What should you expect from an EA

Hutch100uk

What level of service should you really expect? I'm not convinced my EA is doing very much at all but no idea what I should be getting.

They took some nice photos and my listing is on their website and Rightmove etc.

I had a buyer and after 14 weeks of my house being off the market, it all fell through. This was nothing to do with the agent but I was angry that they didn't inform me that the end of the chain were holding things up, so I could have held back on paying for valuations. I'm now out of pocket because I felt they deliberately kept me in the dark in case I pulled out myself.

Since then, I often get viewings with no feedback. I always have to chase them and get the same line every time "We've left them a message".

Should they be actively contacting buyers they have registered with them etc?

I'm very tempted to change agents as they're not cheap!!

G_M

the failed sale was not the EA's fault. Do you actually know that they knew the problem in the chain and deliberately 'kept you in the dark'? Very likely they did not now either.

And what does "the end of the chain were holding things up" mean anyway? It was surely obvious to you, after so many weeks, that someone in the chain (or more than one) was "holding things up". How would it have heped to know which party?

What had your conveyancer been saying about Exchange dates? He was in a far better position to know than the EA.

And when did you have the Valuation done? I imagine relatively early on (otherewise you would have been the one "holding things up") at which point the EA would not have known a delay was going to arise later.

This is just a typical chain issue. So no, I don't believe you could expect more from the EA.

As for feedback, many viewers don't provide feedback. The EA can leave messages asking them for it, butt if they don't respond what do ou expect the EA to do?

Yes, some EAs will proactively ring potential buyers on their lists. Others don't. But most (80%?) buyers these days search the iternet (Rightmove etc) and then ask for viewings.

Personally, I don't just ignore EAs who ring me with 'your ideal property that's just come on the market' - I tell them to remove me from their databases; I hate these nuisance calls!

But by all means change agents (subject to your current contract terms) if you're not happy. Consider reducing your price. And remember to negotiate not just the EA fee, but the minimum contract period too.

Or consider offering them a higher fee if they achieve the original asking price but a lower % fee if they don't achieve that.

Hutch100uk

The agent MUST have known about the delay at the end of the chain as they were the ones selling my buyers house also!!!

They knew the buyer hadn 't even paid for the searches yet but didn't think to 'mention' this.

Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't have changed the end result, but I could have delayed the valuation. That was only done for my Help to Buy and wouldn't have delayed things really.

My valuation is only valid for 3 months so now I will have to fork out again and just feel this expense could have been avoided.

Also, how would I know someone was holding things up?? I was responding to all my buyer's conveyancer requests. I even asked my buyer if we could delay for a few weeks and they insisted they wanted to move in within the summer holidays. Why would that lead me to think there is a delay?

00ec25

the EA cannot force a person viewing your property to provide feedback

there are countless posts on here from people trying to sell bemoaning the lack of any feedback at all from their viewers, it is not the EA's fault. Viewers rarely give feedback, fact. It is of no benefit to them to do so.

G_M

Hutch100uk wrote: »

The agent MUST have known ........etc etc ?

Well then:

by all means change agents (subject to your current contract terms) if you're not happy. Consider reducing your price. And remember to negotiate not just the EA fee, but the minimum contract period too.

Or consider offering them a higher fee if they achieve the original asking price but a lower % fee if they don't achieve that.

Hutch100uk

00ec25 wrote: »

the EA cannot force a person viewing your property to provide feedback

there are countless posts on here from people trying to sell bemoaning the lack of any feedback at all from their viewers, it is not the EA's fault. Viewers rarely give feedback, fact. It is of no benefit to them to do so.

I understand it doesn't benefit the viewer but it benefits the seller. Which is why the agents should push for it a bit more.

Surrey_EA

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I understand it doesn't benefit the viewer but it benefits the seller. Which is why the agents should push for it a bit more.

I'm not even sure there's a great deal of benefit to the seller.

When you do speak to a viewer for feedback I often get the feeling the true reason is not given, for fear of sounding rude or uncomplimentary about the property.

Sometimes viewers cannot put their finger on what a particular property was not suitable, it simply didn't 'feel' right,

The chances of you being about to make any changes to the property to overcome the objections given by viewers is remarkably small.

When you have several viewings and nobody is making an offer, or even coming back for a second look, the message is that the viewers have made the decision they can find a better property on offer elsewhere for the money they have to spend. This leads to the conclusion that your property may be too optimistically priced compared to what else is currently for sale.

Coconut01

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I understand it doesn't benefit the viewer but it benefits the seller. Which is why the agents should push for it a bit more.

A pushy EA isn't likely to get many positive responses probably the opposite.

G_M

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I understand it doesn't benefit the viewer but it benefits the seller. Which is why the agents should push for it a bit more.

If I viewed a property and an EA 'pushed a bi more', I'd

a) tell the EA where to get off and

b) avoid properties in future being marketed by that EA if at all possible.

Or possibly I'd make up a load of rubbish just to get them off my back.

PhilE

Expect an EA to be a compulsive liar who phones you day and night to talk complete BS. Expect him/her to act like a god who's doing you a favor by allowing you to view a property they have for sale. Expect them to employ near bullying tactics to get you to offer more.

Always put down your foot with EA's. State your terms to them, don't allow them to dictate anything. If they become a pain, tell them to contact your solicitor. Make sure they pass your offer on and remind them they have a legal duty to both do so and inform you of the outcome.

Never agree to buyers fees.

Surrey_EA

PhilE wrote: »

Expect an EA to be a compulsive liar who phones you day and night to talk complete BS. Expect him/her to act like a god who's doing you a favor by allowing you to view a property they have for sale. Expect them to employ near bullying tactics to get you to offer more.

Always put down your foot with EA's. State your terms to them, don't allow them to dictate anything. If they become a pain, tell them to contact your solicitor. Make sure they pass your offer on and remind them they have a legal duty to both do so and inform you of the outcome.

Never agree to buyers fees.

Somebody's had a bad experience then...?! :A