Express estate agency

pampam

I have had a house up for sale for quite a while with WH Brown. I recently had a call from the "Express estate agency" saying that they would be interested in making an offer for the house.
They arranged a viewing and then proceeded to try to convince me that they could sell the house for me but said that they would advertise it at £10,000 less than the asking price so that people would make offers over this amount?!

Has anyone actually sold a house using this company?

WH Brown have done nothing to try and sell the house. They have not arranged any viewings and it took them more than 6 weeks to erect the for sale sign in a position where it could be seen from the street.

I would appreciate any advice and opinions.
This is the link to the property on Rightmove
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32811190.html?premiumA=true
Thanks Pam

zappahey

As a matter of principle I won't view a house that's on with Express as it's false advertising.

Running_Horse

Why not just lower the price with your current agent? They can't magic buyers from thin air when people have seen it on Rightmove and decided it is too expensive for them.

From what you say, Express Estate Agency said they might make an offer, than actually offered to sell it at a lower price instead?

Discussions about a certain company have been known to disappear if they do not like what people say about them.

pampam

Running_Horse wrote: »

Why not just lower the price with your current agent? They can't magic buyers from thin air when people have seen it on Rightmove and decided it is too expensive for them.

From what you say, Express Estate Agency said they might make an offer, than actually offered to sell it at a lower price instead?

Discussions about a certain company have been known to disappear if they do not like what people say about them.

Yes you are right.
I have done some searching on this company and they have a bad reputation.
I just wish I had done the research before I wasted my time with the viewing.
Thanks

bekkki1

my mum has just sold with Express estate agency

She accepted an offer within 2 weeks which was over the asking price.

The staff at the agency were great and she had no problems whatsoever

The only downside was the pics were rubbish, but she had 6 viewings in the first week so it they couldnt of been that bad lol!

sariebeth

The problem with Express is that they advertise the property at a very reduced price to try to garner interest. Then when they have someone interested they get them to bid up to the price they want. This may have worked in a booming market, but not now.

More importantly by advertising the property at a low price what they effectively do is devalue the property in the eyes of the mortgage lender and so if someone does try to make an offer at a higher price, they won't get the lending so the sale will fall through anyway.

I suppose if someone was looking to buy cash then it wouldn't matter, but no investor would buy from Express.

And if you put your house on with them at a low price and it doesn't sell, then your effectively telling the world your house isn't even worth the reduced price.

I'd stay away from them

poppy10_2

EEA are well known jokers, they annoy potential buyers by advertising at a low price and then when the buyer shows some interest, ramping up the asking price. Really not worth wasting any time with this shady outfit.

googler

bekkki1 wrote: »

my mum has just sold with Express estate agency

She accepted an offer within 2 weeks which was over the asking price.

Well, that's easy to do when you set a ridiculously low asking price, isn't it?

angelsmomma

Another one who agrees, I wouldn't even view a house on with them on principle of their pricing policy.

googler

..and from a swift google....

http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Uner-market-value-agent-home-reprimanded-by-advertising-watchdog

girl_withno_name

I wouldn't have anything against viewing with them on principe (surely when playing am offer you use the same research and still need to stock to your guns), but the online listings I've seen with them don't even contain room dimensions and they know nothing about the properties they're selling so are unable to answer any queries (unless the info is already on their online advert)