update on my useless estate agent

meanmachine_2

I think it's a combination of factors.

The OP should firstly demand answers from the EA. If they blame the market, take that on board and go elsewhere.

Once different agents have been tried (swapping from a branch of a well known form to a long-established local firm), then the OP should consider the state of the market in their area.

After all of these considerations, then the price should be looked.

Your best bet is to go with a very experienced agent who has knowledge of previous slowdowns - rather than these young upstarts who only know what it's like to ponce off a rising sellers market.

If the experienced agent tells you it's the market, then you have to accept that answer.

But I agree with bridie, giving a blanket answer doesn't really help. Even in a correction, quality properties in good areas will always sell, so if the OP's property fits this description, it might just be a bad (inexperienced) agent.

An agent who has been around for 30 years will know how to market houses in trying times, as they've done it. A 20 year old jack the lad won't have a clue, and is probably sitting there scratching their !!!!!! thinking how and why they've lost their "golden touch".

eurows

The market is falling which should mean that estate agents have to work harder to try sell your house. I don't think this has hit them yet. They have been earning money for nothing and they want it to continue. They have eaned 1, 2 and 2% of double the amount over the last three years. I had an experience with an estate agents where I am looking for a paticular type of property, left my details with loads of estate agents in Huddersfield. I have not had one of the estate agents ring me with a property even though I have seen plenty new ones come on the market.

They don't want to work for their money, they want the money to walk in the office.

JanCee

It's always worth mystery shopping your own EA if things are moving slowly. If you can't face doing it yourself then get a mate to do it for you. Phone up and act like a prospective buyer & see if they really try and "sell" your property, get them to send details out, then if you are not happy move on to another agent.

kazd

We tried that, got my sister in law to call, she was offered loads of houses on the next development and none on ours, when she mentioned that she like our development the response was ' Oh, why's that'!

Our main reason for moving is that we need a larger fourth bedroom, having been up for sale since end of Jan and totally hacked off with ea's we have come to the conclusion that we are taking the house off the market and doing a loft extension. We worked out that with estate agent fees and stamp duty alone we were looking to pay out over £18k, well thats halfway towards the extension.

So we are looking to build a loft extension which will be a Master Suite, complete with walk in wardrobe (used to live in the US and really miss this facility) and hopefully a full ensuite but will settle for a double size shower.

I think that we can do all the renovations and extensions for about £50k probably less and will increase the value of our property.

seabiscuit_2

thanks everyone - sent them a strongly worded letter informing them we are quitting them and using another agent and quoted all the reasons why - this was wednesday and so far i have heard nothing back from them

in the 3 days since i contacted a second agent i have had more calls from this new new agent than the whole month i was with the previous one