We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Which Agent Should I Go With?
moneybunny123
Posts: 538 Forumite
I want to sell my house - fast. It was a house I used to rent out but have recently moved back in, completely done it up (very smartly - not just a quick, cheap job) and want to get it sold as I have a fair bit of equity tied up in it.
The house is in a small city/large town in the West Midlands. Some desirable areas, some less so. Mine is somewhere in the middle but more on the desirable side of the city.
We've had 4 agents round to value it and the average valuation was £145k. After fees, we'd like to clear, if possible, £135k.
One of the agents was a waste of space - very unintelligent and unenthusiastic. So we're stuck between the other three agents:
1. Agent 1: rather enthusiastic, very complimentary about what we'd done at the house. Fees 1% + vat (which he said would be negotiatable). HOWEVER, the branch is in a town about 8 miles away and is a slightly more upmarket town than where my house is. I'm worried that nobody in that town would be interested in coming to view my house if they see it in his shop window.
2. Agent 2: not particularly enthusiastic. Fees: 1.25% + vat (NON negotiable) plus withdrawal fees of £250 if we take the property off the market. HOWEVER, the branch is one mile away from my house, therefore people looking through their shop window are already in the right area.
3. Agent 3: VERY enthusiastic. Talked at great length about how they are proactive sellers - they get on the phone and encourage clients to go and look at properties and not discount them due to price, photographs, area, etc. She thought the house was fab and was convinced that once people were over the threshold the house would sell. Three branches - one about 4 miles away, another about 6 miles away, and another about 5 miles away. HOWEVER, their fees are a fixed £2600 + VAT (which works out at about 2%)
Which agent would YOU go for? The cheapest? The closest? Or the most keen?
The house is in a small city/large town in the West Midlands. Some desirable areas, some less so. Mine is somewhere in the middle but more on the desirable side of the city.
We've had 4 agents round to value it and the average valuation was £145k. After fees, we'd like to clear, if possible, £135k.
One of the agents was a waste of space - very unintelligent and unenthusiastic. So we're stuck between the other three agents:
1. Agent 1: rather enthusiastic, very complimentary about what we'd done at the house. Fees 1% + vat (which he said would be negotiatable). HOWEVER, the branch is in a town about 8 miles away and is a slightly more upmarket town than where my house is. I'm worried that nobody in that town would be interested in coming to view my house if they see it in his shop window.
2. Agent 2: not particularly enthusiastic. Fees: 1.25% + vat (NON negotiable) plus withdrawal fees of £250 if we take the property off the market. HOWEVER, the branch is one mile away from my house, therefore people looking through their shop window are already in the right area.
3. Agent 3: VERY enthusiastic. Talked at great length about how they are proactive sellers - they get on the phone and encourage clients to go and look at properties and not discount them due to price, photographs, area, etc. She thought the house was fab and was convinced that once people were over the threshold the house would sell. Three branches - one about 4 miles away, another about 6 miles away, and another about 5 miles away. HOWEVER, their fees are a fixed £2600 + VAT (which works out at about 2%)
Which agent would YOU go for? The cheapest? The closest? Or the most keen?
0
Comments
-
The very best way to sell your house is to use a new online company no-one has heard of? Why?0
-
Anyone would think this new user had a vested interest
0 -
Agent number 3! (in my opinion).Thinking critically since 1996....0
-
PJ_Atkinson wrote: »Have you thought about an online agent? ihomesonline.com just started up and seem a good bet?
Your spam post was deleted from this thread - haven't you learned from this?0 -
I wouldn't let the agent's fee put me off in these difficult selling times, but I wouldn't tie myself in for too long, nor enjoy paying to withdraw if I thought their service was poor.
Sometimes, agent's promises and enthusiasm turn out to be BS. One thing you can do, is look at all the agents' ads on Rightmove and evaluate them. What's their photography like? Does it look lke they've planned the shots, or just taken random snaps? How well written is the blurb? Does it pick out good features of the property/immediate area, or is it done to a rigid, factual formula? Most people will see your house first on the Internet.
...And if they aren't on Rightmove, don't go there.
0 -
You may be lucky at selling it fast as nothing is selling and I would not pay to withdraw it and I agree with Davesnave Sometimes, agent's promises and enthusiasm turn out to be BS ........ go for a ride round in your car or walk if you dont have one and see which agent as the most houses up for sale knock on peoples doors and ask what they think of there agents that there house is up with it may give you some ideas ....good luck0
-
I wouldn't let the agent's fee put me off in these difficult selling times, but I wouldn't tie myself in for too long, nor enjoy paying to withdraw if I thought their service was poor.
Sometimes, agent's promises and enthusiasm turn out to be BS. One thing you can do, is look at all the agents' ads on Rightmove and evaluate them. What's their photography like? Does it look lke they've planned the shots, or just taken random snaps? How well written is the blurb? Does it pick out good features of the property/immediate area, or is it done to a rigid, factual formula? Most people will see your house first on the Internet.
...And if they aren't on Rightmove, don't go there.
plus have a drive around the area and see who people are using at the moment and see who has the sold signs up at the moment as more than likely they will be the proactive ones that price the houses to sell and are good to work with
sorry puppy 999, didn't see what you had written first:T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one
:beer::beer::beer:0 -
All three agents are on Rightmove (I wouldn't consider one that wasn't).
As for the local area - there are a good mix of For Sale boards - not any sold signs though
I think I'm leaning towards Agent 3, but hubby is leaning towards Agent 1.... Hmmm....0 -
Anyone would think this new user had a vested interest
This company has popped up on several threads recently with new users
Edit......sorry googler I missed your post when I posted. He has posted on several threads that have been deletedLife is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.0 -
In my experience it is best not to skimp when it comes to agents. Always insist on no sale, no fee and try not to get locked in to a time period. Try ringing all three as a potential buyer to check the level of service they provide and check reputation in the local area, it can make a big difference.
However Rightmove will do 95% of the sale for you!!
Good luck.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.8K Spending & Discounts
- 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 257.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards