Normal estate agent behaviour?

jammy.dodger_6

Hi guys,

Thanks in advance for any replies, I'm just after some advice really.

Quick background on me:
My partner and I are FTB who got to the day of exchange before the vendor decided she didn't want to sell :mad:
Anyway we are now back looking and in a very good position and want to move as quickly as possible.

I rang up an estate agent yesterday to ask if I could go and view a property with them. They took all our details etc. then told me I would have to come in and see their mortgage broker before the viewing. I've had this with other agents before so told him politely 'no', as we have a mortgage ready to go due to the previous failed purchase.

So he then turns round and tells me we can't go and view the property! :mad:
He said that because we won't meet with their mortgage broker we will have to wait 2 weeks to see the property so their 'Premium customers' can see it first. I can't believe that any vendor would want buyers like us having to wait that long to see a property when we are in such a strong position. (We don't even have a rental contract to give notice on).

Anyway, I was just after some thoughts as to what we can do about this. I'm debating putting a note through the vendor's door telling them our situation and my phone number to see if they will let us view the property before the 2 week period.

Any suggestions?
Sorry for the long post!

G_M

jammy.dodger wrote: »

Hi guys,

Anyway, I was just after some thoughts as to what we can do about this. I'm debating putting a note through the vendor's door telling them our situation and my phone number to see if they will let us view the property before the 2 week period.

Any suggestions?
Sorry for the long post!

Shocking! And I bet the vendor has no idea! The EA just wants to make extra £ from selling a mortgage as well. The vendor would be furious!

Put a note through the door.

gemmalouanna

We had this last year with one EA company - luckily the house was on with another EA so I got to view, when I got there I told the owner exactly how difficult the first EA was making viewing!

I think your idea of a note to the owner is a good one

jammy.dodger_6

Thanks for the quick replies, I'm still completely baffled by it.

The property has been up for a while and the vendors have just moved agents, if it was me I'd want as many people as possible through the door.

Think I'll go with the note idea, then either we get to view it early or the vendors do know about the 'policy' and agree with it in which case they can't be that desperate for a sale and won't be up for much negotiation on the price!

Cheeky_Monkey

Isn't it possible that the vendor has instructed the EA to 'qualify' every potential buyer before allowing them to view.
This may especially be the case if the vendor is still living in the property and doesn't want the hassle of time-wasters.
With respect to the OP, just because you tell them on the phone that you've got an AIP and deposit, doesn't mean that they should just take your word for it. Most EAs would want to see written proof.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning the EA's attitude, just offering an alternative view!

kingstreet

jammy.dodger wrote: »

I'm debating putting a note through the vendor's door telling them our situation and my phone number to see if they will let us view the property before the 2 week period

Sod the note. If the property is occupied, go round and knock on the door. Explain what happened and ask if you can make an appointment to view at a time convenient to them.

WelshNic

kingstreet wrote: »

Sod the note. If the property is occupied, go round and knock on the door. Explain what happened and ask if you can make an appointment to view at a time convenient to them.

^^Exactly this.

DVardysShadow

If I was the vendor, I would be livid and I really would welcome you coming around to tell me about it. Frankly, it would be enough for me to sack the agent.

jammy.dodger_6

Cheeky_Monkey: I completely understand if a vendor wants proof that a viewer is serious, but we offered to provide them with proof of our mortgage and they said that still wouldn't qualify us to see the property earlier!

Lee: unfortunately it was the manager I was speaking with! Clearly it's a company policy, just seems short-sighted to me

ajsdoc

Definitely contact the vendor. If I had a property on the market with an agent and they turned away a first time buyer who'd had a previous mortgage approval on a property that had fallen through I'd be livid.

googler

There's two industry codes of practice that cover this - the NAEA and TPO codes. If the EA is a member of either of these orgs, they should be following the codes, which in essence say that they should not discriminate against anyone who refuses their offer of ancillary services such as mortgage advice. Google them, both codes are online.

So; if they are members, ask them why they're acting contrary to their own code of practice. If they're not, ask them why they're acting contrary to the accepted industry codes.

There's always the possibility that they ask you to see a financial advisor because they've been instructed to be their client, the seller, in order to qualify whether or not you're in a good position to buy - but that theory is knocked out here by their statement that they're letting their 'premium buyers' look first - I can't imagine their client has specifically instructed them to do this......