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How to deal with a rude EA? (after making an offer)
andre_xs
Posts: 286 Forumite
Hi All,
I'll try to keep this long story short. I mainly have two questions:
- Am I right in that the EA was rude?
- Any tips on how to best continue the negotiations?
Here's the story:
We'd like to buy a property which we think is slightly overpriced: 'Guide Price' is £345,000, but in the area similar properties have never been sold above £330,000, and the most recent sale of a similar property just around the corner was for £315,000. For £350,000 you can already get similar houses with one more bedroom (but which may need a paint job). We think, a realistic value is in the range of £320,000-£330,000. We are first time buyers, i.e. no chain.
The property is on the market since mid-June (very unusual, this is a sought-after area. Good offers go literally within days, 'normal' offers within a few weeks). Supposedly there has been a buyer, so that it was taken off the market for a while, but we are not sure about this. As far as I remember, it always was listed in Rightmove. The buyer bailed out, and it is available again. It is sold chain free.
We viewed the property 3 times, and I think the EA got the impression we really like and want the property. We made an inital offer with £310,000 (which would be ~10% below asking price and ~6% below what we think is the real value) via telephone. The EA told me that this is way too low and that the seller will surely reject it. I tried to explain to him our view of the realistic value, but he always was just cutting off my sentences and telling me that I'm wrong. 30 min later he called to let me know that the seller indeed rejected the offer.
The next day, I was busy at work anyway and thought it might be easier to write an email. In the email I explained again in detail why we believe that the asking price is too high (incl. links to Rightmove sold property prices). Per email, I raised our offer to £320,000. This is in our view a realistic value, and ~7% below asking price. 5 min later the EA rang, again telling me that I'm wrong. I pointed out that around the corner of the house, there is a comparable property that has one bedroom more (and ~30% more square-feet) on sale for £350,000. His reply: "Then go for that one." Somewhat baffled, I ignored this and said that, as stated in the email, we would like to increase our offer to £320,000. He replied that he of course will forward that to the seller, but that he also will recommend to the seller to reject the offer. Again, he constantly interrupted me... All our phone calls are usually only 1-2 min in duration, because it is so awkward. Since then we haven't heard back about the reply from the seller. However, we received a letter per snail mail that our offer of £320,000 had been forwared to the seller.
My first question:
- Do you also think that this is rude?
To be honest, our interest in the house has decreased - this whole thing has considerably tainted the experience. The EA is totally snotty, patronizing, and condescending. But we have only few options, because we don't have so much money and need opportunities like this to get on the property ladder at all. We could go up a bit more, but surely not to the asking price.
So my second question is:
- How would you continue the negotiations?
My present plan is to call the EA office on Monday and speak to the branch manager. I'd like to complain about the EA's demeanor and ask whether the negotiations could be continued with somebody else. I'm not sure what to do if the branch manager is the same kind of person, and/or they refuse to change the EA.
If the sale falls through, I intend to write a letter to the owners of the property (address from land registry entry) and let them know that in my view they are not well served by this agency.
All input is greatly appreciated.
BTW, I'm not English, we are living here for two years only. So I'm not quick-witted at all...
I'll try to keep this long story short. I mainly have two questions:
- Am I right in that the EA was rude?
- Any tips on how to best continue the negotiations?
Here's the story:
We'd like to buy a property which we think is slightly overpriced: 'Guide Price' is £345,000, but in the area similar properties have never been sold above £330,000, and the most recent sale of a similar property just around the corner was for £315,000. For £350,000 you can already get similar houses with one more bedroom (but which may need a paint job). We think, a realistic value is in the range of £320,000-£330,000. We are first time buyers, i.e. no chain.
The property is on the market since mid-June (very unusual, this is a sought-after area. Good offers go literally within days, 'normal' offers within a few weeks). Supposedly there has been a buyer, so that it was taken off the market for a while, but we are not sure about this. As far as I remember, it always was listed in Rightmove. The buyer bailed out, and it is available again. It is sold chain free.
We viewed the property 3 times, and I think the EA got the impression we really like and want the property. We made an inital offer with £310,000 (which would be ~10% below asking price and ~6% below what we think is the real value) via telephone. The EA told me that this is way too low and that the seller will surely reject it. I tried to explain to him our view of the realistic value, but he always was just cutting off my sentences and telling me that I'm wrong. 30 min later he called to let me know that the seller indeed rejected the offer.
The next day, I was busy at work anyway and thought it might be easier to write an email. In the email I explained again in detail why we believe that the asking price is too high (incl. links to Rightmove sold property prices). Per email, I raised our offer to £320,000. This is in our view a realistic value, and ~7% below asking price. 5 min later the EA rang, again telling me that I'm wrong. I pointed out that around the corner of the house, there is a comparable property that has one bedroom more (and ~30% more square-feet) on sale for £350,000. His reply: "Then go for that one." Somewhat baffled, I ignored this and said that, as stated in the email, we would like to increase our offer to £320,000. He replied that he of course will forward that to the seller, but that he also will recommend to the seller to reject the offer. Again, he constantly interrupted me... All our phone calls are usually only 1-2 min in duration, because it is so awkward. Since then we haven't heard back about the reply from the seller. However, we received a letter per snail mail that our offer of £320,000 had been forwared to the seller.
