Just been told off by Estate Agent

flora48

Feedback may say, for instance, the kitchen is too small but I would still expect to receive details of all properties in my price range as a property may meet all other requirements and may be just the one. In my experience in each property purchase I have had to compromise, in my last house I didn't have a separate dining room, one of my must have criteria, but the fantastic views of 26 miles swung it for me.

evoke

How about a compromise? If you don't want to provide feedback to an estate agent who advises you when you register that feedback will be requested then register with another estate agent.

Buying a property is one of the most monumental events in your life and sparing a few seconds to say 'no - didn't like the property' seems like too much hard work for some people.

superbabe612

I can see both viewpoints - as a seller, I have had to call our Estate Agent after 3 separate viewings to find out about feedback - even though they had phoned the viewers days previously. If a viewer seems really interested at the time, you're on tenterhooks until you hear from the EA, so all feedback is important, positive or negative. Our property is in need of modernisation but everyone's feedback is that it needs too much work doing to it - very frustrating, since it says so in the brochure and on the website! (I'm trying to convince my OH to reduce the price a bit more).

On the other hand, after I've been to see houses to buy, I'm often embarrassed to say why I didn't like it (one had a garden that would need a lot of care, and I've not got green fingers! Another had a water meter, which would mean expensive bills for our family of 4, and another had a steep narrow driveway that I thought would be difficult to negotiate my partner's van up/down). At the end of the day, some houses just aren't 'right'; and don't forget, the EA works for the seller, not the buyer!

googler

Walcott wrote: »

I think feedback is a symptom of an unrealistic market.

I think it's a simple courtesy - a viewer has been invited to someone's home, the least they can do is provide a short summary of why they won't be proceeding to buy it, or vice versa

Walcott wrote: »

I'm surprised sellers and EA's expect feedback. When the house goes to market then that should be the house on offer as it is at that point and priced accordingly. Buyers aren't guinea pigs who should be tested to see what is going wrong where as that is the sellers and EA's job.

How do you expect them to 'know' what's going wrong without the viewers telling them so? Are they psychic, or telepathic?

Walcott wrote: »

If a buyer is interested she/he won't need any prompting and will call back themselves.

Yes, but if someone doesn't call back, aren't you the least bit curious as to WHY ...?

Honest_EA

I have never heard such a pile of rubbish from some people on these boards. Feedback is not an interrogation, it is a way for us EAs to find out if you are still interested in a property and if not we will move on and try to find you something else that suits your needs. It is a little bit of courtesy to tell the EA that you wont be making an offer and you dont need to go into the full details of why not unless you really want to. I can then tell the vendor that x wont be making an offer because the garden was smaller than they expected for example. Some of you who said you wouldnt want feedback from a viewer are clearly living in the dark and don't want to hear why someone has decided not to buy your wonderful property. Feedback benefits all parties and is essential in a market where there are so few buyers for each property. I have had many viewers who never return my calls once they have viewed a property (I dont hound them, only leave 1 message asking them politely if they were interested in the house). These people are always contactable when you are setting up the viewing but never afterwards and then they have the cheek to ring up 2 days later to book a viewing of a different property. I have never told anyone off like the OP has experienced but don't expect the EA to go out of their way to do you any favours if you blatantly treat them like dirt and give them the run around.

System

evoke wrote: »

How about a compromise? If you don't want to provide feedback to an estate agent who advises you when you register that feedback will be requested then register with another estate agent.

Buying a property is one of the most monumental events in your life and sparing a few seconds to say 'no - didn't like the property' seems like too much hard work for some people.

I fail to see why the compromise should be on the buyers part. The only person that can make the transaction actually happen is the buyer. If sellers are so sensitive about feedback then it should be them asking EA's to only book viewings for buyers who guarantee feedback.

I also fail to see why the saying of the word 'no' is required. Surely EA's can realise that it is implied when there is no response.

sunshinetours

Bottom line ignoring and not returning calls is always discourteous from whoever is doing it.
If you treat otehrs in life how you would like to be treated you won't go far wrong when dealing with people (even Estate Agents yes )

System

googler wrote: »

I think it's a simple courtesy - a viewer has been invited to someone's home, the least they can do is provide a short summary of why they won't be proceeding to buy it, or vice versa



How do you expect them to 'know' what's going wrong without the viewers telling them so? Are they psychic, or telepathic?



Yes, but if someone doesn't call back, aren't you the least bit curious as to WHY ...?

Selling a house doesn't require being psychic or telepathic. It is the EA's job to get the property to market and find suitable buyers. Good EA's already have experience of what the potential pitfalls of a property are.

Most properties aren't rejected by the buyer on the basis of minor details. Usually if properties are getting viewings and not offers then I would expect the EA to already know why.

googler

Walcott wrote: »

I also fail to see why the saying of the word 'no' is required. Surely EA's can realise that it is implied when there is no response.

After how long? After a week, say, the EA and seller hear nothing. Should they assume that you've lost interest, or that you're still 'thinking about it'?

Why are you so keen to leave them in limbo without any firm indication of your inclination to proceed or not? Why don't you want to give them closure on your viewing?

dander

Honest_EA wrote: »

Feedback is not an interrogation, it is a way for us EAs to find out if you are still interested in a property and if not we will move on and try to find you something else that suits your needs.

Certainly I found when looking it was exactly like an interrogation - you had to keep giving reasons until you found one that satisfied the estate agent.

I also found that even if the agent did the viewing and you made it quite clear then and there that you weren't interested, they'd still phone you later asking what you thought. :mad: