Estate agent being rude?

FindMyWayBack

Very unprofessional way of saying it, but yes you need to be absent 

stressedout45

neilbus3 said:

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.

I am sorry for your loss neilbus3 I can only begin to imagine that this must be a very difficult time for you.  

I don’t think that estate agents are particularly known for their tact, so I think it could have definitely been better worded!  But I doubt that he is deliberately taking the mick.   

Would you actually want to be there for the viewings, though? 

Jaybee_16

You're being over sensitive. It's a commonly used phrase, well it is in the circles I frequent, so no reason to be offended. 

ss2020jd

Although it could have been more sensitively phrased under the circumstances, it is encouraging that there are multiple viewings booked for a time slot like that. 

We had to disappear for about five or six hours for the viewings on one day, but I would much rather that than have individual viewings coming in dribs and drabs trying to keep everything ‘photo-ready’. Especially in Covid times. Each viewing was only for a limited time with no more than two people plus agent allowed at one time. It had the desired effect, so hoping it all goes well for you at what must be a very difficult time. 

pumas

I'd be more bothered about leaving the key in the lock!

Thrugelmir

pumas said:

I'd be more bothered about leaving the key in the lock!

You would remain outside though wouldn't you until the EA arrived?  As only be a couple of minutes or so. 

General_Grant

pumas said:

I'd be more bothered about leaving the key in the lock!

"Key lock" - what I'd call a key press or key safe.

neilbus3

Thanks for replies. I'm not familiar with the property game for a while. When I sold a property back in the early 90's people would come to view on their own without the agent who would arrangw the viewing from the office, and I would show them around and then leave them to look around and have some privacy. Had no trouble selling the 4 bedroom house. Obviously a long time ago and methods have changed. And no pandemic (which I have heard about strangely) to worry about. AND I have planned the pub....albeit outside in the rain. Two more days..roll on!!! Thanks again.

robatwork

He is YOUR agent so you set the rules.

You can choose to
a) Do all the viewings yourself without the agent, they just arrange time & date
b) Be there while the agent does the viewings, reading a book artfully in a corner or picking your nose
c) Let the agent do all the viewings while you stay out of the way

You are paying the agent and they do what you tell them to do. What do you want to do about viewings?

user1977

neilbus3 said:

I'm not familiar with the property game for a while. When I sold a property back in the early 90's people would come to view on their own without the agent who would arrangw the viewing from the office, and I would show them around and then leave them to look around and have some privacy. Had no trouble selling the 4 bedroom house. Obviously a long time ago and methods have changed.

Not sure it's necessarily a "times have changed" point, there are also e.g. regional differences in this (would be considered weird in Scotland for an owner-occupier to go and hide while the agent does the viewing).