Spot Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Hi All, Currently looking at options of whether we should extend or move. Having spent about 6 weeks looking at what's on sale i'm disappointed by the nasty overpriced slave boxes around where I live. Finding anywhere significantly better than where we currently are launches us into really silly money. However, one place caught my eye which ticks most of the boxes so we thought we'd arrange a viewing (last time I did that was 1996). The property has been on the market for over a year and in that time the price has gone from £500,000 down to £400,000 (bounced everywhere in between) and a few days ago the price moved up again to £419,000. Conversation with EA goes as follows... Me - "Hi i'm interested in viewing property blah blah blah" EA - "Can you make it this afternoon as we have someone else viewing today too?" Me - "Sorry can't make this afternoon but any other weekend is currently good for me" EA - "Are you able to complete immeadiately or do you have to sell your house?" Me - "No, our house isn't even for sale yet we've only just started looking but this is the only house we've seen that looks interesting" EA - "Sorry the vendor is only allowing viewings for people who can complete immeadiately" Me - "Sounds strange considering his house has been on the market over a year. Call me back if he changes his mind". Do you reckon this is the EA playing some odd game (as they were happy to let me view if I could've made today) or could the seller really have given the EA this instruction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigantic Purple Slug Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 The basic fact is that it's impossible to tell whether the ea is playing games or the vendor really does want those things. For example if the vendor has previously agreed a sale that had dragged on for a long time and didn't go though because they didn't find a vendor for their place then you could understand why they might be a bit reluctant to go through that process again, especially if in their mind they have "priced to sell". Could you try to communicate direct ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butthead Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Possibly, or the vendor could be deluded. Or both. If you're in that situation again consider asking the question "how long has it been on the market?". You already know the answer but it gives the EA an opportunity to lie to you and you can draw your conclusions from their answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Do you reckon this is the EA playing some odd game (as they were happy to let me view if I could've made today) or could the seller really have given the EA this instruction? Price discovery is mainly a function of buying and selling pressure. Treating a potential buyer like dirt and setting unreasonable conditions is a very effective method to change that balance in favour of sellers and higher prices. It sends a message that there is no selling pressure thus provoking the opposite reaction in the mind of the buyer. It's no wonder all EAs do that, like most merchants they discovered this a long time ago. What is amusing now is that this is a buyers' market but the EAs still try to maintain the illusion against the odds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybernoid Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Sounds to me like they've had offers before from those who have assumed they could sell their own property for what they want. Theirs doesn't sell at the price they need, can't buy the other house, vendor gets annoyed eventually and stipulates ready cash only. Symptom of a falling market, with sellers not accepting reality. Too soon to bother with viewings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spot Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Good points. The house is local so no harm dropping a friendly note through the door on the offchance the EA is being daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibley's Love Child Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Hi All, Currently looking at options of whether we should extend or move. Having spent about 6 weeks looking at what's on sale i'm disappointed by the nasty overpriced slave boxes around where I live. Finding anywhere significantly better than where we currently are launches us into really silly money. However, one place caught my eye which ticks most of the boxes so we thought we'd arrange a viewing (last time I did that was 1996). The property has been on the market for over a year and in that time the price has gone from £500,000 down to £400,000 (bounced everywhere in between) and a few days ago the price moved up again to £419,000. Conversation with EA goes as follows... Me - "Hi i'm interested in viewing property blah blah blah" EA - "Can you make it this afternoon as we have someone else viewing today too?" Me - "Sorry can't make this afternoon but any other weekend is currently good for me" EA - "Are you able to complete immeadiately or do you have to sell your house?" Me - "No, our house isn't even for sale yet we've only just started looking but this is the only house we've seen that looks interesting" EA - "Sorry the vendor is only allowing viewings for people who can complete immeadiately" Me - "Sounds strange considering his house has been on the market over a year. Call me back if he changes his mind". Do you reckon this is the EA playing some odd game (as they were happy to let me view if I could've made today) or could the seller really have given the EA this instruction? It is for this reason why I welcome the inevitable demise of, say, 20-30% of EA branches over the next couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Price discovery is mainly a function of buying and selling pressure. Treating a potential buyer like dirt and setting unreasonable conditions is a very effective method to change that balance in favour of sellers and higher prices. It