EA advises self advertising!

socks_uk

I went into my EA yesterday to ask for my board to be moved (it's stuck in the middle of our garden and can't be seen due to next door's tree) and we were talking about the housing market in general. After him suggesting us reducing and me refusing at this point (we reduced it 22nd July and it has only just been advertised at the 'new reduced price'), he has suggested I stick up my house brochure at my place of work!

Has an estate agent ever suggested 'self advertising' to any of you? If I was to do this I would make my own advert up and get anyone who was interested to ring or talk to me direct.

Any thoughts on this one?

Jill

skippy64

He'll next probably suggest you get a 'sandwich board' and you also walk round work wearing that as well to advertise your house for sale !!!

theGrinch

'sandwich board' not a bad idea if you hit the high street!

certainly more direct than an EA sitting on his hands

meanmachine_2

You need to find an EA with experience of the previous housing slowdown back in the 90s - a more experienced agent will know the work that is involved in flogging property during a "buyer's market".

A lad in a cheap suit who has only ever known the boom times will be largely clueless.

HGLTsuperstar

socks_uk wrote:

Has an estate agent ever suggested 'self advertising' to any of you? If I was to do this I would make my own advert up and get anyone who was interested to ring or talk to me direct.



Jill

But you'd still be liable to the EA whilst under contract, so sack them first!

sooz

if he wants you to advertise, suggest he reduces his fee, as you will be doing his job. ditto for viewings...ask exactly what you will be paying him to do. the solicitor does the contracts, so his reason for being is...................

check out your contract with him, and find a better agent

vansboy

OK, so maybe not such a bad idea - ANYTHING must be worth a try!!

VB

nelly_2

Sounds to me like hes desperate for any help he can get.

I suggest you drop your price another 20 grand and pull it back by helpfull tips in this thread;

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=97493

Rebecca22

If you do self-advertise, don't use the details the estate agent has drawn up for you or refer anyone to the estate agent. When I sold my house there was a possibility of a friend buying it and the estate agent told me that I wouldn't be liable for the fees because it was a private introduction

lush_walrus

It sounds to me as if your EA is not very keen to have your house on his books or he would not advise you in this way, its certainly not something I would ever advise any vendor!.

The reason why could be anything, perhaps they are having difficulties finding someone suitable, are not very capable or (and please don't take this the wrong way) maybe they are finding you too anxious and are trying to put you off marketing it with them? But whatever the reason isnt important, the important point for you to note is that the EA only gets paid if they introduce you to a buyer, therefore if you advertise your house in any way yourself and the person then buys it, the EA is not due any commission. Of course if the potential buyer does contact the EA rather than going directly to you then the EA will end up dealing with it and if they came via your ad or not will make no difference.

Therefore if you are going to take on any form of marketing yourself, take the details of the agents off and add yours, probably email address would be safest as you might be susceptable to loons if you add your number. Also only put street address on or rough area, as again you want to be able to control people coming to view rather than have them feel they can turn up at your door.

If you arent comfortable with people coming directly through you, then there would be no harm in placing your EAs details wherever you want and think would attract people, but in that case you will need to pay the agent if a sale emerges.

My advice would be try to hassle the EA to advertise your house in other local papers rather than the standard ones they are advertising in anyway. And if you think they arent pulling their weight, take your house off the market, wait a week or so and put it back up with a better one, or tell them you want to put the house multi and negotiate with them to keep the sole agency fee.

lush_walrus

sooz wrote:

ditto for viewings...

Agree with the rest of your post, but viewings are not part of the EA fees, it is normal for the vendor to show applicants around, unless someone requests otherwise or the property is vacant.