Vendor's agents are *dreadful* - what can we do?

happinessfactory

Sorry, this is a long one.

We went to see a house in the summer that was on sale with a local (we are in London W12) estate agency called Apple Estates. To say that these guys are muppets is a complete understatement. When we called up to ask to view, the agent didn't even bother to say the company's name - it was just "Hello", like we'd phoned a grumpy teenager by mistake.

When we said we were interested in viewing this particular house (we'd spotted it on the net), the agent's first question to us was (I kid you not), "Do you want to buy it?" This was before we'd given our names, addresses, phone numbers or budget, never mind viewed the damn house. I was so taken aback I almost put the phone down - poor, poor, poor vendors to have agreed a contract with these utter monkeys.

Anyway, despite our misgivings about the agent, my chap went to view the house back in May. It was previously two flats and we have discovered the vendor's father owned the flat upstairs for many, many years, and that he bought the flat downstairs for £240k about 18 months ago. Since then, the vendor (who claims to be a property developer) has knocked the two flats back together and is renovating the house.

The renovation is an absolute car crash. The poor house has been completely butchered, and the layout and the finish are so bad it's almost laughable - honestly, it's like all the worst bits of 'Property Ladder' you've ever seen combined into one house. My chap walked out and actually felt sorry for the owners that they could have wasted so much money and destroyed so many beautiful period features by being SO entirely clueless. We have since mentioned the house to other agents and they all know it and all fall about laughing when talking about it - that's how bad it is.

The house has been on the market since May and hasn't had a single offer (it is overpriced by at least 20% IMO, adn the layout is an utter joke), so we went back yesterday to view it again, intending to put a cheeky offer on it and treat the house as our own renovation project.

The vendors, believe it or not, are still doing work to the house (the latest being installing a downstairs bathroom with bath - are we in 1907 or 2007?!?!)

We estimate it will cost at least £100k to put right the "renovations" so we started putting out hints yesterday to the agent that we'd be making an offer very substantially below the asking price. Unfortunately, the agent truthfully seems to believe this house is some sort of showpiece and is worth every penny of the asking price - even though its asking price is £400k more than the highest price previously achieved on that street.

The problem is, there is a house a few doors down which has also been on sale since May (also with no offers) that is priced £100k MORE - although it does have a superb layout and does tick all the period features / swanky finish boxes.

The agent is using this other house as an excuse to avoid talking price expectations down with the vendor, and thinks *we* are the ones being unrealistic. She keeps saying, "but they've added all new uPVC double-glazing and lovely laminate flooring" as if nothing could be more desirable in a Victorian townhouse.

But the one thing this house does have going for it is its location - which is why we want it. We don't want to walk away just because the agents are so hard to deal with, but don't know what else to say or do. Does anyone have any advice on how we should proceed? Any words of wisdom or encouragement from MSErs would be much appreciated!

pinkshoes

happinessfactory wrote: »

But the one thing this house does have going for it is its location - which is why we want it. We don't want to walk away just because the agents are so hard to deal with, but don't know what else to say or do. Does anyone have any advice on how we should proceed? Any words of wisdom or encouragement from MSErs would be much appreciated!

A house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and the important thing to most people is "location location location"...

If they haven't had any offers, I'd put in the cheeky offer and leave it on the table so that if they reject it, they can always come back to you. If it's 100k less than the one next door, then maybe there is someone willing to pay that price, but that's a gamble you might have to take.

Are they not in a hurry to sell? If they don't have much of a mortgage, then their monthly costs of not selling won't be horrendous, so maybe they're holding out for someone who will love the property?!?!

lynzpower

my feelin is that if the vendors are still refurbing, then they wont take an ofer if this muppet estate agent tells them not to. theyll say itll get top money once its finished.

Is it really that special? 100k sounds a hell of a lot for refurbing.

I have had a little gander at the apple estates website ( iver never heard of them- does look a bit amaturish! especially the way that they have a flat in wembley on etc- smacks of desperate if its out of thier area etc) and Ive seen which one i think it is.

Honestly? I wouldnt. ONly because if the work is as shonky as what it looks, then id worry about waht they are covering up.

real1314

I'm not sure what you want here?

Are you asking for advice? or someone to believe this posting?

The house needs £100k spending to put it right,but is priced at £400k more than any house on the street has sold for, yet the flat that forms part of it was sold for £240k 18 months ago, and there's a house down the road for £100k more than this one???????

So if it's up for £400k more than the highest price achived, it's on for at least £640k now? But another one is at least £740k?

One of your complaints is that they don't answer the phone nicely??? YOU'RE BUYING A HOUSE !!!! Who cares how they answer the phone? I'd care more about the HOUSE.

I'm convinced this is a troll.

but if you're not, buy it at the asking price, spend the £100k putting it right and thebn it will be the same value as the other one for the same outlay. Simple.

sooz

maybe they want to advertise their cr**py agency?

lynz - they seem to cover a really random area from islington to wembley. not sure why.

the agents must spend hours stuck in traffic going to viewings.

happinessfactory

real1314, I can assure you I'm not a troll. And if my numbers don't make sense to you, that's probably because you're not living in my postcode, where there isn't a house to be had for the kind of sums you mention.

I imagine, if you were going to spend nigh-on a million quid with someone , you'd also rather it was with someone professional, businesslike and intelligent.

One element of being professional, businesslike and intelligent is knowing how to answer the phone in an appropriate manner. If they can't get their telephone response right, how likely do you think it is that they can cope with, say, a conversation about a buildings survey or a solicitor's request?

And I was asking for advice about negotiating with the estate agents - if you have none to offer, don't waste your time implying I'm wasting yours...

Doozergirl

I'd try and deal directly with the vendor, iif indeed the EA isn't actually the vendor themselves. If their property list is random and their phone answering skills amount to 'hello' then it's a possibility.

Or try knocking the price down on the other house?

BrandNewDay

What you REALLY need to do is post the Rightmove link!

Running_Horse

Lost interest after 2 paragraphs complaining about the EA's telephone manner, so will answer the thread title:

Vendor's agents are *dreadful* - what can we do?

Nothing. Either buy the house or don't. It's up to you.

catlover1_2

Sorry to be contentious but the finish is a matter of opinon ... personally give me modern anytime .... I would never live somewhere without double glazing (drafty and cold) and although polished wooden floors are nicer (if perfectly polished) ... laminate is good much better then carpet not sure what the other options mught be .... If I bought a victorian house I would add all the modern finishs ... but then I don't like old fashioned dark victorian houses, so I would knock through some walls too....

Actually its much easier to buy a nice modern house ....

xx

Doozergirl

There's your answer then happinessfactory. Staring you in the face the whole time! Buy yourself a nice modern house instead :rolleyes:

Nasty dark Victorian houses with those huge sash windows, high ceilings and larger room sizes.