Awful Estate Agent Service

LunaAndBelle

I’m a first time buyer and this is the first time I’ve made an offer on a property. I did this two weeks ago. 

I was told that there were still viewings booked in before my offer - which the owner wanted to happen first. That’s fine. 

I phoned on Monday for an update and they said the offer was accepted but they just needed me to go in to show my ID and MIP. This was booked for today. They were adamant they couldn’t take it off the market until then. 

Ive had my appointment this afternoon and they’re now saying there’s another offer so it’s best and final now. I was very confused because they’d told me my offer was accepted. When I said I was told, they’re now saying they said ‘that offer is acceptable’. I know for a fact that’s not what they said. 

They never even told me about the offer being accepted but they called as they were waiting for me so it makes me look bad. I didn’t even know they needed to see this, they just keep saying I needed to speak to their mortgage advisor. I’m gutted I never got anything in writing but learned for the future. 

I now have to wait until Monday when the final offers will take place. I know legally they have to put forward all offers but it just feels very wrong. 

I know I don’t have any rights but I’m just curious if anyone has any advice please? I have no idea what to offer now as I’m offering the asking price. 

I just need to put down to a life lesson I guess but these agents have been awful from the start so an absolute rant is needed. Is this standard?

anselld

As a buyer you don't get "service" as the agent works for the vendors.  Behaviour varies from agent to agent and sometimes it is driven by the demands of the vendors anyway.
Unfortunately you just need to grow a thicker skin and get used to it.  Personally I would not play the offers game, tell them your asking price offer stands.  There will be plenty of others if that fails.

propertyrental

The agent works for the seller, and their job is to get the best price possible from the best potential buyer.

Checking ID, and a buyer's financial ability to pay the price being offered, is part of that process, and if during that process a better offer comes in, of course the agent must put that to the seller.

Even after a price is firmly agreed and the property removed from the market, much can go wrong during the conveyancing process, so nothing is guaranteed till Exchange of Contracts. You need to accept the uncertainty of the property sales process I'm afraid!

Jonboy_1984

I suspect I could narrow this down to three larger chains based on your description….Two of which may possibly begin with C. 

Always remember Estate Agents are paid by the sellers, normally to get the best price, that will succeed in a sale and then nag the sale over the line for the seller. 

Offering feels a brutal process, especially the first time you go through it, but you just need to offer what you think it is worth and then let their games slide over you. 

Also be aware that their early next week is seemingly a Wednesday across all estate agents…

We had the third chain in my guess list try and play the you must see our mortgage adviser card, so I simply said get them to call me to make an appointment. When they called I simply explained I was using broker X and it would be a waste of both our time…then viewed the property as planned.

Also nothing from them in writing is really worth anything until it’s the memorandum of sale they send to both your and the seller’s solicitor to say a sale has been agreed…

Good luck, it will be worth it when you are happily moved in somewhere.

mebu60

You do not need to see the estate agent's mortgage advisor either. 

Even if an offer is accepted it can be unaccepted. Just as you can withdraw your offer at any time.

I second all that anselld says above. 

LunaAndBelle

anselld said:

As a buyer you don't get "service" as the agent works for the vendors.  Behaviour varies from agent to agent and sometimes it is driven by the demands of the vendors anyway.
Unfortunately you just need to grow a thicker skin and get used to it.  Personally I would not play the offers game, tell them your asking price offer stands.  There will be plenty of others if that fails.

I’ve done exactly that. Confirmed my offer is what I’ve already had put forward. It will be a shame if it’s not accepted but absolutely won’t be the end of the world. 

propertyrental said:

The agent works for the seller, and their job is to get the best price possible from the best potential buyer.

Checking ID, and a buyer's financial ability to pay the price being offered, is part of that process, and if during that process a better offer comes in, of course the agent must put that to the seller.

Even after a price is firmly agreed and the property removed from the market, much can go wrong during the conveyancing process, so nothing is guaranteed till Exchange of Contracts. You need to accept the uncertainty of the property sales process I'm afraid!

