way we can get a freehold house rather than a portion of one for the same budget - and wont be forced to move within 5 years because we outgrow it.

honey9

Thanks all for your advice, I appreciate the guy might have been having a bad day but still, I have worked with customers in previous jobs and we were told to put aside any problems and plaster on a smile...still, you never know. We did mention we had only just started looking so yeah, he might have tried to fob us off with their harder to get rid of places - I know one he showed us has been on the market since last August!

I don't think we will make a complaint but as that agent has properties we like the look of we may go back but ask to speak to another member of staff. If we get treated the same then I think we are justified in complaining about it. The hunt goes on!

Fatenbread

FTBFun wrote: »

The agent wouldn't be the one that begins with "F", would it?

Haha. Those awful MINI-driving wingnuts are the pits.

When I was buying my house, I gave their Dulwich office a brief to send me properties that were 3 bed houses in a certain specified area up to £375k. The first bulletin included 2 houses over £500k, a 2 bed flat for £400k and what looked like an IKEA showhome on a 70s council estate, all more than 4 miles from the area requested.

They also treated my wife like dirt years ago when she was looking for a place to rent in St John's Wood, basically for not being a Russian billionaire.

Given that they target the top end of the market, I can only assume that very rich people mustn't mind dreadful service (or do they turn up the obsequiousness when you rock up in a helicopter?).

FTBFun

Fatenbread wrote: »

When I was buying my house, I gave their Dulwich office a brief

Ha! It was their Dulwich office I was dealing with. Some of the property I was shown was bloody awful. One was next to a train line but "you could hardly hear" it she shouted as a train went past. :rotfl:

greenmoneysaver_2

EA's can only sell what they have, so it maybe you turned up when that have sound offers on all the stuff in your range and the valuer has nothing lined up in that category, therefore no point registering you when they won't call you! Also, he may have been covering recpetion, but he only sells below or above your price range so it is of no interest to him to spend time with you!

As it is a game where you can only buy through the agent selling then if they have what you want you will need to go back there. Even if you knock on the door and say you want to buy but X agent won't show you, if you do buy it the agent can and will take the vendor to court, as their advertising introduced the property to you!

A crap attitude, but some have it, especially in London.

Also as FTB's, be direct about what you want, if you can have a 2 bed house for your money don't even ask to see flats until you have either seen sod all for 3 -4 weeks, or the flats are in a much better area.

Having worked for "F", it is annoying when FTBs turn up wanting

• 1-2 beds (they don't exist, you either want a 1 or a 2 bed),
• some outside space (garden/roof terrace/communal garden/balcony on a main road??? which),
• SOF, but this is still leasehold, so you still need to abide by the lease and get on with your neighbours VVVVVVVV well to make it work,
• oh and always the classic "we are cash buyers. . . but we need a mortgage - so you aren't cash buyers then!

Incidentally when I left they were shocked and said they had had the best feedback about me! That is because I treated people like human beings! Still, sold my soul to the devil and am now a vet nurse to pay it back!

Good luck, they don't all stink!