William H Brown - dire

Elaine853

I seem to be tied into a contract for 20 weeks... 8 weeks in and 5 viewings. Appointments only made when I chase them.  I feel I have a very inexperienced sales person who doesn't really sell my property.  Last viewing yesterday the buyer moaned about having to decorate/replace carpets (house decorated throughout within last 2 years); is it unreasonable for me to expect the sales person to point this out?  The house is at the cheaper end of the market in a nice area - £160,000 - 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  Do buyers have unreasonable expectations?

I was told by the estate agent that they had a waiting list for my house, pressured me into signing to ensure my house was part of the upcoming open weekends (both of which generated 0 viewings), and told that the house would sell within 7 days; after 3 weeks I emailed to say I wasn't happy with the listing, the photos, the narrative - spoke to the branch manager who said she would 'eat her hat' if house wasn't sold within 4 weeks. Obviously, she was wrong. 

I would love to move to another estate agent but I still  have another12 weeks (3 months) with this company.

Any advice?

p.s. the guide price was offered by 3 estate agents so I know it's in the right field.  The estate agent suggested 3 weeks ago that I accept offers £10k less that the guide price - I feel this is unreasonable - is it?  £10k on a £160k house?  

Gentoo365

Have you had an offer of £150k on an asking price of £160k?

If so then that isn't necessarily an unreasonable offer, and it may be appropriate to accept it. It could be argued the estate agent has then done their job and got you an offer. No estate agent can sell it for more than people are willing and able to pay.

..but obviously it's not possible to tell how good the offer is without checking sold prices of similar properties, and knowing how it impacts your plans.

If you haven't actually had any offers then the point is moot and you should just say you will consider offers once you get them. Especially as part of your decision will be whether the buyer is cash/chain free/whatever.

sheramber

Decorations  and carpets are personal choice and your colour scheme / style may not appeal.

Bookworm105

Elaine853 said:

I would love to move to another estate agent but I still  have another12 weeks (3 months) with this company.

Any advice?

p.s. the guide price was offered by 3 estate agents so I know it's in the right field.  The estate agent suggested 3 weeks ago that I accept offers £10k less that the guide price - I feel this is unreasonable - is it?  £10k on a £160k house?  

obviously you are locked into the contract you are currently in, nothing more can be said on that front.

You can of course pressure and complain as much as you want, it cannot magic up viewers and may result in the EA staff ignoring you as an awkward customer / lost cause .... or it may not. 

as to whether that EA is better or worse than other ones, spend your time looking at comparable properties on with other agents and track if they sell to inform your judgement.

knightstyle

Well we are paying a bit more to get a good agent and it has been worth it!    Two offers in the first two weeks and we accepted one after a bit of negotiating, now preparing to move in a few weeks.
The agent also has a progress chaser who is separate from the sales team and has been very proactive in our sale.

propertyrental

Elaine853 said:

I would love to move to another estate agent but I still  have another12 weeks (3 months) with this company.

Any advice?

Yes. For you next time and others reading this: never sign up to a 20 week contract. If (as is common) the EA says they have lots of buyers looking for your type of property and/or they will be able to sell it in x weeks, you have a perfect reason to say "then an 8 week contract is all you need".

Likewise, insist on a 2 week notice period - not the 4 or 6 weeks EAs often put in their contracts.

BarelySentientAI

It's only a 160k house if someone will pay you 160k for it - whatever the estate agents say to get you to sign 

UnderOffer

Just picking up this point “Last viewing yesterday the buyer moaned about having to decorate/replace carpets (house decorated throughout within last 2 years); is it unreasonable for me to expect the sales person to point this out?” Why do you think the EA stating this will make any difference to securing a sale? If the potential buyer doesn’t like your decor or carpet choice, an EA isn’t going to change their mind. The buyer was probably factoring that into additional costs they’d have to spend. 

Elaine853

Gentoo365 said:

Have you had an offer of £150k on an asking price of £160k?

If so then that isn't necessarily an unreasonable offer, and it may be appropriate to accept it. It could be argued the estate agent has then done their job and got you an offer. No estate agent can sell it for more than people are willing and able to pay.

..but obviously it's not possible to tell how good the offer is without checking sold prices of similar properties, and knowing how it impacts your plans.

If you haven't actually had any offers then the point is moot and you should just say you will consider offers once you get them. Especially as part of your decision will be whether the buyer is cash/chain free/whatever.

HI.  I had one offer at 165 - I accepted only for WHB to refuse due to funding stream.

Elaine853

sheramber said:

Decorations  and carpets are personal choice and your colour scheme / style may not appeal.

sheramber said:

Decorations  and carpets are personal choice and your colour scheme / style may not appeal.

sheramber said:

Decorations  and carpets are personal choice and your colour scheme / style may not appeal.

UnderOffer said:

Just picking up this point “Last viewing yesterday the buyer moaned about having to decorate/replace carpets (house decorated throughout within last 2 years); is it unreasonable for me to expect the sales person to point this out?” Why do you think the EA stating this will make any difference to securing a sale? If the potential buyer doesn’t like your decor or carpet choice, an EA isn’t going to change their mind. The buyer was probably factoring that into additional costs they’d have to spend. 

I completely understand the decor isn't everyone's choice although it is neutral cream/light beige throughout apart from 2 bedrooms.  I just thought this is a normal thing and people wouldn't refuse a house based on neutral decor.

Latest saga is that the estate agent left a key in the lock after a viewing forcing me to find hotel accommodation on a Saturday night - I've had the expected response from their very articulate manager! 

theartfullodger

Poor you!  Who agreed to and signed this contract please?