Dealing with Estate Agents

bertiebb_2

I get they don't want to waste their time with timewasters but they all seem to ask your current position before they'll agree to a viewing.....

Our house is on the market, had a few offers, its likely to sell very soon. I just don't want to tell the Estate Agents that its not actually sold yet in case they lose interest a bit.

What do most people do? I'm tempted to say yes its sold.

GDB2222

It's always a good idea to start a business relationship with a lie. I can't see any downside there.

GrannyKate

I am downsizing and have a viewer tomorrow - my first after 7 weeks on market.  I am honest with other agents when asking to view properties.  A couple of times I have been asked to hold off a couple of weeks when they had potential viable offer or sale stc but they have been happy for me to view if that fell through.  I have only viewed where I am sure it meets my criteria and this has enabled me to narrow down my area and needs so that I can move quickly if my property gets an offer.  The EAs are aware that I will not be seeking a mortgage which may make me a more attractive proposition. 

cymruchris

With one estate agent recently in order to view a property I had to provide written proof of funds before even getting a viewing. It was a property I really wanted to see - so complied - but felt incredibly over the top just to get a viewing. It turned out I didn't like the property as much as I thought though.

Some areas seem to have fairly fast moving property within certain price brackets - so I know they want people that are absolutely 'ready to move'.

If something isn't shifting - they'll likely offer you a viewing no matter what - but if the property is deemed such that it's just going to fly off the shelf, then they'll likely be more stringent in terms of who views. 

bertiebb_2

cymruchris said:

With one estate agent recently in order to view a property I had to provide written proof of funds before even getting a viewing. It was a property I really wanted to see - so complied - but felt incredibly over the top just to get a viewing. It turned out I didn't like the property as much as I thought though.

Some areas seem to have fairly fast moving property within certain price brackets - so I know they want people that are absolutely 'ready to move'.

If something isn't shifting - they'll likely offer you a viewing no matter what - but if the property is deemed such that it's just going to fly off the shelf, then they'll likely be more stringent in terms of who views. 

I can see why they do that. A friend of mine wasted months thinking his house was sold and the buyers had not even started looking at a mortgage.

They got turned down. Apparently, the amount they had in mind was not even close to what they could get.

Why on earth do people do that? Surely you need to know what you can borrow IN ADVANCE?

Never underestimate stupidity

pjs493

Most agents I viewed with asked what my buying position was and budget, but didn’t ask for proof. My budget meant that I approaching estate agents ranging from high street agencies, to high end agencies because my budget was at the top of what you often see in high street agencies, and at the bottom of the high end agencies. 

The high end agencies asked more questions and wanted a little more detail about my buying position. I can understand that they want to be sure someone is a serious buyer and won’t want to show someone around a multi-million pound house if they aren’t in a genuine position to proceed (my budget wasn’t anywhere near this, but I suppose they’re used to asking the same questions). 

I was always honest about my position. I was often asked for my budget which I felt a little cagey about because I didn’t want this to be used against me in negotiations, but in the end I don’t think it did. Potentially because the house I’m in the process of buying needs a lot of work doing to it and I’m a cash buyer so they won’t expect me to spend all my money on a property. 

I gave my top end budget, but explained it would have to be a dream home for me to go that high. That did result in one high end agency trying to persuade me to view houses above that limit, and houses that didn’t tick all the boxes. For example they wanted me to view a town house that I’d previously explained wasn’t suitable because I’ve got two small children, and they also showed me around a lovely house, but it didn’t have the parking I needed for all of my vehicles so if I’d known that in advance I wouldn’t have agreed to the viewing. That viewing happened because they called me between viewings, said it was just new to the market, and did I want to view it. As I was driving I could only go off what they told me on the phone, headed straight to the house, and couldn’t check my email until I was there. 

cymruchris

bertiebb_2 said:

cymruchris said:

With one estate agent recently in order to view a property I had to provide written proof of funds before even getting a viewing. It was a property I really wanted to see - so complied - but felt incredibly over the top just to get a viewing. It turned out I didn't like the property as much as I thought though.

