Estate agent dilemma.

slackgarry

I work on trust and Ive been let down. Please let me explain.

So decided on a Agent to sell the property, Explained what was included. Received paperwork to sign and check now EPC is extra.

Keys handed over and Photos taken. On checking the security cameras in the house. All the cameras had been placed in cupboards and not been put back. Chairs around the dining table had been moved to a bedroom. There was a pen used with a booklet to sign when the house had been entered on a small shelf in the hallway taken and a empty pen left.

Alight so in the bigger scheme of things not much really. Items should have been put back where they came from, Especially the cameras.

So in light of this I am thinking of using another estate agent, as lost all trust.

What do you think ?

Emmia

Have you asked the Agent about this? 

The agent probably wanted to make the house more presentable for viewings (obvious security cameras would make me, as a prospective purchaser, think the area has a major crime problem)

And more crucially, have you signed a contract with that Agent?

FlyMeSomewhere79

As a house viewer it would put me off a property if I saw cameras all over the house, all that tells me is that you have issues with intruders and don't feel safe.

Also you need to stop and think about whether it's legally right to film estate agents and viewers without asking them - the estate agent probably knows this but if they tell a viewer that there's cameras everywhere to ensure they are aware and permit it, they would be filmed, the viewer will more than likely write the property off there and then. Also it could look like you are spying because you don't trust them and that would get people's backs up!

ThisIsWeird

Yes, they should have returned everything afterwards to how it was. They owe you an explanation and a pen.
Have a chat with them. They may explain, as Emmia suggests, that a house festooned with cameras could be off-putting for viewers.
Moving the chairs seems more strange - most likely done to increase the feeling of space in the dining area for the photos, but surely counterproductive as most folk would simply wonder why a table has no chairs?
But, all trust lost? Not in most people's opinion, I don't think. It's best to have a healthy bit of cynicism for EAs in general, and if this is the worst they do, you'll be fine.
I hope it goes smoothly for you from now on.

bobster2

slackgarry said:

I work on trust and Ive been let down. Please let me explain.

So decided on a Agent to sell the property, Explained what was included. Received paperwork to sign and check now EPC is extra.

Keys handed over and Photos taken. On checking the security cameras in the house. All the cameras had been placed in cupboards and not been put back. Chairs around the dining table had been moved to a bedroom. There was a pen used with a booklet to sign when the house had been entered on a small shelf in the hallway taken and a empty pen left.

Alight so in the bigger scheme of things not much really. Items should have been put back where they came from, Especially the cameras.

So in light of this I am thinking of using another estate agent, as lost all trust.

What do you think ?

What do I think?

As others have said - if these are small webcam type cameras they may have put them away to make viewers feel more comfortable. And just forgotten to put them back. They often forget things - I've found agents often forget to turn off lights / double lock doors after viewings.

Having a sign-in book in the hallway for the agent to sign in when carrying out viewings is weird! Don't you get texts/emails from the agent to let them know when they're doing viewings? In any case - biros routinely get mixed up and go missing. You're not asking potential buyers to "sign in" are you?

Using another agent for these tiny reasons would be odd. As a buyer - I would be put off by loads of cameras and being asked to sign in.

Flugelhorn

I agree about EAs forgetting to do things - we had one leave the bathroom lights and extractor fan on for 2 days. 

I would be put off by cameras when viewing  - viewing with the EA you should be able to say what you think about a property without thinking that the owner might be listening in

Ans what is it with the notebook? I definitely wouldn't sign that - or maybe use a fake name - if you want names, ask the EA!

FlyMeSomewhere79

bobster2 said:

slackgarry said:

I work on trust and Ive been let down. Please let me explain.

So decided on a Agent to sell the property, Explained what was included. Received paperwork to sign and check now EPC is extra.

Keys handed over and Photos taken. On checking the security cameras in the house. All the cameras had been placed in cupboards and not been put back. Chairs around the dining table had been moved to a bedroom. There was a pen used with a booklet to sign when the house had been entered on a small shelf in the hallway taken and a empty pen left.

Alight so in the bigger scheme of things not much really. Items should have been put back where they came from, Especially the cameras.

So in light of this I am thinking of using another estate agent, as lost all trust.

What do you think ?

What do I think?

As others have said - if these are small webcam type cameras they may have put them away to make viewers feel more comfortable. And just forgotten to put them back. They often forget things - I've found agents often forget to turn off lights / double lock doors after viewings.

Having a sign-in book in the hallway for the agent to sign in when carrying out viewings is weird! Don't you get texts/emails from the agent to let them know when they're doing viewings? In any case - biros routinely get mixed up and go missing. You're not asking potential buyers to "sign in" are you?

Using another agent for these tiny reasons would be odd. As a buyer - I would be put off by loads of cameras and being asked to sign in.

I agree, this guy is putting equipment every that basically says "I don't trust you and think you are a potential thief"! I missed the bit about the signing in book and yes that is weird and I don't get the purpose of it.

I had a lovely guy entrusted with showing people around our place including when we were overseas a number of times, I would never have made him feel so untrusted by using cameras everywhere and signing in books! 

I've have a ring doorbell cam so I know whose coming and going and that's as far as I would take it. And they have now successfully sold my home so I should be moving soon.

slackgarry

Ok some good points there. Let me try to address them for you.
Notebook is a requirement by the Insurance that needs to be signed once a week to say someone has checked the house. Water leaks damage etc. This was also mentioned by the solicitor.

The cameras are also a requirement as the house is in quite a sheltered spot, No other Neighbor's close by.
Hope that answers your questions.
Thanks

Emmia

slackgarry said:

Ok some good points there. Let me try to address them for you.
Notebook is a requirement by the Insurance that needs to be signed once a week to say someone has checked the house. Water leaks damage etc. This was also mentioned by the solicitor.

The cameras are also a requirement as the house is in quite a sheltered spot, No other Neighbor's close by.
Hope that answers your questions.
Thanks

I suggest you ask the agent then.

Incidentally a notebook with "sign ins" is not really proof of anything, since you could put several, differently dated entries in at the same time... (I know this would be fraud) - a ring doorbell footage would be much better evidence of attendance.

elsien

slackgarry said:

Ok some good points there. Let me try to address them for you.
Notebook is a requirement by the Insurance that needs to be signed once a week to say someone has checked the house. Water leaks damage etc. This was also mentioned by the solicitor.

The cameras are also a requirement as the house is in quite a sheltered spot, No other Neighbor's close by.
Hope that answers your questions.
Thanks

Surely that means outside security cameras not cameras inside? 

And evidence that someone is checking the house, (I’m presuming it’s empty and that means you to make sure that any issues are picked up promptly) is entirely different to expecting visitors to sign in and out. 

FlyMeSomewhere79

I book that is signed every time a check is done is one thing - a bit like the lists in toilets that show who last checked them and when. But to expect everyone else entering and leaving the premises to also sign it makes it a bit strange and really difficult for an estate agent to explain to viewers.

Given that we now know the house is empty and a bit remote it is understandable to have security cameras but again outside cameras serve the purpose and can be explained away by the agent to viewers but all over the inside of the house is dystopian, weird and will put viewers off - hence why the agent hid them.