What estate agent to use

FuffyCat

I am currently about to sell my house in the west area of Cardiff to buy nearer the centre. This involves downsizing from a large 3 bed to a small 2 bed which suits me as its only me and I found my current house too large to maintain.

I have found the property I would like to buy but my property is not on the market yet. The agents selling the property I like have come to value my current property. They've valued it at 195k with the hope to achieve at least 190k. The house I want is 185k so this would be ideal.

They've quoted £2200 + VAT for fees (working out to be 1.16% on 190k), Is this a good price nationally (or Cardiff if anyone has any experience?). Will I be in a better position in terms of a buyer for the place I'm interested if I use the same estate agent. I have arranged two more valuations in the next few days.

They have told me that no one else is interested in the property as of yet, I am the only one but I am not in a position to buy yet.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated

Comms69

Use the one that gives you an honest appraisal of the property.


That said, it's generally a bad idea to use the same agent to sell and to buy through.

FuffyCat

How to know if its honest or not?

AdrianC

FuffyCat wrote: »

Will I be in a better position in terms of a buyer for the place I'm interested if I use the same estate agent.

It won't make any difference at all. Buyers will find it wherever.

The only way in which your purchase will make any difference to your decision, is in how you've found the agent when you've been dealing with them as a buyer. If they were a pleasure to deal with, that's surely worth more than worrying about a fraction of a % on their fees. If they've been a right PITA, why are you even considering them?

Have you dealt with other agents in your search...?

Comms69

FuffyCat wrote: »

How to know if its honest or not?

Sorry yes I didn't explain that properly.


The agent who will point out the negatives as well as the positives. They're actually taking the time to consider what is and isn't attractive to buyers and not there just to appear to be your best friend

FuffyCat

Comms69 wrote: »

Sorry yes I didn't explain that properly.


The agent who will point out the negatives as well as the positives. They're actually taking the time to consider what is and isn't attractive to buyers and not there just to appear to be your best friend

Ok he was quite friendly and when I pointed out negatives about my house he dismissed them and said the buyers wouldnt mind.

Mutton_Geoff

FuffyCat wrote: »

They've quoted £2200 + VAT for fees (working out to be 1.16% on 190k)

It's not 1.16%, it's 1.39% unless you have some way of claiming the VAT back. I would negotiate for 1% inc VAT and save yourself £740. If the property is the type that will sell quickly, the agent would normally be happy to negotiate.

Comms69 wrote: »

it's generally a bad idea to use the same agent to sell and to buy through.

I don't agree. My experience has been that when I received a lower offer, I bounced it back to the same agent as my onward purchase and told them I only had x amount to change houses and they negotiated with both parties (my purchaser and the local building firm on my new property) such that all of the cut on my sale was mirrored in a reduction on my purchase.

FuffyCat

AdrianC wrote: »

It won't make any difference at all. Buyers will find it wherever.

The only way in which your purchase will make any difference to your decision, is in how you've found the agent when you've been dealing with them as a buyer. If they were a pleasure to deal with, that's surely worth more than worrying about a fraction of a % on their fees. If they've been a right PITA, why are you even considering them?

Have you dealt with other agents in your search...?

So I'm hesitant to go with them as it seems they haven't sold as many properties in my area as some others. I'm now not too worried about the %, more worried about them maybe not putting in a good word for me when it comes to putting an offer on the new place.

I've dealt with many (2 years ago when I bought my current property), there was one that insulted my boyfriend who had come along with me to help but it quite shy - I would definitely not sell with them.