How to deal with a rude EA? (after making an offer)

slowpoke_rodriguez

andre_xs wrote: »

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.

If you want to be taken seriously stop wingeing and whining and tell the agent that 320 is your final offer.
Either that or offer 330, if you are prepared to go there.
Remember, they do this every day so can tell when someone has a bit more to give...

dj1471

andre_xs wrote: »

But leaving this aside

That's exactly what you need to do. The EA is rude to you, get over it. Stop letting it distract you from what you're trying to do. Whining about it won't help you at all, the EA's manager won't care less, not least because you're not their customer.

Firstly decide whether you're able to continue dealing with this EA should your offer be accepted.

If not, do as others suggest and find another property marketed by another EA.

If so, realise that you've put yourself in a poor negotiating position by raising your offer again and again - obviously the EA will try to push your offer up as far as possible and will recommend the seller not accept until he thinks you're at your max. Trying to justify your offer each time doesn't do you any favours.

Wait until you hear back about your latest offer. If rejected, make your final offer and tell the EA that it is final (no complaining, no justifications, just the offer and the fact that it's final).

Good luck...

eddddy

If it were me, I'd be trying to make friends with the EA rather than being confrontational. The EA knows the vendor and can tell you far more about the vendor's motives and aspirations than anyone here can.

You and the EA both have the same goal - you want to buy the house, he wants to earn his commission. Move forward on that basis.

racing_blue

andre_xs wrote: »

How would you continue the negotiations?

No need to continue negotiate if your offer is accepted.

If it is not accepted, decide whether you would like to offer a higher price.

If you would, but you don't want to speak to the rude Estate Agent, put it in writing.

kinger101

I agree the agent is being rather rude, but you're getting too emotional about if. If you are prepared to offer £330K, it clearly was worth more the £310K.

Personally, I'd wait at least a week before making another offer. The buyer needs to sense you're losing interest if you want to strengthen your bargaining position.

[Deleted User]

Maybe it's been on the market for so long because the vendor is refusing to accept less than 345 and the agent knows this, hence him trying to give you a heads up about your offers?

Yes maybe he's been a bit rude- welcome to estate agents. You won't last long in house hunting if you take every encounter this personally. The EA is working on behalf of the vendor, not you- I doubt he gives a toot about your supposed expertise of the local housing market.

Offer what you are willing to pay, if the vendor doesn't wish to accept then there really isn't very much that you or the EA can do about it, and no amount of overly detailed email pleas will make much difference.

andre_xs

Just a general thank you for all the helpful replies.

I'm actually not that emotional, but was wondering about his behaviour and told English friends about it which all were 'surprised'. Words like 'rude' and 'outragous' are on the friendly side :-) Thus, I was wondering what a good next step might be.

We never made an offer before, and we are not from the UK. We are just unexperienced (I'm sure that this is picked up by the EA as well...). So far I negotiated the way I picked up from here and from friends (start with a reasonable offer below asking price and then increase until you reach your personal maximum).

[Edit] P.S. I'm in academia, applying logic and supporting claims with proper evidence (like about the probably adequate value) is a habit :-)

theartfullodger

Go in the next Saturday morning about 10:00am: Take a paper & a book: Anytime a customer comes in, ask the staff, again, in a loud voice - but very politely, very calmly, if you should be treated in that way...

Apologies you were treated like this: Nobody should be, but sadly it does happen to people from all backgrounds and origins: The only common factor is "EA"..

lessonlearned

You seem to have gone about the offer process in a very strange manner, actually sounding rather confrontational in your approach., lecturing the EA on market values etc, not just once, but twice. Im not surprised he cut you short on the phone.

Firstly you need to remember that the EA is working for the vendor, not for you. The EA has to take instruction from the Vendor and his hands are tied. An EA is only ever a "go between" - they can advise their clients, but the client doesn't have to act on that advice.

Now it could well be that the Vendor has totally unrealistic expectations. The EA might be able to reason with the Vendor and present your offer to the Vendor as being the best there is or likely to be. However, if the Vendor won't budge then there's not much the EA can do.

Tbh reading between the lines, the EA is probably exasperated by the Vendors intransigence and also irritated by you haranging and lecturing him. He's between a rock and a hard place.

The best way to approach these kinds of negotiations is just to make an offer, no explanations or justifications needed for the amount you offer. You are the customer, it's your money. Then if your offer is rejected you decide whether or not to up your offer until it is accepted or you decide you don't want to go any higher.

You will have a top price you can or will pay and the Vendor will have a bottom line which he can or will accept. It really is that simple. The trick is to fInd some middle ground that is acceptable to both parties - in short a win-win scenario.

How have you marketed yourself as a prospective purchaser. Are your finances in place, can your prove it. Have you given evidence of funds. Have you got a solicitor primed and waiting in the wings.

Do all of this first, get everyhting in place. It saves time and demonstrates that you are serious and mean business.

You are taking it all rather too personally.It is a business transaction so you need to be more businesslike in your dealings..

If the EA is testy and short tempered so what, you are not paying him, the Vendor is, it's nothing to you.

Just ignore him and get on with the business in hand.

If, at a later date, when you have either bought the house or decided to walk away, then you can, if you feel so inclined, write a formal letter of complaint, but tbh you appear to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Mickygg

Yep the way you have gone about this is unusual and hasn't helped. No need to tell an EA what is on the market or what houses have sold for, they know all this.
So what if you think it's overpriced. It is at a price the vendors want, offer your best price and walk away if rejected.
Sounds to me you really want this property but have messed up any relations with the EA, that now won't help in further negotiations.