Are the estate agents doing their job?

tunguska

Hi, we have our house up for sale right now, this is the first time we have ever sold a house before so didnt really know what to expect.

The house has been up for sale since December, and up to now we have only had one viewing.

Our estate agents have called us on the phone once since December, to tell us about the viewing, they also told us that we would be showing the viewers around as they are not open on weekends.

When they came round taking pictures of the house they only took pictures of the living room and the outside of the house and nothing else.

When the pictures went on their website we saw them and they were so dark that you couldnt make anything out at all, we called them to tell them about it and they told us to take more pictures and send to them via email.

They also got our address wrong twice online and in the leaflet. Also got the price of the house wrong as well, one website had the right price another website was 20k out???

As I said we have never done this before, but I would have thought they would have had more contact with us at least?

We are paying these people a lot of money when the house sells but from my point of view they arent actually doing much if we are taking the pictures and showing people around, are we right to be worried or does this sound normal?

Edit: If you would like to see one of the pictures they took so you can judge yourself please just ask.

CloudCuckooLand

Read your contract for when you can get out of it.

danielley

It sounds to me like they are not playing ball. Are you tied into a exclusivity period with them?

I would definitely change agents, sure the market may be tired, but there is no excuse for poor photographs and lack of support in other areas.

If and when you do find a buyer, the estate agents are the lynch pin to the whole transaction; so you want to make sure that they are earning their money from the word go.

Good luck and I hope you find a buyer soon.

tunguska

danielley wrote: »

It sounds to me like they are not playing ball. Are you tied into a exclusivity period with them?

My partner sorted everything out with them, it is his house so I kind of took a back seat with it, I do know that to get out of it we would have to pay them £260 which we dont have right now

danielley

Maybe dig out the contract and see what it says. If you were to take it off the market they couldn't make you pay, surely.

Doozergirl

can you give us the web link for the house? You won't be able to post a proper link but if you put some spaces in, the forum won't recognise it as an address.

BUt yes, if you show us the pictures, would be nice. On first impression though, I'd expect at least four pictures of even a small property.

tunguska

Doozergirl wrote: »

can you give us the web link for the house? You won't be able to post a proper link but if you put some spaces in, the forum won't recognise it as an address.

BUt yes, if you show us the pictures, would be nice. On first impression though, I'd expect at least four pictures of even a small property.

propertypal . com

if you seach 30 hawthorn hill it will come up.

It might look perfectly fine to everyone else, but to me the living room just looks so dark, the dining room pic and front of house is still to be updated as we have had the garden done since.

Thats the only pictures they took of the entire house.

flora48

Just tried the search for 30 hawthorn hill and nothing comes up.

Sounds to me that you have pretty poor agents. Read your contract, see if you have signed for a period of sole agency and once that is up look to getting another agent. In the meantime ask for more/better photos/ Tell them what you want to be on the particulars. What sort of an EA doesn't work weekends!!?

Doozergirl

http://www.propertypal.com/30-hawthorn-hill-kinallen-belfast/133049

Well they're pretty dire pictures aren't they? Would you be rushing round to view a dull house where the sun doesn't shine?

I know you're in NI but rightmove is so much more interactive, with streetview, maps etc.

Take your own pictures if they are completely incapable. Pick a nice day and take a picture that allows people to see a bit of the side of the house as it looks a lot smaller than it is - you actually have a lot of space there. As for the interior, don't take pictures into the window unless you have a fancy camera and know how to use it as you'll get what they've got - a very dark looking room which probably isn't in reality. You can barely see the lovely fireplace, the few pictures there are aren't doing the place any justice at all.

I'd like to see the room sizes higher up the listing if there is no chance of a floor-plan. I love floorplans. Saves so many wasted viewings when a layout isn't right but can also gain them when the house is bigger than it looks, like yours.

But you need as well to weed your garden and move those chimney pots from the front door or put flowers in them. It looks like you've got dodgy unfinished drainage at first glance!

tunguska

That is the only website they put it on, as well as propertynews. The garden has been done since the pictures were taken and they told us to email them new pictures which we did but they have not updated the websites yet.

BitterAndTwisted

Those photos wouldn't put me off viewing that charming house. What I don't understand is why the listing shows only one reception room when the details list both a lounge and a dining-room. That 22 by 10 foot kitchen must be massive and why, oh why isn't there a photo of it?

There absolutely must be photos of the bedrooms and the bathroom: the lack of them makes it sound like there's something to hide and those bedrooms sound like they're all a pretty decent size.

OP I think your agents are sh!te. They are giving every appearance of not wanting to sell the property at all.

Read your contract carefully and sack the blighters as soon as you can, they're obviously either complacent or raving mad. It's a lovely house and to these eyes it's not even expensive.