sends a message that there is no selling pressure thus provoking the opposite reaction in the mind of the buyer. It's no wonder all EAs do that, like most merchants they discovered this a long time ago. What is amusing now is that this is a buyers' market but the EAs still try to maintain the illusion against the odds. Yes...and who is to tell if the same question about your ability to proceed would not have been asked if you had said you could have made that afternoon.....love the way they mentioned they had another viewing that day...makes it look like there is a high demand, you are in competition....bet that viewer, if there was one was not in a position to buy either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northwestsmith2 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Price discovery is mainly a function of buying and selling pressure. And unlimited credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 It is for this reason why I welcome the inevitable demise of, say, 20-30% of EA branches over the next couple of years. I will welcome the demise of 100% of EA branches. I don't think they are needed anymore, the web has seen to that. All that is sustaining their business model now is the systematic promising of unrealistic prices to sellers. I don't think that will last for much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) And unlimited credit. Unlimited credit is one of the sources of buying pressure. Fear of missing out is another. </pedant> <Edit to add: I'd bet a fair amount there was no visit arranged for that house that afternoon.> Edited October 1, 2011 by _w_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Unlimited credit is one of the sources of buying pressure. Fear of missing out is another. </pedant> <Edit to add: I'd bet a fair amount there was no visit arranged for that house that afternoon.> Actually unlimited credit also has an impact on selling pressure. When sellers know that potential buyers have access to lots of money, they will hold out for higher prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia O'Keeffe Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) I will welcome the demise of 100% of EA branches. I don't think they are needed anymore, the web has seen to that. All that is sustaining their business model now is the systematic promising of unrealistic prices to sellers. I don't think that will last for much longer. i was recently looking at some stats provided by the IPCC that showed a 95% correlation within 2 SD's between the number of EA branches and the number of UK homeowner twigs over a statistically relevant period of time although the number of hockey sticks used in girls schools had an inverse correlation with both over the same period. Edited October 1, 2011 by Tamara De Lempicka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 i was recently looking at some stats provided by the IPCC that showed a 95% correlation within 2 SD's between the number of EA branches and the number of UK homeowner twigs over a statistically relevant period of time although the number of hockey sticks used in girls schools had an inverse correlation with both over the same period. Ah ah! A chartist approach confirms it. I knew it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibley's Love Child Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I will welcome the demise of 100% of EA branches. I don't think they are needed anymore, the web has seen to that. All that is sustaining their business model now is the systematic promising of unrealistic prices to sellers. I don't think that will last for much longer. That the prop in question has been unsold for a year indicates it's overvalued. Equally, EAs recognise that if they don't overvalue to gain the instruction a rival will. F*ck em, they're the architects of their own demise. This is the business model they created. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibley's Love Child Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 i was recently looking at some stats provided by the IPCC that showed a 95% correlation within 2 SD's between the number of EA branches and the number of UK homeowner twigs over a statistically relevant period of time although the number of hockey sticks used in girls schools had an inverse correlation with both over the same period. I think you may have mistaken causation for correlation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Fur Q Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Do you reckon this is the EA playing some odd game (as they were happy to let me view if I could've made today) or could the seller really have given the EA this instruction? I think it is possible that they've given this instruction. If the house has been on so long I imagine there have been lots of timewasters going for a look for something cheap to do over the weekend. A more direct version of property pron if you will. You should be able to make your decision of extending vs moving without going for a viewing. Then if you do decide to move, sell yours before making any viewings. Then, when you do make a realistic offer on an overpriced house the person will have to think more seriously about your offer rather than instantly dismissing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappycocco Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Just come back from viewing a place, the agent gave everyone the same viewing time at 3:00pm so it was crowded. I spoke to the next door neighbour and she said there was no viewings at the place before 3:00pm lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pent Up Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 They won't allow you to view without having an offer on your home because estate agents know full well that it will take a very long time if at all to come to fruition. First you put it on the Market at the EAs unrealistic valuation. Then you have several months of the EA trying to convince you to reduce. Finally you give in making several reductions