Utilising more than 1 estate agent

smeghead_3-2

Hi all,
Anyone any advise on the possability of using a few estate agents to sell my house, or cheeky ways to sell it on the web????

I think there will be some reason that you will not be able to use more than one, but anyone any suggestions.

djohn2002uk

If you want to negotiate the best deal with an estate agent then multiple agents is a no no. The best deals will only be offered on a sole agency basis.

vansboy

& as most buyers will check ALL local agents, you can make yourself look desperate, if everyones trying to sell your house!!

Plus, if you alter the price with one & forget to get the others updated, you'll either be too dear/too cheap, when someone gets the details.

Best stick with one for a couple months. or whatever you decide, then advertising & marketing can be fully exploited.

If still no luck, make sure you give agreed notice period - confirm in writing - & try another agent.

VB

John_M_Business

If you're in a hurry, it's not a bad policy...

Although this whole forum is about money saving - it depends on how you view 'saving'. When you buy a discounted piece of clothing, are you really saving - of course you're not: you're spending!

Too many sellers think that they are 'saving' money by getting the lowest commission rate - however using multiple agencies can often get a deal done quickly for the best possible price in a given marketplace.

Case in point: friend of mine was about to buy (had an offer accepted on) a flat in London done up by a developer. He thought it was a 'done deal' even though he offered £15k under asking price.

The developer went to another agency and got asking within a week... my friend was gazumped, but given that one agency was able to get 'asking' (i.e. £15k more) - you can see that 'saving' by paying, say, 1% less on commission may not be such a good idea after all.

Han_naH

BAD IDEA. Two signs or more outside your property suggests one thing: you are desperate.

This could cost you thousands, will buyers pulling out at the last mo, or drop your price, because after all, you're desperate.

Estate agents will also not give you 100%.

As for selling on the web: I had a few ads running, but found the whole process a total waste of time.

Why? Too many house sale sites, with no viewers. Secondly, the market has almost stopped.

These sites need to almalgamate to form websites that people actually visit.

The irony is, waiting for one of these sites to return a seller could leave the market to slide, and you losing thousands on your house - because you didn't want to pay an estate agent a couple of grand.

False economy!

Cheers.

Leejp.

John_M_Business

BAD IDEA. Two signs or more outside your property suggests one thing: you are desperate.

This could cost you thousands, will buyers pulling out at the last mo, or drop your price, because after all, you're desperate.

BAD ADVICE.

Most people don't find houses by walking around the streets, they find them online or by calling around... and then visit.

Also, if you have multiple agencies, you can sometimes persuade them NOT to put their signs up.

m00nie

last week i opted to go for a multi agency to sell a house, on monday i had a surpise call with a great offer. and it turned out to be not from the estate agents who i would have gone with if i had gone with sole agent.

so worked for me ;D ;D ;D

different strokes for different folks tho.

Han_naH

Point taken about signs, but when you talk to buyers as you show them round:

"So which Estate agent sent you?"
"Oh you're with more than one, then?" Alert! Alert! Desperate!

Also, all my viewers were local people, for all kinds of local reasons.

And finally, you'll love this. This is the ONLY reply I received from fielding my house on six sell-your-house websites. Not only is it NOT a buyer, but most likely a sham.. read on!

Dear Friend
I want to inform you that am fully interested in your property in concern.AS
a matter of fact am the special adviser to the minister of works and housing
here in Liberia.My tenure as the special adviser terminate on the 30th AUGUST
2004. And i wish to settle down in a far distance country with my family,
this is necessary due to the current political crisis in my country. Please
l will like to have this house and the money to pay will not be a problem
so l will want u to give me more information of the property like your final
price and more ictures of the property in concern. I hope to hear from you
as soon as possible. Thanks for your co operation.
Engineer victor odewale


And that is taken word for word, untouched!!!!!!

John_M_Business

True about the free websites.

The trouble is that most people view Estate Agents in the wrong light... and sometimes this is undeserved.

In 90% of cases an Estate Agent will get you a better offer price and a stronger chance of completion than trying to do it on your own.

If you have time, try a free website, but if you want a sale reasonably quickly, don't bother.