How to find a property to buy

claire_mc_2

Hi, I am first time buyer and have recently started looking for a house to buy. I've been lurking around the usual sites since before Christmas, but in the past week or two, I've registered with all the relevant estate agents for the area, and followed up with emails and phone calls. I have emphasised that I have AIP, no chain and want to move ASAP, so in a good position. Most of the alerts that have been coming through from Zoopla, Rightmove etc turn out to be for properties that are already SSTC. I have been monitoring things for weeks so I know that these were not advertised before they were sold. I am sure that there are others that never even make it online at all. Directly from the EAs, I'm not seeing much. Maybe there is a post-Christmas lull and not much is coming through yet. Does anyone have any tips? How can I find out earlier about these properties that are not popping up online until it's too late?

clarky_cat

I had similar issues with Rightmove when I was buying, I'd see something I liked only for it to be SSTC

I found that keeping in touch with the local estate agents worked best for me. Often individual agents will let you know when new properties come on the market. Their personal website tended to be more up to date also.

When I did come to look at properties I'd check Zoopla to see how much similar houses in that street had sold for recently so I had an idea of what was an acceptable price to be offering.

Good luck.

saver78

I had this problem when I was trying to buy a property in an area which was a real hotbed -esp for the types of house I wanted to buy.

It was obvious things were being viewed and sold prior to being listed on rightmove.

I ended up ringing all the agents who had property in the area and giving them my details and emphasising that I really was a serious person looking to buy and would they contact me as soon as anything came up. I also used to ring them on Fridays just on the offchance "just wondered if you had anything coming on as I'm free this weekend."

Another thing I did do was view a couple of houses that weren't selling for whatever reason purely to meet the agent who had them listed. And then used the viewing to have a look round but also to make sure they met me and knew who I was and that I was a potential buyer.

claire_mc_2

Thanks, clarky_cat and saver78. I'm already doing most of that, I've been speaking directly to local EAs and have made it clear that I'm a serious buyer.

Saver78, I was considering going to view a couple of properties that have been around for a while (although I know they're not what I want), just to get a foot in the door. May also try the Friday afternoon thing if it doesn't pick up soon.

I may have to make a trip to the area (I don't live there now) and actually drop in in person on the EAs.

I'm really not looking forward to the house buying process, I'm already annoyed by having to practically beg EAs to give me the time of day, you wouldn't think I was offering to buy houses off them!

rosie383

I think that going to see the EA in person is definitely something you will have to do. Then you will no longer be a name and number but a real person who they are more likely to have at the top of their list to call.

laurathree

Hey there - I'm an FtB too, hopefully completing next month on our first flat in London. Are you also hunting in the South East? We had exactly the same trouble. You do need to register with individual estate agents, and you need to badger them relentlessly. You need to register for their own individual alerts, and every time you speak to them, ask what else they have in the price range you're looking. I found Estate Agents in general on both sides of London did nothing to improve their terrible reputation.

(One exception who deserve a mention - R. Whitley & Co in West Drayton. Polite, punctual, and brilliant as we are now buying with them. We saw several properties with them over the months we were hunting, though, and every time it was a pleasure to deal with them. Huge thumbs up.)

claire_mc_2

Thanks everyone. I'm glad it's not just me and it's encouraging that some of you seem to have found something in the end.

@laurathree - yes, we're in the south east too. We're looking in Cippenham, which is part of Slough. I wouldn't have thought it was that popular an area but maybe I'm wrong.

I'm checking the individual agents websites all the time and keeping in touch with them and fingers crossed something will come up at that we can at least view soon. Just feel like everything else in life is on hold until we get settled in our own place :-(

Davesnave

claire_mc wrote: »

@laurathree - yes, we're in the south east too. -(

Now there's a surprise! Your posts show no location, but I was betting.....

Property agents in the SE are like me when I was younger; they don't have to try too hard.