Does anyone want to join me waiting to find a house to buy?

indianabones

I'm not waiting for a house as such cause there's a bucketload in Birmingham within my budget. But I'm waiting for the post Brexit market status before I proceed. Apparently the market will stagnate which means if you held off for a few weeks/months you'd be no worse off or in my case slightly better off with a bigger deposit.

copperjar

How are people getting on with EAs? I have been told to ring round the local ones and get myself known and they will ring when something comes up. Hear people here say their EA will phone them and say when there is a deal to be done etc. Well I phoned round 6 agents 2 weeks ago, all just added me to their lists and tried to get me to speak to their mortgage advisors, then nothing

A house actually came on the market today that I would have thought they would have contacted me about but I just found it myself through Rightmove. Am I doing things wrong or does it just not work like that any more?

indianabones

copperjar wrote: »

Am I doing things wrong or does it just not work like that any more?

The EAs are not your friend and they don't serve you. Their interests are not the same as yours. They want a sale to go through for as much money as possible. You want obviously to pay as little as possible. Don't for a moment assume by being friendly with them that they'll do you a favour. To them you are a potential buyer and nothing more.

It is better for you to avoid speaking to them unless there is a house on the market that you like. The only time an EA has called me, most do have my details, the only time they've called me is when they have a house that's been on the market for several months that they can't sell. Not once have they called for a new property, always find out about them myself on rightmove.

shortcrust

indianabones wrote: »

The EAs are not your friend and they don't serve you. Their interests are not the same as yours. They want a sale to go through for as much money as possible. You want obviously to pay as little as possible. Don't for a moment assume by being friendly with them that they'll do you a favour. To them you are a potential buyer and nothing more.

It is better for you to avoid speaking to them unless there is a house on the market that you like. The only time an EA has called me, most do have my details, the only time they've called me is when they have a house that's been on the market for several months that they can't sell. Not once have they called for a new property, always find out about them myself on rightmove.

They actually don't care about getting the maximum price. The difference of a few thousand one way or the other makes a small different to their fees. They just want things sold asap with as little hassle to them as possible.

copperjar

Hmm, well Phil and Kirsty recommend getting to know local agents but I'm on their lists so I guess that will do.

There's been a little flurry of 3 houses in my area come up today. After weeks of nothing. Hopefully we're coming out of the summer holiday slow down!

Bonfire_Bride

Our 4th offer has been accepted. Only 2k off asking price BUT...in relation to other 4 bed detached houses in the area we have definitely done well. It's only 15 months old...2mins up the road from where we are now.


want to be super excited but know how quickly things can change.


Good Luck to everyone finding your new homes x

copperjar

Well done Bonfire that's great news.
We have viewed 4 houses today. Two definite no's, two to consider but both with compromises. It's so hard.
House 1: large semi needs work. We're not very practical and would be relying on builders (had bad experiences in past of waiting for tradesmen to actually get back to us/do the work previously). Location is the compromise but the house could be amazing once done.
House 2: small house in preferred location. Been totally refurbed and the price reflects that. No wiggle room at all - top of our highest price and they have already received a full asking price offer but buyer needs to sell their own.

It's so tough. I really want to live in village 2 but houses don't come up often and it looks like we'll have to compromise on size if we do end up in that village.

There is another house in that village but way over our top price but currently vacant. Guide price has been reduced recently. How low will people realistically go?

catherine12345_2

I would like to join too. I had a chain collapse on me earlier this year and am looking again. Things are so much slower than this time last year and prices are ridiculous. I put an offer in last week - 10% below asking price and still 15% higher than a nicer house on the same street that sold 4 months ago. They rejected it as they want asking! Still, things also seem to be suddenly moving here so I have left my offer with them and am pushing on.


The whole thing is just so emotionally draining - I started this process a year ago and I'm exhausted by it all. Still, I'm staying positive and keeping my fingers crossed.

catherine12345_2

indianabones wrote: »

The EAs are not your friend and they don't serve you. Their interests are not the same as yours. They want a sale to go through for as much money as possible. You want obviously to pay as little as possible. Don't for a moment assume by being friendly with them that they'll do you a favour. To them you are a potential buyer and nothing more.

It is better for you to avoid speaking to them unless there is a house on the market that you like. The only time an EA has called me, most do have my details, the only time they've called me is when they have a house that's been on the market for several months that they can't sell. Not once have they called for a new property, always find out about them myself on rightmove.

In my experience, the only time they call me is when the sale is multi-EA and they want to get in there first before their competitors. Happens every time.

ancientofdays

I do get the occasional call from estate agents but each time the calls are about houses that we've seen on RM and not wanted to view! A few of the local agents send me weekly email updates. But am glued to RM mostly, it is quite dispiriting, especially as I am Mrs Compromise and my family are certainly not.