Just want to moan about Estate Agents

BrandNewDay

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good afternoon: My sister and BIL have their own real estate business on the east coast of Canada....7 days a week availability is the key to their success... property selling/buying is a very different beast in North America...EAs I have met in the UK don't seem to believe me when I describe how it works across the pond...lessons to be learned;)

HTH

Canucklehead

I didn't write my post in order to make the claim that UK estate agents ought to be available 24-7. The woman I talked about was selling houses in Beverly Hills. She was making a LOT of money and dealing with some pretty high-maintenance people. If you're buying a house that costs 2 or 3 million dollars, and the agent will be making $75,000 or so from the transaction, then they'd damn well better hustle.

But, I do think that it's expected to work on weekends in just about every US market.

beedeedee

Well, perhaps 24/7 was not quite what I meant - I think I meant 6 or 7 days a week ! Getting old and past it, I know - but I really feel that an EA should be available at weekends. To me it does not make sense to close on a Saturday afternoon .....and if it was my business, I would make sure that someone was available even if it was by mobile phone (with my number on the door for prospective buyers).

jonewer

simonjstone wrote: »

I imgaine it is a very difficult job as, people want everything for nothing, when they are selling they make up an imaginary number and think they will get it.

When you say "people" you are referring to Estate Agents arent you.

Honestly, if I had'nt an ounce of decency then I would become an EA.

1. Leave school at 16
2. Buy a £10 suit and tie at Matalan
3. Spike up your hair with loads of gel
4. Bin the Clearasil
5. Go and see someone's house and make up a value for it
6. Lie your !!!! off to vendor and viewers
7. Profit!

Strapped

What I particularly liked about working as an EA was that it made you so popular :rotfl:

Canucklehead

BrandNewDay wrote: »

I didn't write my post in order to make the claim that UK estate agents ought to be available 24-7. The woman I talked about was selling houses in Beverly Hills. She was making a LOT of money and dealing with some pretty high-maintenance people. If you're buying a house that costs 2 or 3 million dollars, and the agent will be making $75,000 or so from the transaction, then they'd damn well better hustle.]


Good evening: I understand that and didn't suggest 24-7 should be required or expected...I'm suggesting that expectations of buyers/sellers are more likely to be met by an agent/agency in Canada... 10% commission on the sale of ocean view building plots makes an excellent carrot (and of course they are more involved in the process, are licensed ,regulated and don't employ teenagers in shiny suits as 'property professionals'). My sister's agency provides a 7 days/week service (but they do sleep:D).

HTH

Canucklehead

slipp_digby

simonjstone wrote: »

have you ever thought that agents are very busy, and they get plenty and i mean plenty of people who arnt in any sort of position to proceed phoneing and demandind viewings.

If I paid someone to sell something and they treated everyone like **** just because there were a proportion of people wasting their time I would be pretty angry. Especially is their fees were so steep. Sorry Ffffing vertical.

The EA shouldn't be 'filtering out' potential buyers anyway at this stage. If they make an offer the EA should then check their ability to proceed.

selectcase

is it the case that a few give the rest a bad name??

my estate agent charges 0.75% incl vat - yes they close at 1.00pm on a sat but will arrange viewings for the weekend as we dont mind showing round people ourselves plus they leave a mobile no for out of hours calls. he always rings every week with an update and always checks the procedability of offers etc. I am very pleased with the service and would recommend him. its primarily an internet based company with a small shop in the town.

drowningnotwaving_2

No, selectcase, I don't think it is the case of the cr*p few giving the rest a bad name - I think finding a decent estate agent is very hard and even then the value they truly add to a sale doesn't in anyway justify their ridiculous and exorbitant fees. And I have worked as an estate agent so seen it all first hand - money for old rope doesn't even begin to describe it!

The answer . . . .

Don't use them! Use an internet agent that charge a fraction of the price and do the viewings yourself. It is sooo worth it.

I read a story in the paper at the weekend that EAs were beginning to lose their jobs - has the world stopped turning? No! We can manage without them and it would make the whole process a whole lot easier if we started doing just that!

Good luck with your viewings - let's hope you get an agent who's more than 16!