Estate agent being rude?

neilbus3

I've just put my deceased parent's house on the market and Saturday afternoon has been booked from 2-5pm for several viewings. I live at the property full time. The estate agent asked me to leave the key in the key lock outside and in his words "make yourself scarce until 5.30" during this time,while he shows people aound.  I agreed to this but after the call it started to irritate me that he had said this to me.  Is this normal practice and acceptable language or is the agent taking the Michael? Where does he expect me to go for 3 hours or so...go and sit in the park or drive around?   Or am I being over sensitive? Any similar experiences?  Thanks.

Doozergirl

I think you're being over sensitive. 

It's pretty standard to not be hanging around if the estate agent is doing the viewings.  People will avoid areas where you are if you are there and they're also less likely to be honest. 

Lockdown is lifting.  You can go to the pub, the shops, the park, for a drive to the seaside if you want. Or go away for the entire weekend...

GDB2222

It could have been better worded, but I am sure there was no rudeness intended. Since he is showing people round, it is probably best to leave him to it, and it’s much better not to have you sitting in one of the rooms. Or worse still following viewers round!

I am not sure where you can go, but a good long walk may be a great idea.

Sorry for your loss, by the way.

lookstraightahead

Why do you want to be there? I personally wouldn't want to be there.

moneysavinghero

You may not have noticed, but we are in the middle of Corona virus epidemic. One of the ways to stop the spread of this virus is to reduce the amount of contact people have with other people. EA's standard procedure is to ask sellers to leave their property while viewings take place.

Maybe the EA could have phrased it better and explained the reason to you, but he is not being rude he is just following the government guidelines.

Yes you are being over sensitive. Go for a nice long walk.

niceguyed

Sorry to hear about your parents. I suppose the tone in which it was said would make all the difference rather than the words used. Although I'd fully expect to make myself scarce as that's what I'm paying the agent to do.
I have no problem being shown around by the owner, it does feel weird (to me) if the owner is still there whilst the agent is doing their job (like you're intruding). The fact the agent has stacked the viewings together does minimise inconvenience. 
Buying/selling is stressful, let them do their job and don't sweat the small stuff. 

theartfullodger

If really upset then fire agent and get a new one.  Be aware they all talk to each other.

I find taking agent out for lunch or offering a bottle of champagne on sale or an excellent review after good work engenders an improvement in manner.

FTB_Help

I remeber being like this during my early teens, and being around other teenagers that would make a mountain out of a molehill over the smallest throwaway comment that most of the time was just badly worded.

I think you're at a sensitive time right now trying to sort out your parents property, so things like that may irk you more than normal.

Let this pass, see how he gets on going forward. I dont think it was his intention to rudely shoo you away

dimbo61

If your in the property and tell people viewing the property they may well have lots and lots of questions to ask you.
How much is the council tax ?
What are the neighbors like ? 
Will you take £XXXX less for the property ?
Where is the nearest School, Doctors, Pub, Curry house, Train station, Crime levels etc ??????
Any problems with the Roof, Electrics, Central heating etc.
So clear as much junk as possible, clean, clean and clean.
Nice flowers and Nice smell, tidy up and remove anything of value 

[Deleted User]

It is entirely normal for the vendors to be absent from the house, unless they are conducting the viewings themselves. 

Make yourself scarce is just another way of saying you need to disappear for a few hours to let him do his job. I'm not really sure how else the agent could put it you to be honest. I wouldn't be too upset about it. 

In terms of where to go, what would you normally do on a day off? You could meet a friend, go to the pub, visit a family member. 

purplebutterfly

Unless you are the person showing prospective buyers around, it is standard for the owner not to be present during a viewing.  That is what you are paying the EA for, anyway. 

 I think the EA was probably just trying to be casual and friendly by saying "make yourself scarce" instead of "you must not be at the house when we arrive".

As a buyer, it is VERY off-putting if the buyer is waiting in the garden while the EA shows you round.  Happened to us a couple of times and it meant we felt rushed through the viewing because we were aware of the owner wanting to come back in the house.