Your experience of online estate agents
Discussion
worsy said:
It screams being cheap from a vendor perspective and I know people who have a nightmare trying to arrange viewings.
The OP wanted opinions.
Are the viewings on Purple Bricks etc arranged direct with the vendor? if so it should be quicker by cutting out a step in the process.The OP wanted opinions.
GasEngineer said:
worsy said:
It screams being cheap from a vendor perspective and I know people who have a nightmare trying to arrange viewings.
The OP wanted opinions.
Are the viewings on Purple Bricks etc arranged direct with the vendor? if so it should be quicker by cutting out a step in the process.The OP wanted opinions.
To elaborate
When viewing a house it is good to bounce opinions off the better half.
Stuff like,
"oh not sure about the wall paper" - "Well that is easily changed"
"the bathroom needs replacing" - "no I think it might work with just a new bath panel and taps"
"not sure i like the overlooked house" - "well it appears to be a bathroom window so that will be fine"
All of these types of conversations you wouldn't have in front of the vendor and once you have left, it would get written off as you won't remember the exact details.
When viewing a house it is good to bounce opinions off the better half.
Stuff like,
"oh not sure about the wall paper" - "Well that is easily changed"
"the bathroom needs replacing" - "no I think it might work with just a new bath panel and taps"
"not sure i like the overlooked house" - "well it appears to be a bathroom window so that will be fine"
All of these types of conversations you wouldn't have in front of the vendor and once you have left, it would get written off as you won't remember the exact details.
I've bought and sold around 40 houses over the last 15 years, I use a traditional local agent as they know the market far better, I have never bought a house via PB etc as nine times out of ten they are over valued, I once enquired about one and it was a nightmare just trying to get a viewing. They seem to have changed now but paying up front gave them no incentive to actually sell.
worsy said:
As a punter if I see a house with any of the above, I swipe left and move on.
Same here.Never sold with one, but have tried to buy through them, and now I just don't bother unless it's an amazing deal. My experiences with them have been poor and my expectations of the type vendor who uses them have been pretty accurate too.
Buying and selling houses can be complicated. And when the s
t hits the fan you need people who can solve the problems. On 2 occasions, bricks and mortar agents saved the deal though their actions and hard work. The last agent we used is a small local firm, in fact I'll likely bump into him in the pub in a couple of hours, he's been operating here for around 20 years and is fantastic. I wouldn't be sitting in the house I'm typing this from if it were not for him.So to summarise I would never use an online agent to sell the most valuable asset I'll ever own, and when buying I'll actively avoid looking at houses being sold by them. Others will hold a different view, but when it's my money at risk I'll do what I want.
My preference would be to avoid online agents and to use traditional agents where possible so I would try to avoid houses sold on those sites.
They are cheaper because they are less resourced than a local agent. If I have queries or want something physically checked then a local agent will be more responsive or more accessible.
I don't like being shown round my owners and prefer agents because it allows that distance from emotional attachment. As a buyer you can view with no worry of offending the owner and ask direct blunt questions to the agent who will not be offended.
They are cheaper because they are less resourced than a local agent. If I have queries or want something physically checked then a local agent will be more responsive or more accessible.
I don't like being shown round my owners and prefer agents because it allows that distance from emotional attachment. As a buyer you can view with no worry of offending the owner and ask direct blunt questions to the agent who will not be offended.
Not for me, find a good local agent. See many purple brick houses where the photos are terrible. The EA can act (or pretend to act) impartial so they can encourage buyers, bid up the price, assess buyers financial position, give insight into how the local market is, check on chain progress, reassure buyers if the survey throws up issues etc.
I’ve bought some, and memorably not bought one via PB.
The ones I did buy went through just fine. The one I didn’t buy, the agent couldn’t get her head around the difference between a cash buyer and one who didn’t have a property to sell but still needed a mortgage: kept saying she couldn’t put the offer forward without seeing the MIP.
Haven’t found vendors any more/less realistic or cooperative than via traditional agents.
Would I use one if selling? Probably not because there are still prejudices against them.
The ones I did buy went through just fine. The one I didn’t buy, the agent couldn’t get her head around the difference between a cash buyer and one who didn’t have a property to sell but still needed a mortgage: kept saying she couldn’t put the offer forward without seeing the MIP.
Haven’t found vendors any more/less realistic or cooperative than via traditional agents.
Would I use one if selling? Probably not because there are still prejudices against them.
I wouldn't rule out a house because the vendor had chosen an online agent or even those using MMA or whatever.
If it's a unique house, it's either the one you want most or it isn't.
If it's a 'ford mondeo' of a house, it's mostly down to price and convenience.
The way things seem to be at the moment, not being part of a long chain is a significant consideration IMHO.
If it's a unique house, it's either the one you want most or it isn't.
If it's a 'ford mondeo' of a house, it's mostly down to price and convenience.
The way things seem to be at the moment, not being part of a long chain is a significant consideration IMHO.
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