How often should a buyer contact EAs?

sterl1ng

Upon registering with most EAs in my nominated areas I found it was non stop couple months back but find now I barely get new properties mentioned so I call them few times a month but not much response so I wonder how often I shoudl hound them?

I've only seen 6 places and that was really down to me looking on rightmove, which can take about a week to go on sites from when EAs have from what some of them tell me so wondering what else I should do as would like to buy very soon. I have depost/AIP and solicitor in place.

Spoke with Barnard Marcus they said I would have to see their mortgage person in order to get onto their hotlist so I went there last week thinking that should do it and that I'd get new instructions but its not very clear.

Thrugelmir

Why have you viewed only 6 properties?

DRP

what's wrong with looking at rightmove every couple of days?

The EA is a lazy creature by nature : they know that most of their appointments come via rightmove. Why do they need to make the effort?

On the other hand, it is more normal in my experience to be being hassled by EAs with inappropriate properties, so maybe something isn't quite right.

Are you proceedable? ie. a FTB or have sold you current property?

sterl1ng

I'm a FTB, Looking at 2 bed ground garden flat or house...my budget is around 210k in se london. New instructions aren't uploaded onto rightmove not for week or so from what I'm told as the buyers on EAs list get first dibs.

Better_Days

The EA market is very fragmented here and there are over 40 EA's selling properties in the area I am considering.

When I made initial contact I did get quite a few calls trying to flog unsuitable properties. Then it all went quiet. So what I have done to try to get them to keep us in mind is:
1) View properties that only tick some boxes - we have looked at 11 so far this month with two booked for later this week
2) Set up an 'undisclosed recipients' email list and email them all every week reminding them that we are chain free cash buyers

What seems to work best is forming personal relationships with one member of staff at the larger agencies. This can be done by undertaking viewings and giving thoughtful feedback regarding properties. My health is poor so it is not easy for me to traispe round all the EA agents offices, but that is worth considering too. It is hard work and they seem to have very short memory spans.

The underlying problem in this area is that there is a shortage of properties coming onto the market - at least a third less than this time last year. As a result there are more buyers than sellers and the EA's don't have to work so hard to sell the properties on their books.