My first question:
- Do you also think that this is rude?
To be honest, our interest in the house has decreased - this whole thing has considerably tainted the experience. The EA is totally snotty, patronizing, and condescending. But we have only few options, because we don't have so much money and need opportunities like this to get on the property ladder at all. We could go up a bit more, but surely not to the asking price.
So my second question is:
- How would you continue the negotiations?
My present plan is to call the EA office on Monday and speak to the branch manager. I'd like to complain about the EA's demeanor and ask whether the negotiations could be continued with somebody else. I'm not sure what to do if the branch manager is the same kind of person, and/or they refuse to change the EA.
If the sale falls through, I intend to write a letter to the owners of the property (address from land registry entry) and let them know that in my view they are not well served by this agency.
All input is greatly appreciated.
BTW, I'm not English, we are living here for two years only. So I'm not quick-witted at all...
0
Comments
-
Is it really worth it?
If you're not happy walk away and find somewhere else with a different EA.0 -
...
In the email I explained again in detail why we believe that the asking price is too high (incl. links to Rightmove sold property prices).
...
I'd like to complain about the EA's demeanor and ask whether the negotiations could be continued with somebody else.
....
It sounds a bit like you're doing your best to turn the agent against you.
Just offer what you want to pay, and if it's the best/only offer the estate agent will do their best to persuade the seller to accept it.
If the seller won't accept it, the agent will come back to you and try to persuade you to offer more.
Your offer may be a very fair offer - but if the seller won't accept it, there really is no point arguing with the agent about it.
Complaining to the branch manager won't make the seller change their mind.0 -
Is it really worth it?
If you're not happy walk away and find somewhere else with a different EA.
Well, that's exactly what we are considering. But we have certain requirements which are hard to meet (but wouldn't occur / be important to others), so that for now we decided to give it another shot. There are not that much properties around which suit our needs (well, at least in the price range we can afford).0 -
We'd like to buy a property which we think is slightly overpriced: 'Guide Price' is £345,000,
Then why expect an EA to waste their valuable time when they know the client won't accept a low offer.0 -
It sounds a bit like you're doing your best to turn the agent against you.
Just offer what you want to pay, and if it's the best/only offer the estate agent will do their best to persuade the seller to accept it.
Thanks for your reply, I see your point.
But I was wondering the following: The EA behaves as if he thinks that he is superior to us and can do with us whatever he wants. His patronizing style may be tactics to increase the price, in a kind of intimidating us so that we agree to whatever he says. I would like to set a signal that he can't do that to us. Speaking to the branch manager was one idea (and when I speak to him I wouldn't of course whine about this, but instead quietly and calmly describe what happened and that we are not happy about this - and whether he can do something about this). Setting such a counter-signal may improve our position in negotiations, we may be taken more seriously.
But leaving this aside, how would you continue making offers? As a reminder, asking price is £345, we offered first £310, then increased to £320. I think we would not go beyond £330. What would your next offer be? £325? Or just play open to cut this long story short and say £330, and that's it. Either they accept the offer or not, but it will be our very last offer.0 -
Thrugelmir wrote: »Then why expect an EA to waste their valuable time when they know the client won't accept a low offer.
What I've heard and learned so far, making a first offer of ~10% below asking price is not unusual, and surely not offensive. Not a reason for the EA to behave like a moron?
Don't forget, the property is on the market for 3.5 months in an area where houses sell within days to (few) weeks.
It's not like that he 'passively' doesn't care, he is 'actively' patronizing and rude (in my view).0 -
Find somewhere else.
By continuing communication, the EA/seller obviously think they have the upper hand.
A few weeks silence from you won't do any harm and give you the chance to find a more suitably priced property.0 -
It's not like that he 'passively' doesn't care, he is 'actively' patronizing and rude (in my view).
Then all the more reason to walk. If you object to him at this juncture it could only get worse down the line.
You're not going to get anywhere with a complaint, rightly or wrongly.0 -
You have taken an odd approach
Offer what you think , verbally, and that is that.
The EA will put it to the owner, the owner will accept , negotiate or reject
no need for emails and justification, this indeed looks rather odd.
If the owner wants more than what you are prepared to pay, then move on....0 -
What I've heard and learned so far, making a first offer of ~10% below asking price is not unusual, and surely not offensive. Not a reason for the EA to behave like a moron?
Don't forget, the property is on the market for 3.5 months in an area where houses sell within days to (few) weeks.
It's not like that he 'passively' doesn't care, he is 'actively' patronizing and rude (in my view).
I highlighted the words Guide Price for a reason. Perhaps it's you that isn't reading the signals.0
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