over the next few months to a still unrealistically high price. Then after about a year you take or off the Market because "you're not giving it away". Hence, an offer from someone who's home is not yet on the Market isn't worth the time day. (unless you've got wads of cash in your back pocket.) EAs know the score. They won't tell you this obviously because they have to keep up the facade of a "bouyant" Market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 That the prop in question has been unsold for a year indicates it's overvalued. Equally, EAs recognise that if they don't overvalue to gain the instruction a rival will. F*ck em, they're the architects of their own demise. This is the business model they created. theres a thought...tell em its on with another agent and maybe they can book a more convenient time...use the fear card on them...you neednt tell them you are BSing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnionTerror Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I will welcome the demise of 100% of EA branches. I don't think they are needed anymore, the web has seen to that. All that is sustaining their business model now is the systematic promising of unrealistic prices to sellers. I don't think that will last for much longer. This is Rightmove's blurb on their site... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/resources/property-guides/selling-guide/selling-through-an-estate-agent.html The advantages of using an estate agent Estate agents spend all day, every day selling property and as a result have built up a vast knowledge and expertise in the whole buying and selling process. They will conduct a valuation on your property, handle viewings and negotiations on your behalf and make sure your property is marketed property. They will strive to achieve the best possible price for your property and the best buyer, thereby avoiding disappointment and stress from less serious potential buyers. On top of this a good estate agent will also be able to offer you plenty of advice along the way. This includes guidance on conveyancing and financial services. .... Once you have chosen your three agents, they will visit your property and recommend an asking price. Ask them how they plan on marketing your property. A good estate agent will invest in marketing on behalf of the seller, take photos of your property and compile the description; so be very wary of those that ask you to do this yourself. Wow, take photos and write a description for a few grand...where do I sign... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_w_ Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 This is Rightmove's blurb on their site... http://www.rightmove...tate-agent.html Wow, take photos and write a description for a few grand...where do I sign... You will be responsible for:Setting the price (easy unless you don't want to sell the property in which case you need the overpricing skills of an EA) Marketing (post on rightmove) Arranging viewings (if priced correctly a mobile phone and time reading skills are required) Negotiating the offers (as 1., easy if you want to sell the property) Progressing the sale through solicitors and conveyancers. The last one is the mildly tricky one for an individual. It's a commodity service though, I would expect companies to appear in this new sector and thrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnionTerror Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) The last one is the mildly tricky one for an individual. It's a commodity service though, I would expect companies to appear in this new sector and thrive. http://www.onlineconveyancing.co.uk/guides/buying/ Conveyancing Guides: Buying Buying your property can be a confusing time which is why we have devised this step by step guide to explain the stages of your transaction. If at any stage you do not understand any of the underlined terms, please click on the word to see a full explanation. Purchase Agreed 1. Once you have instructed us we must wait to receive the pre-contract package from the seller's solicitor. Following receipt of this, we can apply for the local authority search, and any other necessary searches. (This can take up to four weeks). 2. We will raise any additional enquiries and await the replies. We will also await the search results and your mortgage offer, and follow any special instructions from the lender. Exchange of Contracts 3. Once we are satisfied that everything is OK we will prepare a property report and send it to you. 4. You will then be asked to sign the contract and mortgage deed and provide a deposit. (Completion dates will be agreed at this stage). We can then exchange contracts with the seller's solicitor. The sale is now legally binding. 5. Once contracts have exchanged we can prepare the final accounts. 6. Final searches are then made against the property and you. Completion 7. On the completion date we will hand over the balance of the funds and receive in return the title deeds from the seller's solicitors. 8. If applicable, stamp duty is paid, and we will arrange to register the transfer at the Land Registry. Once the title is registered we will supply a copy to you and send the original document to your lender. Edited October 1, 2011 by Dave Beans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
“Nasty Piece of work” Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 You should either lie or deal direct with the vendor, Estate Agents add nothing whatsoever to the transaction, and often make it painful for one, or both, parties. My last sale, I had the phone number of the buyer, and he had mine. The only power EA's have is being the conduit, remove it and you effectively castrate them (I wish with a rusty bottle top). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 In the current climate, Estate agents AND sellers really like a buyer who is immediately proceedable, and has nothing to sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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