What is your most scandalous Estate Agent experience?

split_second

i got the 'phantom offer' routine, someone else bid very similar amount on a repo house

my offer went up £100 and they were told, not one penny more

i have lived in the house 2 years.

although before now i have turned up for viewings with the vendor out, and my mate went to view somewhere and a very confused tennant opened the door

property.advert

My modern pet hate is websites not being updated. My long running pet hate is that whatever price you give them they always go to the top or over of it and yet seem incapable to assimilate data over a broad price range. I look for best value unless I am being very specific and the actual price may be largely unimportant.

Oh, and the notion that they think they may even be as intelligent.

Eton_Rifle

I was neither the buyer nor the seller but a tenant in a house that was up for sale (I could not prevent viewings) amazed by the incompetence of the landlord's estate agent.

The day before the viewing, the septic tank system had developed a problem and the soil pipe had split open, disgorging vile brown liquid heavily sprinkled with toilet roll shreds all over the basement floor. The landlord was coming in a day or two to sort it out.

Meanwhile, I'm told there is to be a viewing and when she arrives, I warn the landlord's estate agent not to go in the basement because it's unsanitary.

The buyer arrives and he's somebody famous. A musician or a singer, I assume, since a concern seems to be the potential location of a recording studio.
He has an army of toadies hanging on his every word and there are four teenage girl groupies being barred entry at the gates.

They all take off their shoes at the front door and slither round the house in their stockinged feet.
Oh yes sir, three bags full, sir.

Now, guess where the estate agent ends the tour and decides to spend half an hour giving her sales pitch extolling the virtues of the house?

Yes, standing in our dried !!!!!! with nothing but their socks on.

stephk_2

Started looking at houses a couple of weeks ago (have had an offer on my flat and things are progressing well). I had last week off and arranged 3 viewings with 3 different estate agents on Thursday afternoon. A friend had the afternoon off and as my husband was at work, my friend (an experienced lettings agent) came with me and we arranged to meet at the nearest station 20 minutes prior to the first viewing (booked for 3pm). I arrived at the station and had a voicemail from the agent apologising, but he would be 10 minutes late. My friend and I got to the property 10 minutes early as it was better to wait there and check the exterior whilst we waited. At 3.25, I decided to call him. As I dialled a car sped up to the house and parked with 3 men inside, all sniggering. I thought it may be the agents and cancelled the dial before it rang. After a few minutes we thought that perhaps it wasnt them as no-one got out or acknowledged us so I started dialling again. Then they all got out of the car, still sniggering and 2 of them immediately lit cigarettes. One chap came over to me and I introduced myself. He then turned to my friend and said 'who are you'. He did not apologise for being late. As he struggled to open the door I said that having all of the extra time meant that we noticed that the door exterior, steps and window sills needed painting. He asked what I thought about that and I said if I was selling, I would have painted them. Still struggling with the keys, we eventually entered. He then walked over to the back door to open it. He didnt say a word as he struggled with those keys. I thought I may as well show myself around. I went downstairs and then upstairs (it was 3 storeys). By the time i had inspected these floors he was outside in the garden. I came outside and had a look and he still hadnt said a word. We went back inside. He asked if this was the kind of property I was looking for. I said that the garden was a little on the small side. He then said that the green outside of the garden was just for the residents use. I objected, that perhaps they wouldnt like me having BBQs out there and he sniggered again saying that they might and that it was funded by the council and there were no other charges for it. He then said, 'so, youre looking at 3 bed townhouses up to half a bar, yeah?' I said that they did not have to be townhouses. He interrupted me and said there was nothing else on his books but with May coming up there were bound to be more and started walking towards the front door for us to leave. His colleagues/friends were still sniggering. This chap also chewed gum throughout the viewing. I think he may have been drunk! I will definitely not be pursuing that or any other property through that agency, I feel sorry for the vendor.

lincroft1710

Around 30 yrs ago went to EA who gave me details of several properties, one of which I thought was worth viewing. As it was empty they said I could have the keys and view it myself.

So after work drove to property and rather than looking empty it look occupied, so I knocked on the door. No reply, but realising I had the back door key I went to back door, and knocked again. The bathroom window opened (GF bathroom) and a female voice asked what I wanted. Explained EA had given me the key and I was here to view house. Female then said she'd only moved into the house a fortnight ago, having (apparently) bought it through another agent.

Lack of communication somewhere, but EA didn't seem that perturbed when I told them.

dlon_ray

We put an offer of £93k in on a property listed at £105k as it had been on the market for several months with little or no interest at the asking price.
Miraculously some other offers came in and we were bid up to about £97k, at which point I said "no chance".
A day later we were phoned saying that the other potential purchaser had pulled out.

Sadly this isn't going to be regarded as 'scandalous' but rather 'just the way they work'. EAs, the lowest of the low.

Enfieldian

Actually the worst I had was when I was viewing a flat to rent and during banal conversation had mentioned to the agent that I used to be "in the business"

The time agreed for the viewing arrived and I turned up at the address I had been given. There were three other couples waiting to see the flat but no sign of the agent.

After 10 or 15 minutes another viewing couple had arrived but still no sign of the agent.

Luckily I had his number so I gave him a call. He said he was on his way but had been stuck in traffic.

Another 20 minutes later, still no sign. Rang him again and he said "Oh, I am not coming to THAT one, the tenant will let you in and show you round" I explained that I and at least one other viewer had knocked on the door on arrival and there was no sign of life inside, there had been no arrivals or departures since then.

His response was "Oh well, you used to be an agent. You know how these things are, Could you explain to the other viewers that I am busy elsewhere and will call you/them to rearrange"

Errr.... Yeah, right....

Taiko

First time buyer a few years ago (changed plans, as something came up and couldn't have carried on looking), and I'd done two viewings on a property. First sort o with heart, the second with my head I guess.

Estate agent showing me around didn't know off the top of her head the answers to some queries but said that there were several others interested in the property, so arranged to call me back the next day. Was in work at this time, preparing for financial year end in a local government position, so pretty swamped with work. Received the call at 11am with the details as requested, and I said I would call back after 5pm, bearing in mind they open until 7pm.

1:30pm, phone rings, pretty much trying to force me into making an offer, as otherwise I'd "miss out on a fantastic opportunity". I reiterated my earlier stance in that I wouldn't call back until after 5pm, which gave me chance to look at the details more during my lunch break.

Almost two years down the line the property still hasn't sold, and is going for auction this month. Looks as if the EA may have actually helped.

Enfieldian

The trouble with Estate Agents using "high pressure" tactics in England & Wales is that for as long as anyone can remember and as far from now as we can tell you can just change your mind the next day, week or month... Right up to the point of exchange.

The only true selling in Agency work is selling the services of your company to a prospective seller.

hcb42

I went into one in Bakewell in 2005 - was moving back to England...

I said my budget was about £250K - and she very snootily said "well we MIGHT be able to get you two bedrooms for that..."

Needless to say - I don't live in Bakewell.