FTB: Does it matter if we're being taken for a ride? (EA advisor - Bridgfords Countrywide)

Rinny_FTB

Hello all,

after some very basic searches it's come to my attention that Bridgfords/Countrywide are very much in it for the money. However, that's not exactly a surprise to me. In fact, from what I can tell, other than being quite determined not to buy insurance from them despite their best efforts, I don't know why I wouldn't just go with the solicitors and surveyors they know well, in order to get everything moving faster?

We're FTB and we (my partner and I) really want this house. We've been told by Bridgfords that our offer has been accepted however the property is still on the website and does not say STC/Under Offer?

They specifically mentioned they are having offer letters through the door to the vendor and that the vendor is unhappy about this - a very odd keeper tactic if it is one?

I know that there are financial benefits to finding independent folks but other than trying to snatch an extra few quid on everything should we just go along with them for peace of mind?

We genuinely have no idea what we're doing and have no friends or family who can assist as they all bought their houses so long ago nothing is the same.

All advice welcome at this point. We're arguing like cat and dog and we've not even got our mortgage application in yet!

csgohan4

call them up today and clarify and ensure the offer is under the condition it says that on the website

ACG

Estate Agents solicitors will typically be around £300 more than similar alternatives.
Estate Agents Mortgage brokers are typically new to the role/industry, heavily targeted, trained on sales techniques and the biggest potential issue is that their version of whole of market typically involves around 15 lenders. As a comparison, our version of whole of market involves over 50 or 60 lenders.

So aside from it costing more, you may have a limited choice of mortgages and a relative new comer looking after your mortgage.

Obviously the chances of you copping for every one of those is slim, but it is a possibility. I also say typically as it is not the same for all agents, but I am pretty sure for countrywide all of the above is true (happy to be corrected if I am wrong).

Rinny_FTB

He is definitely sales targetted, but I'm definitely not buying anything other than the house with him. He's not young and he seems to have been doing this for years at this branch. So far his prices are all better than what we found elsewhere?

I'm happy to pay him more if it means an easy ride... legally are we at risk at all? Can they skip stuff on the survey for example?

haras_nosirrah

I am ex countrywide and was there for 12 years but am now independent and whole of market

The mortgage side is generally sound. While they don't have access to everyone they do get the high street, they have hsbc and do get some exclusives. If you are not credit impaired or 5% deposit they will probably have the rates you would be looking at with an independent.

insurances are double the price than I can now get if not more - do not touch with a barge pole. They are heavily targetted on insurance sales so he will hammer this hard. Don't cave

solicitors are appalling - at least 700 more than other solicitors and they are horrendous - do not touch with a barge pole.

Penelopa.Pitstop

When I checked solicitor prices, Contrywide premium service was the same price as other companies. Not sure about standard Countrywide service in general, they don't seem to have good opinions.

Selling agent gave me contact to their solicitor, buying agent to theirs and in the end I went with buying agent recommendation.

Rinny_FTB

Thank you very much. This is really useful!

dimbo61

Countrywide profits were about £500,000 this year so not much for the biggest estate agents in the country !!!55358;!!!56596;
There also have employ a large number of surveyors so will want to do that as well !
They are trying to make a profit from every customer who is buying or selling a property.
Shopping round for the best life assurance ( I used a broker Cavendish online )
Using a comparison website moneysupermarket, compare the meerkat, etc for buildings and contents.
Checking what level of cover you need. Critical illness, etc

stator

Estate Agent recommended solicitors are awful, don't use them.
When I was buying a house you could get an online conveyancer for about £500+ or go with a local bricks and mortar solicitor firm for about £1000+. The online firms take on huge amounts of cases and are often very hard to get hold of when there's a problem things can drag out for months. A local firm provides are more personal service and things are often easier to resolve .
What the estate agents do is to refer you to an online type conveyancer and charge you the price of a local firm.
If money is very tight you might consider using an online warehouse type firm. If you want a quick transaction and need lots of personal advice, then go with a local firm. But never ever go with the Estate Agents recommended firm. It's the worst of both worlds!