Angry Estate Agent

former_student

Hi All,

I got a dressing down today for time wasting and being rude in relation to a property. Basically I have viewed this little house several times with an interest in purchasing it and I advised the estate agent previously that I would not afford to meet the asking, however he said that all offers would be considered.

The house is on the market for £83,000 and I put a bid on at £66,000, I emphasised that I wouldn't be in a position to move much on this due to my own financial constraints. The Estate Agent went mad, accused me of wasting his time and basically refused to submit my bid to the vendor. He told me on the spot to up my bid which I refused to do and then I left. He called me 30 minutes later and said the vendor had declined my offer.

Is this normal behaviour from an Estate Agent? I know my offer was under the asking price but since the house needs some work done to it I still felt is was fairly substantional and I thought it would at least me submitted to the vendor.

I'm knew to this game and I would appreciate your views.

lindos90

I believe the EA is obliged to inform the vendor of ANY offers made, how you would confirm they have or not, I have no idea, unless you know the vendor and communicate with them directly. (The EA is likely to get even more annoyed with you then!):)

mildred1978

Is the house priced in line with the work required? If so, your offer was a bit cheeky.

Gromitt

Sometimes the work is factored into the price, but its still normally a vastly inflated price.

You offered what you thought the house was worth to you. Unless the vendor has left instructions to reject offers under X then they should just pass your offer on.

I assume from your post that you made the offer in the agents office? Something I've never done.

But it does seem that the estate agent was unprofessional.

paddedjohn

No harm in trying if thats all you think its worth, if an estate agent started remonstrating with me because they had to do a bit of work to earn their cash id be giving them a right hook.

G_M

Go back. Wait till the office is full of puntrs, then go in and start telling the agent how unprofessional he is. Do it loudly. Have a little speech prepared so you can keep talking. Don't let him interrupt you, just keep going. Tell him he was rude, unprofessional, not representing his client properly blah blah and do NOT let him get a word in edgeways. Then say you'd never use his agency again and you are going eleswhere and walk out.

Oh - and tell all the people in there not to trust him.......

dawyldthing

i think estate agents do try it on. I went to look around a house earlier in the week, so she phoned me up a few days later and I was like 'its definately not worth that amount' and offered 10k less, expecting a similar response to above. Its been on for months and the house isn't worth the amount of money its on for'. Anyway, 10 minutes later i got a phone call saying they would accept 7k less, but there still may be room for monuvre.

At the end of the day, you have to have some cheek when trying to buy a house as they are all well well overpriced!

myhouse_2

Yep, you sometimes need to have a bit of cheek - and despite the unprofessionalism of the EA, just treat the reaction as a selling strategy.
Having said that though, exactly how often did you view the property?

former_student

myhouse wrote: »

Yep, you sometimes need to have a bit of cheek - and despite the unprofessionalism of the EA, just treat the reaction as a selling strategy.
Having said that though, exactly how often did you view the property?

Twice, on the second occassion I placed the bid.

Yorkie1

Well, that's hardly excessive. If the EA has told you that all offers will be considered and has encouraged you to put in an offer despite your being upfront with him then I agree he is bang out of order. If I had the guts I'd consider making the scene as suggested - but you may shoot yourself in the foot if you ever need to try to buy a house through them in the future!

KateLiana27

He was unprofessional. And a bit stupid, because you aren't going back now are you?

I suspect it was due to frustration and disappointment at not being able to make a sale. He is probably under pressure from the vendor and his management, and took it out on you. More fool him.