Selling - agent pushing for viewing before instructing them

alreeve27

Hi, we’re in the process of speaking to a few estate agents about selling our house. Very pleased with the valuations and we have one more coming round before we decide who to go with. We have a preference so far, but the other agent got in touch the next day to say he has a client who lives around the corner (given the road name) who has SSTC to a first time buyer and would like to view this weekend.

At this stage we haven’t agreed to sell the house with anyone and my gut feeling is that this is a technique to pressure us into choosing them. If this person is real, they would see the house go up for sale regardless of who it’s with. And no doubt the agent would attempt to get me to sign something about a fee for introducing them?

I am confident we will have a lot of interest in the house, so don’t want to be bullied into a quick sale. Does anyone have any thoughts? Is this a common tactic?

Thanks

UnderOffer

Just tell the Agent that you’ll let them know when ready to sell once you’ve decided on estate agent and read contracts and compared fees etc. The potential buyers will see it listed on Rightmove at some point, a week longer won’t matter if you are confident it will sell.

Don’t be pushed into a viewing as you may end up having to sell through that agent and pay fees. 

alreeve27

Thanks very much

canaldumidi

Or agree to the viewing on condition that you have a minimum 2 week contract with them. That way if the viewing comes to nothing you can easily switch agent if you want. Also say you want a fee half of what they quoted given that they don't need to do any marketing!

If they agree to both, well, you might just get a quick sale.

If they are just trying pressure sales tactics, they won't agree!

eddddy

The agent is just giving you a reason to persuade you to sign up with them.

I'm sure that all the agents will bombard you with reasons why you should choose them.

The guy round the corner probably really exists - but he might be a real, viable opportunity, or he might be a 1000 to 1 long shot.



FWIW, an agent once tried to persuade me by telling me that they had just sold a widow's £1m+ house on a smart estate, and she wanted to downsize to a 2 bed flat. It turned out to be true, an immediate cash offer for the full asking price.

But TBH, I think it's more often the case that the agent is exaggerating.

Flugelhorn

they all tend to claim to have a "waiting list" of people for houses "just like yours"

esubbs

In this current climate I'd be inclined to believe the estate agent. I've been looking for a property for months now and there are far more people out to buy than there are selling.

There are only two estate agents in the town I am moving to and I ring them both weekly to see if anything suitable is coming up. 

Tokmon

alreeve27 said:

Hi, we’re in the process of speaking to a few estate agents about selling our house. Very pleased with the valuations and we have one more coming round before we decide who to go with. We have a preference so far, but the other agent got in touch the next day to say he has a client who lives around the corner (given the road name) who has SSTC to a first time buyer and would like to view this weekend.

At this stage we haven’t agreed to sell the house with anyone and my gut feeling is that this is a technique to pressure us into choosing them. If this person is real, they would see the house go up for sale regardless of who it’s with. And no doubt the agent would attempt to get me to sign something about a fee for introducing them?

I am confident we will have a lot of interest in the house, so don’t want to be bullied into a quick sale. Does anyone have any thoughts? Is this a common tactic?

Thanks

Your using very emotive language such a "pressure" and "bullied" but i don't see why your so concerned about their actions. 

You have told them your interested in selling your house and they have come back saying they have a potential buyer who would be interested. I can't see anything wrong with that because they are just showing you the benefits of going with them which any good salesperson would do when people show an interest in what they are offering.

I'm not sure why you think you will be "bullied into a quick sale" surely if you decide to sell you want it to happen at a good pace because the house selling process is so long anyway then anything that speeds it up is a good thing.

k3lvc

Their pressure on you leaves you in a position to negotiate fees (assuming fees were the reason you weren't looking to choose them). As suggested above if you weren't comfortable with them in general then give them this opportunity but fix a 2 week exit on the contract so you can move elsewhere if their 'buyer' turns out not to be

csgohan4

Don't go with the highest valuation. Your house will be valued according to market forces, not a bunch of EA who are not RICS qualified

MrsBrush

Look for an agent who offers a fixed fee, good post-sales teams to get you to completion, and if they are really good enough, they wont tie you in to any sort of contract beyond you giving the authority to market on your behalf. My agent is in the town i am buying in, not selling in, as he was far more genuine, not remotely pushy and incredibly professional.

mine told me that many agents will tell people that there are lots of buyers waiting, which is true, as these boards are full of people looking, but they wont be loyal to one agent. But he also said that everyone's first port of call is Rightmove and if the property looks okay, people won't care who the agent is mostly.