Estate Agent delaying

Michelle0480

It will be FOUR weeks tomorrow that I instructed my estate agents to put my property on the market and still nothing.

They have so far used the excuse that they needed pictures, which is ridiculous as there are hundreds of properties on the market without pictures, they said the tenants have been difficult in delaying their access for these pictures, which I'm not even sure I believe.
They have been my managing agents for four years and let's just say I'm not really happy with them, however thought they may have some sort of relationship with the tenants to make selling/viewings easier, clearly not. And apartently they went in yesterday to take the photos and the tenants had not tidied or cleaned and they aren't the best pictures.

To say I am at the end of my tether and so frustrated is an understatement.

Anyone give me clue, i have never contacted the tenants, however shall I give it another two weeks and try contact the tenants myself and contact other agents?

This cannot be normal, FOUR WEEKS?

Thanks in advance

AnotherJoe

Have you issued eviction notices to your tenants ? Or are you selling principally to other landlords with the idea they will take over your tenants ?

Your tenants, FWiW, are under no obligation whatsoever to tidy up and certainly can be difficult (from your POV) about allowing access.

I think in general pictures would be expected but it's up to you to keep on top of them and tell them what you want including advertising without pictures if necessary.

Back to your question, how so

Michelle0480

The tenants are fully aware, they have been given the notice and have asked if they can leave earlier if they find somewhere before the notice expires, which I agreed. But not to advertise that there is a property on the market for four weeks seems too long to me.

Hoploz

Cancel the instruction to put it on the market for sale.

You need to hold fire until the tenants are out. That way you can ensure the place is clean and tidy to get the best price, and that it is offered empty, which is important. At present you don't know when the property will be vacated and what state it will be in.

Hopefully they'll get fixed up elsewhere soon and you won't have to wait long.

Then shop around for the best rate from the best selling agent.

Wyndham

You're trying to maximise your income, and I do understand that. But having tenants in situ isn't the best thing. Move them out, then market. Until they are gone, you don't actually know they will. If I were buying your property, I'd want them out, and to know they were out. You may lose money, but that is part of property ownership.

Your estate agent knows this too. And given where they can put their effort, to be honest, yours doesn't look like a guaranteed sale at the moment. They may also have spoken to then tenants and have a better understanding of the true situation than you do....

saajan_12

I really don't think its best to advertise without pictures.. a buyer would want to get a feel for a place before taking the time to view, and pictures really do say a thousand words. Verbal descriptions are embellished opinions, dimensions and floor plans can only do so much to give an idea of the property and are so often wrong! Unless your property is unique on the basic facts (location/size etc), buyers would be looking through loads of properties and the ones without pictures feel a bit half done / some scam agency and just won't get the same attention.

If it sits on rightmove etc without much interest, the listing looks stale and falls to the bottom of the 'new properties on the market'.. far better to hit the ground running with a fresh, enticing ad with pictures when you have them.

Marvel1

Michelle0480 wrote: »

And apartently they went in yesterday to take the photos and the tenants had not tidied or cleaned and they aren't the best pictures.

If true, the tenants do not have to clean while living there.

Lokolo

I would never even look at a property on rightmove without having some pictures.

Lack of a floorplan has also stopped me pursuing.

BaeneyR

if you want to skip my rant about estate agent, scroll down to bottom of my message.

I was not impressed by any of the local estate agents that came to give a valuation. I was up front with them, that I was seeking at least three valuations.

All sent two experienced people, one European and one Asian. In each case, the European dominated the pitch. Was this because my wife and I are European?

But the real issue was the slather of sentences full of information about their wonderful record. I have no way of checking these claims or least won't spend time doing so. My eyes felt at times as if they were glazing over.

By intervening, I managed to limit the spiel to less than thirty minutes. I suspect they would have taken far longer otherwise.

All hedged around the actual valuation plus fishing for information on what others had quoted. If I can estimate based on local properties, it should be a lot easier for them.

"I can honestly say" and similar claims to honesty featured in all cases. And with each acted as a warning that they were being less than frank.

How lucky we were last time we sold to find an agent who asked pertinent questions and then explained briefly what his company offered.

The recent experience has made me consider selling online. But how would I know that people invited to view are who they say they are?

Surrey_EA

BaeneyR wrote: »

i

All sent two experienced people, one European and one Asian. In each case, the European dominated the pitch. Was this because my wife and I are European?

I think you might be reading too much into this!