Is it always hard work to get viewings?

Lauraliz

I am really struggling to get viewings booked in with estate agents at the moment.

First of all one agent wanted all our documents and proof of deposit and which solicitor we were planning on using before even viewing a property. I felt this was a bit extreme as it was the same branch of agents that sold our last property a few months ago, they also kept asking if we had a property to sell. I even had a call today asking how much interest we had in it and did we want to change agents! The only days they were able to offer were mid week and in a two hour time slot, seemed surprised we were working.

The second is just not getting back to us with any news good/bad on the offer we put in last week. The deadline for "best and final offers" has changed twice and we are still waitin ti hear back. Guess it will be next week now.

I had a very strange conversation with another agent today, I called to make an appointment to view a property and she said she needed to check and would pop me on hold, she didn't put me on jold and I could hear them moaning about being busy on saturday and the agent showing us around would have a late finish, someone else suggested I was put off from viewing and offer another day next week. The hand set was picked up and they realised I wasnt on hold said hello and cut me off! I have now set an email hoping for a response.

The best agent so far has been the two different purple bricks ones, they have been great so far the houses haven't been sadly.

Is this how EA`s work?

Any tips on how to get a better response rate?

CP26

So far I havent had too much problem getting viewings at times to suit us...we have maybe had a 60/40 split with 60% of viewings been done with the vendor so there has been more flexibility on evenings and weekends. However we have had agents do post 5pm appointments for us.

Where it has been agent viewings I have often had to wait a good few days though before an evening appt is free, or for the next weekend option. This has caused us to miss out on at least one place.

I have found a real mixed bag of quality from agents in general. Some have been really good and remember who we are when we call, however a number have been pretty naff really, asking me the same questions over and over again, even though i have already registered with them before.

My biggest bug bear is being called up / emailed about properties that are clearly no good for us...we specified detached and Ive been sent numerous semis and terraces. Ive also been sent stuff that is nowhere near our search area. I appreciate they wont be able to set parameters for everything we are looking so I will get some stuff through that isnt right, however some agents have definitely been worse than others on this.

I know the agents arent working for the buyers but it does give a negative impression if come across as offering a poor service.

csgohan4

Lauraliz wrote: »

I am really struggling to get viewings booked in with estate agents at the moment.

First of all one agent wanted all our documents and proof of deposit and which solicitor we were planning on using before even viewing a property. I felt this was a bit extreme as it was the same branch of agents that sold our last property a few months ago, they also kept asking if we had a property to sell. I even had a call today asking how much interest we had in it and did we want to change agents! The only days they were able to offer were mid week and in a two hour time slot, seemed surprised we were working.

The second is just not getting back to us with any news good/bad on the offer we put in last week. The deadline for "best and final offers" has changed twice and we are still waitin ti hear back. Guess it will be next week now.

I had a very strange conversation with another agent today, I called to make an appointment to view a property and she said she needed to check and would pop me on hold, she didn't put me on jold and I could hear them moaning about being busy on saturday and the agent showing us around would have a late finish, someone else suggested I was put off from viewing and offer another day next week. The hand set was picked up and they realised I wasnt on hold said hello and cut me off! I have now set an email hoping for a response.

The best agent so far has been the two different purple bricks ones, they have been great so far the houses haven't been sadly.

Is this how EA`s work?

Any tips on how to get a better response rate?

1: giving your EA details on your deposit and finances means how much you can potentially afford and therefore they know your ceiling and can push you to offer the max


2: They only have a 2 hour time slot during the week, flip that around as a vendor, if they only have a 2 hour time slot during the week, that limits buyers to see as well.


You have to decide what is important to you... Get a day off and pack all your viewings into them, if you don't put the effort in, you won't get anything out either.


Vendors sometimes don't like late viewings.



regarding being emailed junk, treat it as such, in your junk mail. Find the properties yourself on right move, don't depend on others

Lauraliz

I never said I gave them any details, just they asked for it. We havent viewed any with them still and are only interested in selling our non-existant property.

Getting time off is easier said than done, any annual leave needs to be worked round school holidays and others in the team to ensure that there is sufficient cover. Both of us work at the same place different teams and to say it is incredibly busy is an understatement. Plus there is only so many days leave available and as we are buying a house we will need some time off to move and get settled.

We do use rightmove, zoopla and trawel through esate agents own website and find properties.

I just don`t get how estate agents are not being a little more responsive or helpful.
When on the other side as sellers we did lots of evenings and sunday viewings. These seem to not be available.

amateur_house

csgohan4 wrote: »

2: You only have a 2 hour time slot during the week, flip that around as a vendor, if they only have a 2 hour time slot during the week, that limits buyers to see as well.

I read that as the estate agent saying there was only a 2 hour slot available, not the OP?
I haven't had too much difficulty getting viewings, and like you found the purple bricks online booking system much easier to use. Most of those were vendor viewings though. I have had to wait over a week to view some houses, but those were mostly due to me not being able to make the earliest appointment offered. I think maybe you have just been unlucky with the properties you've wanted to view so far.

csgohan4

Lauraliz wrote: »

I never said I gave them any details, just they asked for it. We havent viewed any with them still and are only interested in selling our non-existant property.

Getting time off is easier said than done, any annual leave needs to be worked round school holidays and others in the team to ensure that there is sufficient cover. Both of us work at the same place different teams and to say it is incredibly busy is an understatement. Plus there is only so many days leave available and as we are buying a house we will need some time off to move and get settled.

We do use rightmove, zoopla and trawel through esate agents own website and find properties.

I just don`t get how estate agents are not being a little more responsive or helpful.
When on the other side as sellers we did lots of evenings and sunday viewings. These seem to not be available.

If they aren't bothered why should you, find another EA Who works around you

Blueysea

I think OP is a buyer not a seller and therefore is trapped dealing with whichever EA is selling the house they'd like to view.

seven-day-weekend

We wanted to view two apartments with the same agent. They still haven't got back to us. That was two years ago

Natbag

These agents sound awful! I picked our EA because they are really pro-active, professional and lovely - they seem to genuinely care about their customers and work hard for them. They pick up emails quickly, answer the phone weekdays, evenings and weekends (it diverts to their mobiles after the branch is closed) and they always do as they say and call you back. They are excellent at liaising and negotiating between parties, and make things as easy as possible for everyone involved. Sadly many vendors will go with whichever agent is a) cheapest and/or b) valued their property at the highest value, which is no indicator of the service they will provide.

Flugelhorn

Drop a note to the vendors and tell them that you are trying to view their house but can't get past the EA

seven-day-weekend

When we sold we went with a well known and long-established local agent who was very pro-active and got us loads of viewings. They also kept us informed at all times and offered tons of useful advice, They were not the cheapest, but they definitely worked for their money.

I reckoned the online/cheaper/chains would not know about our area and could not therefore do a proper job of promoting our property