How to choose the best Estate Agent

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Googler is always on here trying to defend his "profession". You must admit that the overall impression that people have of estate agents on this site is not too positive.

...and you're always on here spamming/promoting your one favoured online agent. Others here have taken you to task over this.

EllaBeagle

Estate agency used to be my profession too but I´m not going to defend it. Estate agents are nothing more than sales people. If they can enhance something they will just to get you to sign on the dotted line.

The point I am trying to make is that the service you should receive should be the same from each one, theres no two ways of doing things. A good service is being updated regularly on how things are progressing or maybe how they´re not and what can be done to help this, as someone said before carefully taking the best photos to show your property in the best light, organising viewings and actually doing the viewings unless the vendor states otherwise, regular conveyancing etc etc not sitting back and waiting for people to contact them most of the time, good marketing.

These are all basic things to be done which should be done regardless of the cost of the fee, special estate agency qualifications or years of experience they claim to have. An office junior can do all these things it doesn´t take a scientist. And any estate agent not offering this I would be concerned.

EllaBeagle

googler wrote: »

Wrong again. What you've described as "won't" is exactly what does happen round my way. Radically different approach to viewings between different agents. Also different approaches to marketing.

So they're different courses which you perceive to have broadly the same syllabus..... No?

Well obviously the training courses provided by every estate agent are not going to be taught word for word in the same way but in the end you get the same result.

I have never heard of any estate agent ever leaving all viewings to the vendor and actually stating that they never do viewings and if they do they´re obviously not up to standard. What about if the vendor works night shifts?? Or works full time through the day then people are only ever going to get to view at night and weekends. I wouldn´t want to sell my house through an agent that does this.

googler

EllaBeagle wrote: »

I have never heard of any estate agent ever leaving all viewings to the vendor

It was, and sometimes still is, a standard practice in many areas of the Scottish market. So your knowledge isn't that complete, then?

gazareth

united4ever wrote: »

175k and 195k. Paid 175K back in 2007 for a new build apartment. It's shared ownership too so I have 60 % share which I bought for 105K. Similar property next door for sale at 180k but this is with the 2.5% EA and been on the market for 9 months - originally was at 200k before reduction. My apartment is slightly bigger than neighbouring one.

If it's shared ownership, I assume you have checked with the housing association/your lease as to the proper sale process? I have just exchanged on the sale of my SO flat and I had to give the HA eight weeks to try and sell it to someone on their waiting list before I was allowed to go to the open market. Thankfully, they found someone for me. In addition, the flat had to sell for market value - i.e. what an independent RICS surveyor valued it at, and not a penny more or a penny less. This rule applied even if we had tried to sell it through an estate agent.

EllaBeagle

googler wrote: »

It was, and sometimes still is, a standard practice in many areas of the Scottish market. So your knowledge isn't that complete, then?

Wow you really get easily wound up don´t you oh knowledgeable one.

I never said I am an expert, nor are you, I´m saying if the odd estate agency expects the vendor to take full responsibility of showing people round on viewings then they are obviously below standard and not offering a full service.

Are you at home today by the way or are you on this website whilst sat at your estate agent desk?? I hope its your day off.

googler

EllaBeagle wrote: »

Wow you really get easily wound up don´t you oh knowledgeable one.

I'm not wound up at all.

I never said I am an expert, nor are you, I´m saying if the odd estate agency expects the vendor to take full responsibility of showing people round on viewings then they are obviously below standard and not offering a full service.

You never claimed to be an 'expert', but you did claim that ALL estate agents work the same way and do exactly the same. After a few back-pedalling posts, it emerges that you've never heard of something which was standard practice in many areas of the Scottish market for many, many years. And you're telling us that you know how ALL estate agents work?


Are you at home today by the way or are you on this website whilst sat at your estate agent desk?? I hope its your day off.

Whether I'm typing this in my study, on the laptop in the lounge, or on a mobile in my car is immaterial, wouldn't you say? Who's getting wound up now?

Hoof_Hearted

googler wrote: »

...and you're always on here spamming/promoting your one favoured online agent. Others here have taken you to task over this.

Not true. Apart from one thread where I praise my online agent, I have not mentioned the company unless specifically asked. I would like money savers to consider online agents as the purpose of this site is to save money and there is a lot of money to be saved by going online.

Have I mentioned a company in this thread? I think spamming involves promoting a particular company, not a different way of selling property.

Traditional agents have a lot to fear, but I don't think you should be getting shirty with me just because I am a smug g*t with £6,800 extra in the bank by not using a high street agent.

sonastin

I think I get EllaBeagle's point. All estate agents are EXACTLY the same because the ALL sell property. OK so there are some slight differences in how they go about that and so are more effective than others but because they are all essentially doing the SAME thing by trying to sell houses, the more effective ones don't deserve any extra money for providing the same service.

But back to the point of the thread...

My personal experience is that the corporate chains use their best salesperson to sign up new sellers - they don't waste them on buyers. Using the principle of if you sling enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick they figure that if every property for sale in the area is on their books, they are bound to make a sale eventually. And they'll be able to sell all of their ancilliary services to the buyers and sellers and make plenty of money that way.

I found a small independent EA who had been in business for decades. Most of their staff had been working there for over 20 years so you know that they know the business of selling houses - they've weathered more than one house-market crash and carried on selling. The staff in the corporate office were still in school during the last recession so the only houses they've ever sold were in the boom years when all it took was a for sale sign on the lawn.

There has been plenty of good advice on this thread already:
-mystery shop with the EA to see how they'll treat your buyers
-value the flat yourself using the recent sale prices available on numerous websites
-get a few more EAs in to see what they have to say
-check out the ads on rightmove in your area so you have an idea of a) which EAs are active, b) which EAs have an ad style that appeals to you and c) what the competition is like in your area at the moment.

googler

sonastin wrote: »

I think I get EllaBeagle's point. All estate agents are EXACTLY the same because the ALL sell property.

EllaBeagle wrote: »

(in another thread) Having worked as an estate agent (and quickly left as I hated it!!)

So all these comments about ALL agents are based on what; a short time spent in one agency?