Switching Estate Agent Selling House

smithyn

Hi,

I have had my 2 bedroom house on the market since late May 2016, and despite around 30 viewings and 2 price reductions, no offers in so far. Unfortunately, it was put on the market just before brexit...

The house has no immediate problems and is in a desirable location, and to my knowledge is not valued above the market based on what else is on the market and previous sales prices in the immediate area for similar properties.

Feedback has been mixed, but mostly so far, it has been people's situation changing, i.e deciding not to move or different area. A few viewers said it was too small for price, but that was before x2 price reductions, which now it definitely isn't...

So my question, the agents are ok, but notice they seem a bit loose / lazy at chasing up feedback / pushing people and also selling the property more when doing viewings etc which I know some other agents are better at.

As this is my first house sale, is it wise to give the agents the 2 weeks notice and move to another as my fixed term is over? Also, can I realistically expect better results from another agent if 95% of viewers are coming off rightmove/zoopla anyway?

Currently paying 1% fees + vat, would giving away a higher % fee say 1.5%-1.7% motivate an agent to sell it more quickly?

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Thank you.

dannyjebb

We are just about to put ours on the market, have you paid money upfront? I've always thought doing this gives the agent no motivation what so ever to sell, they aren't making any extra money so would spend effort on selling a house they are going to earn money From.

I am surprised at the difference in fees, we have had 2 valuations, one charges £1800 and the other £900 and just found another that charges 0.75% and as ours is shared ownership sale price is only 55k so fees would be less that £450 so tempted to look at them too.

Good luck selling I think things are picking up, lots of houses we are looking at are being sold before even being put on Rightmove/zoopla

marksoton

Despite what you think it's almost certainly price.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Probably about 90% of the threads on this subject are price - too expensive.

smithyn

Hi,

Have not paid any fees upfront.

Regarding price, originally just pre-brexit, similar houses were selling at same kind of level as my asking price, although maybe original ask price was a tad high / optimistic, but market seemed to be very good...

However, since then I have dropped it by £40k, first £20k a few weeks after brexit, then another £20k first thing in September, so been on the market at this price for a month now.

The current price I believe is attractive and the agents say any less is a bargain...also given the fact that I expect offers to be 5-10k below asking price, makes it appear well within the current marketplace.

Given that summer is always dead, and schools have only just gone back in the last few weeks, I expect the market to be picking up again, is it best to 1) wait or 2) try switching agent or 3) reduce again?

Cakeguts

What is the differences between your house and the ones that have sold? Even similar houses on the same development have differences. What makes a house attractive isn't just size of the house it could be something like being on a corner, or a back garden that is overlooked so you have to work out what it is about your house that people don't like. People obviously prefer other houses to yours otherwise you would have sold it.

Often feedback contains the last thing that put people off so if they are saying that the house is too small for the price that is the end of a long list of things that they don't like about it. If you really loved everything about a house you wouldn't worry about the size of it. So you may now have got the price close to where it needs to be but you haven't addressed whatever else is putting people off.

Bonfire_Bride

4 months is not a long time on the market to be honest.

If you are desperate to sell, then drop the price. You could always post a link here if you wanted feedback? If you're not desperate, then leave it as it is for now.

Our first EA were awful...we were with them for over a year and then switched to another who sold in 5 months. To be honest though, if the house is advertised on rightmove/zoopla etc, then that is the main thing that begins the chain of a sale, not the EA.

I don't think changing our EA led to the sale.

nubbins

"and despite around 30 viewings and 2 price reductions, no offers in so far"

Similar to other comments, if you have a property in a desirable location, 30 viewings and not one offer its the price. Regardless of the estate agents "advice" the simple fact is at this moment in time nobody thinks your property is worth what you have it advertised for. This may change of course, market may pick up, the house is perfect for someone or whatever other reason.

In terms of EA's I would imagine most people are like myself, see a property on Rightmove, phone the agent and arrange a viewing. Some are better than others but I wouldn't get your hopes up by switching. I would check the small print in detail to make sure there is no come back if it is sold via another agent and get a list of buyers they have introduced.