Yup I’ve learned very quickly that it’s the exchanging of contracts is the final point and either parties can pull out before then. Absolutely learned very quickly of the sales process. 

Jonboy_1984 said:

I suspect I could narrow this down to three larger chains based on your description….Two of which may possibly begin with C. 

Always remember Estate Agents are paid by the sellers, normally to get the best price, that will succeed in a sale and then nag the sale over the line for the seller. 

Offering feels a brutal process, especially the first time you go through it, but you just need to offer what you think it is worth and then let their games slide over you. 

Also be aware that their early next week is seemingly a Wednesday across all estate agents…

We had the third chain in my guess list try and play the you must see our mortgage adviser card, so I simply said get them to call me to make an appointment. When they called I simply explained I was using broker X and it would be a waste of both our time…then viewed the property as planned.

Also nothing from them in writing is really worth anything until it’s the memorandum of sale they send to both your and the seller’s solicitor to say a sale has been agreed…

Good luck, it will be worth it when you are happily moved in somewhere.

You would be spot on. Connells is the one I’ve been dealing with. 

Thanks for that though, definitely learned an important lesson. 

Sarah1Mitty2

anselld said:

As a buyer you don't get "service" as the agent works for the vendors.  Behaviour varies from agent to agent and sometimes it is driven by the demands of the vendors anyway.
Unfortunately you just need to grow a thicker skin and get used to it.  Personally I would not play the offers game, tell them your asking price offer stands.  There will be plenty of others if that fails.

Good advice, don`t play their games.

Sarah1Mitty2

Jonboy_1984 said:

I suspect I could narrow this down to three larger chains based on your description….Two of which may possibly begin with C. 

Always remember Estate Agents are paid by the sellers, normally to get the best price, that will succeed in a sale and then nag the sale over the line for the seller. 

Offering feels a brutal process, especially the first time you go through it, but you just need to offer what you think it is worth and then let their games slide over you. 

Also be aware that their early next week is seemingly a Wednesday across all estate agents…

We had the third chain in my guess list try and play the you must see our mortgage adviser card, so I simply said get them to call me to make an appointment. When they called I simply explained I was using broker X and it would be a waste of both our time…then viewed the property as planned.

Also nothing from them in writing is really worth anything until it’s the memorandum of sale they send to both your and the seller’s solicitor to say a sale has been agreed…

Good luck, it will be worth it when you are happily moved in somewhere.

Looks like the one beginning with P is in trouble, not sure if it is related to poor service though.

dannim12345

Did you already have a mortgage in principle? If not, speak to a/some mortgage advisors now so you can get one or get one quickly when needed. 

My partners cousin is a mortgage advisor and as soon as I said that estate agents wouldn’t push. So could always say something like that if being pushed… I think they know you aren’t going to use their service so it would be a waste of time. 

NameUnavailable

Next time you make an offer you should say it is conditional upon the property being taken off the market with no further viewings either.

That still doesn't stop someone coming along who saw it earlier and putting in an offer however.

Don't lose hope. Also many offers fall through - even if you were to be outbid now, you might find you get a call in a few weeks to say that the property is available again!

LunaAndBelle

dannim12345 said:

Did you already have a mortgage in principle? If not, speak to a/some mortgage advisors now so you can get one or get one quickly when needed. 

My partners cousin is a mortgage advisor and as soon as I said that estate agents wouldn’t push. So could always say something like that if being pushed… I think they know you aren’t going to use their service so it would be a waste of time. 

Yeah I did have one already. I had one before I started viewings. 

They have been quite persistent in trying to get me to use their advisor - even when I’ve told them I’ve already sorted it. 

NameUnavailable said:

Next time you make an offer you should say it is conditional upon the property being taken off the market with no further viewings either.

That still doesn't stop someone coming along who saw it earlier and putting in an offer however.

Don't lose hope. Also many offers fall through - even if you were to be outbid now, you might find you get a call in a few weeks to say that the property is available again!

Excellent advice, thank you!