Some areas seem to have fairly fast moving property within certain price brackets - so I know they want people that are absolutely 'ready to move'.

If something isn't shifting - they'll likely offer you a viewing no matter what - but if the property is deemed such that it's just going to fly off the shelf, then they'll likely be more stringent in terms of who views. 

I can see why they do that. A friend of mine wasted months thinking his house was sold and the buyers had not even started looking at a mortgage.

They got turned down. Apparently, the amount they had in mind was not even close to what they could get.

Why on earth do people do that? Surely you need to know what you can borrow IN ADVANCE?

Never underestimate stupidity

Totally agree with you. Never underestimate stupidity. I'm sure that's why the criteria for viewing has been made tighter to eliminate those that are far from ready, and the dreamers.

youth_leader

When I was selling my unique house, after many many curiousity viewers, I eventually insisted that the EA screen all viewers to check they were proceedable.  A few still evaded the question.

 I went to auction in the end as I wanted an end to the stream of muddy feet and feedback of 'too much work' - and the lovely young girl doing the viewings excitedly told me one of the viewers 'liked the house so much she said she was going to put her house on the market straight away'?  I thought all auction viewers were supposed to have the money already!  

youth_leader

When selling I did learn that offers from 'cash' buyers was also a flexible term.  I had an offer from a cash buyer, everyone said I'd have to 'move quickly' so I sold my beautiful  hugeTetrad sofa for peanuts.  Cash buyer was ducking and diving for three weeks before the EA caught up with him - his ex wife had the cash in Sweden, he couldn't proceed.  I'd been positive and viewing places and lost a lovely cottage in our nearest seaside village.

Albermarle

cymruchris said:

bertiebb_2 said:

cymruchris said:

With one estate agent recently in order to view a property I had to provide written proof of funds before even getting a viewing. It was a property I really wanted to see - so complied - but felt incredibly over the top just to get a viewing. It turned out I didn't like the property as much as I thought though.

Some areas seem to have fairly fast moving property within certain price brackets - so I know they want people that are absolutely 'ready to move'.

If something isn't shifting - they'll likely offer you a viewing no matter what - but if the property is deemed such that it's just going to fly off the shelf, then they'll likely be more stringent in terms of who views. 

I can see why they do that. A friend of mine wasted months thinking his house was sold and the buyers had not even started looking at a mortgage.

They got turned down. Apparently, the amount they had in mind was not even close to what they could get.

Why on earth do people do that? Surely you need to know what you can borrow IN ADVANCE?

Never underestimate stupidity

Totally agree with you. Never underestimate stupidity. I'm sure that's why the criteria for viewing has been made tighter to eliminate those that are far from ready, and the dreamers.

Probably some people just like nosying around other peoples houses, and have no intention of buying at all.

cymruchris

Albermarle said:

cymruchris said:

bertiebb_2 said:

cymruchris said:

With one estate agent recently in order to view a property I had to provide written proof of funds before even getting a viewing. It was a property I really wanted to see - so complied - but felt incredibly over the top just to get a viewing. It turned out I didn't like the property as much as I thought though.

Some areas seem to have fairly fast moving property within certain price brackets - so I know they want people that are absolutely 'ready to move'.

If something isn't shifting - they'll likely offer you a viewing no matter what - but if the property is deemed such that it's just going to fly off the shelf, then they'll likely be more stringent in terms of who views. 

I can see why they do that. A friend of mine wasted months thinking his house was sold and the buyers had not even started looking at a mortgage.

They got turned down. Apparently, the amount they had in mind was not even close to what they could get.

Why on earth do people do that? Surely you need to know what you can borrow IN ADVANCE?

Never underestimate stupidity

Totally agree with you. Never underestimate stupidity. I'm sure that's why the criteria for viewing has been made tighter to eliminate those that are far from ready, and the dreamers.

Probably some people just like nosying around other peoples houses, and have no intention of buying at all.

I heard that's quite a popular passtime....