Oh how I love estate agents
Discussion
Sadly our local tribe of idiots didn't go bust and may even survive this recession if we havehit the bottom.
Saw a place on their web site yesterday morning, which fitted the bill exactly and which was reasonably priced and had just had a reduction. Downloaded their pi55 poor brochure ( 6 dark and poorly taken pictures, two external and one of the stairs, no bedroom or bathroom pics, no floor plan). Did my sums and enquiries (planning dept., land registry, Gazette as it was a repossession, companies house, as it was occupied by a business acording to google), talked to the outlaws last night (we are thinking of buying a larger house together now they are getting older).
Called the agent to enquire about viewing this morning to be told it went to full and final offers at 5pm last night. Nothing in the brochure or the web site says this. I am always suspicious when a property that loooks like it is going for a song isn't in the press and gets a poor brochure/pics. I ssomeone, has had a bargain.
Saw a place on their web site yesterday morning, which fitted the bill exactly and which was reasonably priced and had just had a reduction. Downloaded their pi55 poor brochure ( 6 dark and poorly taken pictures, two external and one of the stairs, no bedroom or bathroom pics, no floor plan). Did my sums and enquiries (planning dept., land registry, Gazette as it was a repossession, companies house, as it was occupied by a business acording to google), talked to the outlaws last night (we are thinking of buying a larger house together now they are getting older).
Called the agent to enquire about viewing this morning to be told it went to full and final offers at 5pm last night. Nothing in the brochure or the web site says this. I am always suspicious when a property that loooks like it is going for a song isn't in the press and gets a poor brochure/pics. I ssomeone, has had a bargain.
In the area we were looking a while ago, one agent has a property listed that looked reasonably priced in a good location. When I called every two weeks about it, I was told an offer had been accepted and it was going through, so I kept on asking why anyone should look at their website if it was always out of date, which didn't please them.
I had an Estage agent try this on with me twice. Once I bid the asking price and was told there was a higher offer. Refused to increase mine and put the phone down. About 3 seconds later the agent rang me back to tell me the vendor would accept my offer as I was the first. The agent hadn't even physically had the time to ring the vendor and then ring me back as as I say the agent rang me back withing about 3 seconds. They got told to F.O. for trying to get me to bid against myself.
Second time (same agent) put an offer of slightly less than asking , was told it was sold above asking. Checked the land registry a few months after and the house had infact sold for £75K LESS than we offered. I am sue the vendor never even got our offer. And Estate Agents wonder why they have the reputation they do.........
Second time (same agent) put an offer of slightly less than asking , was told it was sold above asking. Checked the land registry a few months after and the house had infact sold for £75K LESS than we offered. I am sue the vendor never even got our offer. And Estate Agents wonder why they have the reputation they do.........
Deva Link said:
Jasandjules said:
Brown and Boris said:
ssomeone, has had a bargain.
One of the Estate Agents I would suspect.
An agent near us got caught in a TV programme doing this.I have since found the place listed with another local agent's archive at almost twice the price it is now up at, and at the new price. They were not open yesterday to ask if it really was 'final offers' or if they were still the agent.
Their atchive brochure description talks about quite a palatial pad with hot tubs, up market bathrooms and having been renovated with a fancy kitchen. Curiosity got the better of me yesterday afternoon so I drove up and had a look for myself.
There have been no renovations beyond a half hearted attempt at the kitchen and some very badly fitted flooring in the lounge (without doing any redecorating in aplace which looks like ot hasn't seen a paintbrush since the 1980's. The neew brochure said that the bathrooms needed refitting and someone had ripped out all the period fireplaces and I see that both the water and gas supplies had 'do not use' notices on them which suggests either they have been cut off or someone hasn't capped off the appliances they were taking out and had just cut the main supply.
I found the previous owner had been declared bankrupt about 8 weeks ago and I wonder if one of his suppliers (like the fancy bathroom people) had ripped them out and taken the firepl;aces for compensation for not being paid, or if the vendor had sold them in desperation.
I also wonder if that listing for twice the current price was the intended price after renovatin but I can't believe an agent would crate the brochure and put it online before the work was done or mentioning that it was 'renovation in progress.'
As always with agents: smoke and mirrors. They have also erected a very large 'for sale' sign at the end of the lane complete with an artist impression of the house. I have only ever seen such things on development sites. I am thinking that in 6 months time it will pop up divided into posh flats with that same board with them having been involved or at least selling them.
Brown and Boris said:
The neew brochure said that the bathrooms needed refitting and someone had ripped out all the period fireplaces and I see that both the water and gas supplies had 'do not use' notices on them which suggests either they have been cut off or someone hasn't capped off the appliances they were taking out and had just cut the main supply.
I found the previous owner had been declared bankrupt about 8 weeks ago and I wonder if one of his suppliers (like the fancy bathroom people) had ripped them out and taken the firepl;aces for compensation for not being paid, or if the vendor had sold them in desperation.
It's probably a repossession that the previous owner stripped before it was repossessed. I found the previous owner had been declared bankrupt about 8 weeks ago and I wonder if one of his suppliers (like the fancy bathroom people) had ripped them out and taken the firepl;aces for compensation for not being paid, or if the vendor had sold them in desperation.
Swoxy said:
Brown and Boris said:
The neew brochure said that the bathrooms needed refitting and someone had ripped out all the period fireplaces and I see that both the water and gas supplies had 'do not use' notices on them which suggests either they have been cut off or someone hasn't capped off the appliances they were taking out and had just cut the main supply.
I found the previous owner had been declared bankrupt about 8 weeks ago and I wonder if one of his suppliers (like the fancy bathroom people) had ripped them out and taken the firepl;aces for compensation for not being paid, or if the vendor had sold them in desperation.
It's probably a repossession that the previous owner stripped before it was repossessed. I found the previous owner had been declared bankrupt about 8 weeks ago and I wonder if one of his suppliers (like the fancy bathroom people) had ripped them out and taken the firepl;aces for compensation for not being paid, or if the vendor had sold them in desperation.
Such is life. As it turns out my mother in law, who was well a month or so is now quite poorly and has puilled out of the idea of pooling our resources and moving in with us as she doesn't want the hassel of a move. Perhaps some things are not meant to be?
I have left my details with the agents (both of them) in case things fall through, my mother lin law has a change of heart once she is well again or in case it is with a developer who is prepared to turn it over for a quick profit.
Edited by Brown and Boris on Sunday 12th April 09:58
I emailed and sent a letter to the agents and asked them to recognise my interest should their deal fall through, and that should the property be developed we would be interested in buying it(double commission for no work on their part, surely must get their interest).
One called to acknowledge the letter ( and to try and sell us a place nearby for £250K more!).
It is not, as they say, over until the fat agent sings.
One called to acknowledge the letter ( and to try and sell us a place nearby for £250K more!).
It is not, as they say, over until the fat agent sings.
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