Estate agents - weekend and evening viewings

student100

Just to follow up. I have had a really frustrating experience today trying to organise a viewing with Your Move (I won't say which branch). The owner is on holiday and not back for 3 weeks. Your Move refuse to do viewings after 5pm (great when you work till 5pm, 1 hour away from the property) and they are booked up for the next 2 Saturdays already! And closed Sundays. I eventually spoke to the manager who was trying to be nice but basically she is chronically short staffed (one staff member on holiday, another recently left and hasn't yet been replaced, she can only get cover from another office on certain days). I suspect this is largely not her fault, rather what happens from a big business chain trying to pinch pennies.

The house in question has been on the market since last December. Maybe there is more to it but the inflexible agent can't help!

Moral of the story - if you are choosing an agent don't think big chain = well staffed, flexible etc.

The agent we listed our house with is a one branch independent agent and compared to Your Move they are amazingly flexible!

Rain_Shadow

student100 wrote: »

Just to follow up. I have had a really frustrating experience today trying to organise a viewing with Your Move (I won't say which branch). The owner is on holiday and not back for 3 weeks. Your Move refuse to do viewings after 5pm (great when you work till 5pm, 1 hour away from the property) and they are booked up for the next 2 Saturdays already! And closed Sundays. I eventually spoke to the manager who was trying to be nice but basically she is chronically short staffed (one staff member on holiday, another recently left and hasn't yet been replaced, she can only get cover from another office on certain days). I suspect this is largely not her fault, rather what happens from a big business chain trying to pinch pennies.

The house in question has been on the market since last December. Maybe there is more to it but the inflexible agent can't help!

Moral of the story - if you are choosing an agent don't think big chain = well staffed, flexible etc.

The agent we listed our house with is a one branch independent agent and compared to Your Move they are amazingly flexible!

I think I'd be knocking on the door of the property and asking if the vendor could manage to do a viewing for me (not necessarily there and then) because the EA couldn't accommodate me. The worst they can do is say no and accept they have lost a potential buyer.

student100

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

I think I'd be knocking on the door of the property and asking if the vendor could manage to do a viewing for me (not necessarily there and then) because the EA couldn't accommodate me. The worst they can do is say no and accept they have lost a potential buyer.

I would, but the vendor is on holiday for 3 weeks.

In this case the agent persuaded me to do a viewing without my wife (I work nearer to the property than my wife does) at 5pm tomorrow, and if it looks promising we'll either have to wait for the vendor to be back or sort out something else with the agent.

Rain_Shadow

student100 wrote: »

I would, but the vendor is on holiday for 3 weeks.

In this case the agent persuaded me to do a viewing without my wife (I work nearer to the property than my wife does) at 5pm tomorrow, and if it looks promising we'll either have to wait for the vendor to be back or sort out something else with the agent.

Well, I don't know your wife but I do know mine and I'm pretty sure a viewing without her would be a waste of everyone's time (except hers).

student100

Haha, well almost. Think I can rule out if it's definitely not suitable, but not say it's definitely OK, without her ;-)

Surrey_EA

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Well, I don't know your wife but I do know mine and I'm pretty sure a viewing without her would be a waste of everyone's time (except hers).

Many years of selling property has taught me that it's rather pointless discussing a purchase with the husband, when the wife hasn't viewed!

TBagpuss

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Well, I don't know your wife but I do know mine and I'm pretty sure a viewing without her would be a waste of everyone's time (except hers).

It varies. When I sold my last house, the viewing was by one spouse only, and they then offered straight away. They didn't have a further viewing until after exchange.

I personally can't imagine buyign a house without viewing it, although I can see that one half of a couple might well be able to do intitial viewings and naroow down the choices.

hmd1987

we are currently switching EA as I wasn't happy with the old one. As part of the package with the new one they encourage me to do as many viewings as in their words "I know the property best", but if I can't do a viewing, then they will happily arrange to do it (at a cost of £10). Overall cost is £500 which includes online listing, floor plan and photos etc.

Due to go live next week so we will see what happens

Surrey_EA

TBagpuss wrote: »

It varies. When I sold my last house, the viewing was by one spouse only, and they then offered straight away. They didn't have a further viewing until after exchange.

I personally can't imagine buyign a house without viewing it, although I can see that one half of a couple might well be able to do intitial viewings and naroow down the choices.

It's a brave man who buys a house that his wife hasn't looked at!! :eek:

Brightspark87

I did several viewings without my husband - including the house we bought! I got him to go there too, when I was at work and then both together. Full asking price offer.