Why am I too slow? Keep missing out...

findingmyownway

Hiya

I have been looking for a flat to rent over the last few weeks.

Have looked properties up on rightmove/EA websites and seen a few i like. Phoned up agents and made appoinments to view, all going well you might think. But then between making the viewing appointment and actually going, the EAs phone to say the flat has already gone :rolleyes:

This isnt just once, at least 5 occasions.

So what am i doing wrong? When i make the appointments i take whatever the 'next available' slot it so i dont think they can be thinking im a timewaster.

phlash

Pressure them.

Say you want to see it today, at latest tomo.

You'll jump the queue, they can always fit you in.

findingmyownway

Hmm, maybe i need to be less polite then.

When they say 'we're fully booked today, how about tommoro?' i am the kind of person who assumes they are telling the truth and accepts it. lol

Debt_Free_Chick

findingmyownway wrote: »

Have looked properties up on rightmove/EA websites and seen a few i like.

From my experience, you are too late by then. I have email alerts on Rightmove. I've called first thing on the morning that the email arrived, to find that a let has already been agreed.

You need the agents to be calling you as soon as they get a new instruction confirmed, so that you are viewing before it even hits their website/RM.

lil_me

Too many don't update regularly enough on websites. If you register with them asking to be informed of properties which may interest you and call each day, it'll probably be easier.

scorpio_princess

lil_me wrote: »

Too many don't update regularly enough on websites. If you register with them asking to be informed of properties which may interest you and call each day, it'll probably be easier.

I remember this scenario from a couple of years ago when I was looking - highly frustrating I know!

I asked agents to let me know by phone or email if places in my price range came up, but most of them said they tend not to let people know because the market was so fast-moving - I was simply told that i'd have to call all the time and try my luck. Exactly what DO these people who work in LAs do?

What I would do (if possible) is take a couple of days holiday from work, get on the phone first thing, and make yourself available to view immediately. This worked for me this time around - I saw the place on rightmove (which I think is updated more frequently than other websites), called the number, viewed it 15 minutes later, loved it, applied for it by fax and hour later - hey presto, 4 days later I was asked when I can move in :j Don't give up, you'll find somewhere soon - if it's meant to be it will happen!