Buying agents

Chocho

Hi all

I am a FTB and looking for a property in London. I have spoken to enough selling agents to know that most are not particularly easy to to deal with, sometimes pushy, arrogant and aggressive (or may be I just bumped into the wrong ones!) and wonder to what extend would a buying agent help in my search... would they find properties that I don't see on the market or be able to negotiate a better price than the one I would? I am on two minds. It seems the agents who would deal with normal people like me looking for average property not a prime location multi-million one charge about £2500.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions?

Comms69

Chocho wrote: »

Hi all

I am a FTB and looking for a property in London. I have spoken to enough selling agents to know that most are not particularly easy to to deal with, sometimes pushy, arrogant and aggressive (or may be I just bumped into the wrong ones!) and wonder to what extend would a buying agent help in my search... would they find properties that I don't see on the market - possibly , but ultimately theyre there to do the work for you, not better than you or be able to negotiate a better price than the one I would - unlikely, they have no relationship with a random vendor ? I am on two minds. It seems the agents who would deal with normal people like me looking for average property not a prime location multi-million one charge about £2500.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions?

Is your time worth the money? That is literally what you're paying for.

Loanranger

Aren't they expensive? Am asking because I don't know.

hazyjo

No, they won't be able to find other properties and I doubt they'll be able to negotiate a better price. I wouldn't sell my house any cheaper to an 'agent' than I would to Joe Bloggs. Why would I? If Joe Bloggs is naïve and comes straight in at the asking price, yes, of course I'd sell for less to the agent who might offer less.


Just get alerts set on Rightmove. Ring to view. Simple. Try not to overcomplicate it. In what way are they pushy or aggressive? To get you to offer? Deny viewings? Get you to see their financial advisor?

Fed

I came across one recently when I was looking for a property. My view was that they are probably useful in some situations but for a FTB looking for a standard property in London they're not worth it. With rightmove it's very easy to do your own research, compare local prices and get a feel for value. Most properties get listed online. They might help when it comes making offers but for the prices I saw quoted, any discount their strategy achieves would go straight into their pocket.

DaftyDuck

We were supplied with buying agents when we moved as a couple to the same large company in East Kent.

We had a day four of about six houses they'd found that suited our requirements. All were already in our list. All had featured that clearly ruled them out, including severe flood risk, directly under flight path, and right on a busy junction. They had missed all the ones we preferred, including the one we bought. They did get back to us when they knew of our interest in that one, suggesting I might get it for XXX thousand.

Given i was offering nearly thirty thousand less than that at the time, and had the offer accepted - to be further reduced after a rather poor survey, I'm very glad the company paid all their costs.

They did "treat" us to a good lunch out.

No, I would not recommend their services!

PokerPlayer111

Chocho wrote: »

Hi all

I am a FTB and looking for a property in London. I have spoken to enough selling agents to know that most are not particularly easy to to deal with, sometimes pushy, arrogant and aggressive (or may be I just bumped into the wrong ones!) and wonder to what extend would a buying agent help in my search... would they find properties that I don't see on the market or be able to negotiate a better price than the one I would? I am on two minds. It seems the agents who would deal with normal people like me looking for average property not a prime location multi-million one charge about £2500.

Any thoughts, advice or suggestions?

Generally EAs are pretty moronic, expect 90% of them to wind you up in some way. When you start dealing with more and more it becomes funny the garbage they come up with.

eddddy

Chocho wrote: »

I have spoken to enough selling agents to know that most are not particularly easy to to deal with, sometimes pushy, arrogant and aggressive (or may be I just bumped into the wrong ones!)...

In what context are they being pushy, arrogant and aggressive, and how is it inhibiting your property search?

For example, are they refusing to book viewings for you, or being awkward about dates and times when you can view?

If they are, it's unlikely that a buying agent will have any more success than you.

Chocho

I thought they were really expensive. It turns out that a new type of buying agent has sprung up (at least new to me), who are ready to work on no win no fee basis and generally cost around £2.5-3k.

Chocho

Thank you very much for the replies and sharing your experiences! It is super helful. This is more than enough information to form an opinion... Which is really to do it myself !!!55357;!!!56838;!!!55357;!!!56838;

hazyjo

Pay me a grand and I'll take on your search and be the go-between you and whatever agent you like! :laugh: