um pahars Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Is this the norm???? Looking for a house in Upper Shirley/Bellemoor way and have been along to see a few (one not bad, one not good and one in the middle, but none what we're looking for). However, trying to arrange a viewing with Austin & Wyatt and they will only meet us for a viewing if we first meet them at their office to see their Financial Advisor to discuss mortgages and to establish our financial position!!!! Now I don't want (or need a sales pitch) regarding a mortgage, I've already got that sorted, I just want to view the house. They are adamant that that is what has to happen. Is it the norm now that viewings are restricted and used as a tool for them to try get commission on any potential mortgage business??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Put a note through the door if it's occupied...be sure to mention how the people that they are paying to sell their house are acting. It smells of the PPI trick that's costing the perpetrators a lot in compensation currently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Contact the seller directly and tell them you're interested but the estate agent are being a pain. One phone call from them and i'm sure Austin and Wyatt will rapidly backtrack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 16 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Thought about getting in touch with the seller and telling them just that, as would be livid if they were acting as my agents and putting off potential buyers (particularly in current market), but the seller is an old woman and dont particuarly want to stress her out. Would rather just leave it to be honest. Are Austin & Wyatt the only ones pulling this stunt??? as everyone else has been fairly decent (or as decent as Estate Agents can be). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 You could try the Ombudsman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Thought about getting in touch with the seller and telling them just that, as would be livid if they were acting as my agents and putting off potential buyers (particularly in current market), but the seller is an old woman and dont particuarly want to stress her out. Would rather just leave it to be honest. Are Austin & Wyatt the only ones pulling this stunt??? as everyone else has been fairly decent (or as decent as Estate Agents can be). Just because she's a senior citizen doesn't mean she's senile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Thought about getting in touch with the seller and telling them just that, as would be livid if they were acting as my agents and putting off potential buyers (particularly in current market), but the seller is an old woman and dont particuarly want to stress her out. Would rather just leave it to be honest. Are Austin & Wyatt the only ones pulling this stunt??? as everyone else has been fairly decent (or as decent as Estate Agents can be). I would just threaten the agent that I would contact the vendor directly if they continued to insist on it. That will probably knock them off their perch. Given the state of the market, I am surprised that they are not offering to pick you up and drive you there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 16 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Just because she's a senior citizen doesn't mean she's senile. True, maybe I'd be doing her a favour as she must be paying them £4,000 to sell her place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Contact the seller directly and tell them you're interested but the estate agent are being a pain. One phone call from them and i'm sure Austin and Wyatt will rapidly backtrack. This. My mate at work did just that when he bought his house in Highfield and the agent soon no longer required that meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckasaurus Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Austin and wyatt tried to rip me off about a year ago. £100 for the energy cert which I own. From my experience most estate agents are scum.Believe me i have had alot of dealings with them.You don't have to go to their shop.Make sure you tell the seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 (edited) They did this to me over 10 years ago! However, I had told them I wanted a quick, hassle-free sale as we were moving from the area. So they subjected a potential buyer to this grilling and then it turned out that the male partner was waiting to get his name off his former mortgage as part of a divorce settlement! I complained, but it didn't get me anywhere. FYI, most reputable agents are covered by an Ombudsman. I know this because one of my daughters is Compliance and Complaints manager for a very large estate agency (not in your area). They have all sorts of regulations these days and I'll ask her tomorrow if proof of funds is regular practice these days. But I won't be able to answer this point until Friday night. But you should be warned that, right or wrong, you will probably have signed an agreement with A & W that could result in your seller still paying their fee even if you go directly to her. Maybe one of the reasons A & W are doing this is to filter out time-wasters looking to occupy a wet Saturday afternoon? Edited 16 May, 2012 by bridge too far Afterthought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 16 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Maybe one of the reasons A & W are doing this is to filter out time-wasters looking to occupy a wet Saturday afternoon? That was one of his excuses this morning (which unwound later). After i said i was going to drop a note in the sellers letterbox they've now come back and said they are prepared to let us go and view it, BUT if we want to make an offer then we will still have to come in to their office to talk to their financial advisor!!!! Talk about hard sell!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Um, It could be one of three things 1) The seller insists only pre approved buyers are allowed access to the house. 2) A/W want to check that you have proof of funds (In my day you used to get a mortgage ceftifcate) as the banks and building societies turn down so many applicatons these days and they can waste loads of time on people, who can't buy even if they want to. 3) It's a crap sales ploy (Which is probably the most likely) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Are the filtering out timewasters, I dont think they are in a positon to make you buy the mortgages from them though ? But if they can make some more money from the deal !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Um, It could be one of three things 1) The seller insists only pre approved buyers are allowed access to the house. 2) A/W want to check that you have proof of funds (In my day you used to get a mortgage ceftifcate) as the banks and building societies turn down so many applicatons these days and they can waste loads of time on people, who can't buy even if they want to. 3) It's a crap sales ploy (Which is probably the most likely) DAMM great minds think alike xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Data Protection Act 1998 - to complete the transaction with the estate agent you are not obliged to provide any information other that what is required to facilitate the house purchase. In this case they should need no more financial information than proof you have a mortgage approved and in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Oh and they are legally obliged to pass on any offer to their client - they'll be breaking the law if they don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 A word of warning; I recently did some work with a very large financial company and one of the contractual terms was that the team of my guys who would be required on site, would need to undergo a credit check. Our legal counsel and HR Director refused, on the basis that apprently (I never knew this) the number of credit checks conducted on you can effect your credit score. Now it turned out that this was more for the Americans than the UK staff, but I never really got a definative answer as to whether it would effect the UK lot or not. Long waffle - But if you come to buy it, don't let any tom **** or harry perform credit scores on you, just to satisfy their sales cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 16 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Um, It could be one of three things 1) The seller insists only pre approved buyers are allowed access to the house. 2) A/W want to check that you have proof of funds (In my day you used to get a mortgage ceftifcate) as the banks and building societies turn down so many applicatons these days and they can waste loads of time on people, who can't buy even if they want to. 3) It's a crap sales ploy (Which is probably the most likely) The wide boy was saying it is in their normal contract with all sellers, ie not a specific condition for this one house and something they are now doing with all potential buyers. I've just never heard of it before. Every other estate agent we've spoke to are falling over themselves to arrange iewings for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Austin and wyatt tried to rip me off about a year ago. £100 for the energy cert which I own. From my experience most estate agents are scum.Believe me i have had alot of dealings with them.You don't have to go to their shop.Make sure you tell the seller. Got pee'd off with fox and sons in totton when they sold our gaff some years back. Terrible service, never rang back or chased the other parties. Ironically it was the vendors agents, Austin wyatt in Lyndhurst who helped the most, very good experience. Had the last laugh. I got my solicitor to withhold the agents cash and then renegotiated the deal. Funny how quick they were to call me when their loot didn't turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 A word of warning; I recently did some work with a very large financial company and one of the contractual terms was that the team of my guys who would be required on site, would need to undergo a credit check. Our legal counsel and HR Director refused, on the basis that apprently (I never knew this) the number of credit checks conducted on you can effect your credit score. Now it turned out that this was more for the Americans than the UK staff, but I never really got a definative answer as to whether it would effect the UK lot or not. Long waffle - But if you come to buy it, don't let any tom **** or harry perform credit scores on you, just to satisfy their sales cycle. This is true in the UK as well as in the states. Each and every credit check against you counts towards your credit score - let's face it, if someone is applying for lots of credit from lots of companies, being credit checked and being turned down, this is fairly important info for a credit rating! The wide boy was saying it is in their normal contract with all sellers, ie not a specific condition for this one house and something they are now doing with all potential buyers. I've just never heard of it before. Every other estate agent we've spoke to are falling over themselves to arrange iewings for us. What a crock of ****3! What if you were a cash buyer with a suitcase full of £50 notes? Pretty sure they wouldn't insist on you going to see their poxy financial advisor then! Ask them to put it in writing that they are requiring you to see their financial advisor before you can see the property / make an offer on it, then take this to the ombudsman for their opinion! In the meantime, tell the seller that you are only interested in viewing her house if she's prepared to put it up with an alternative agent that doesn't insist on these dubious practices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnie radford's boots Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Do you need a mortgage and have one approved ? If so, get your financial advisor to call their in house guy and "re-assure" them. If your financial advisor is worth his/her fee/proc fee and your loyalty, they will willingly do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 My mate is going through the process of buying...he had to meet with the finical advisor before being allowed to view properties...this was the case with all the estate agents...when you get a financial check and they tell you what sort of mortgage you can get. saves time wasters i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Out of interest, we have looked at police on this forum, Celtic fans on the other but has anyone every met a good estate agent or at least one that is not a total kock? I am not usually one to tar a whole group of people with the same brush but in my experience they are usually the scum of the earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Agents try this all the time. They also try the " you must use our approved conveyancer " ******. They're just trying to sew up the whole food chain. Just tell them there job is to sell houses and you'll look elsewhere if they don't stop being silly. They need you more than you need them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsdinho Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 The wide boy was saying it is in their normal contract with all sellers, ie not a specific condition for this one house and something they are now doing with all potential buyers. I've just never heard of it before. Every other estate agent we've spoke to are falling over themselves to arrange iewings for us. I'm currently in the process of selling and buying a new house. I can honestly say that all the estate agents we have dealt with have been fine, like you say, almost falling over themselves to get me to look at houses. I reckon you are dealing with just a pushy individual/s who (in this current climate) is desperate for the commission. I've arranged about 15 ish viewings with most of the main estate agents recently (including A&W) and not one has insisted on me seeing their FA. Some have mentioned it, but once Ive said no, that's been the last you hear about it. Tell them that The Forum has come to the conclusion that he talks bu115hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowllyd Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 That was one of his excuses this morning (which unwound later). After i said i was going to drop a note in the sellers letterbox they've now come back and said they are prepared to let us go and view it, BUT if we want to make an offer then we will still have to come in to their office to talk to their financial advisor!!!! Talk about hard sell!!! I'm pretty sure that estate agents are legally obliged to inform a vendor of any offer, regardless of its size or the status of the buyer. Put it this way, if you found out that an agent supposedly working for you hadn't told you of a good offer on such a flimsy pretext you'd be highly displeased. If you see the place and do want to put in an offer, just tell them and see what they then say. If they still try to insist on the appointment, tell them you'll speak directly to the vendor and/or not bother with the offer after all. Should focus their minds somewhat... I must say I do find it astonishing that any estate agent would behave in this way, particularly at a time when properties aren't exactly selling like crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 [quote=Fowllyd; I must say I do find it astonishing that any estate agent would behave in this way, particularly at a time when properties aren't exactly selling like crazy. Sadly I deal with these people daily. They're a greedy bunch who try it on and many fall for it. They're pretty much an unregulated " profession" so can and do what they want. The only people they deal with on a recurring basis are the lawyers but it's it not in their interests to make noises if something doesn't look right as the agent feeds them the work. There was a case a few years back of agents in Shirley falling fowl of trading standards for not passing on offers. That's rare, how often would they get found out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Sadly I deal with these people daily. They're a greedy bunch who try it on and many fall for it. They're pretty much an unregulated " profession" so can and do what they want. The only people they deal with on a recurring basis are the lawyers but it's it not in their interests to make noises if something doesn't look right as the agent feeds them the work. There was a case a few years back of agents in Shirley falling fowl of trading standards for not passing on offers. That's rare, how often would they get found out? The reputable ones are licensed and have a trade body. My daughter has regular meetings with the Ombudsman to explore ways of making the service better. I'm no apologee for estate agents but you'd be surprised at some of the antics sellers get up to in order to try to avoid paying the fees (usually without success as they tie vendors into tight contracts). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Btf, you are being too generous. Many are scrupulous but many more aren't. You can trade as an agent without being qualified or regulated. You have no cpd obligations. You can be a crook or a bankrupt. That cannot be said of the other people in the property selling professional network. Lawyers, ifa's, surveyors etc. The agents earn the biggest fee of the lot, and are the main link between the lay public and the professionals but aren't proper professionals. Madness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Btf, you are being too generous. Many are scrupulous but many more aren't. You can trade as an agent without being qualified or regulated. You have no cpd obligations. You can be a crook or a bankrupt. That cannot be said of the other people in the property selling professional network. Lawyers, ifa's, surveyors etc. The agents earn the biggest fee of the lot, and are the main link between the lay public and the professionals but aren't proper professionals. Madness. I'm just telling you how it is with the reputable ones. I get this from the horse's mouth so to speak. You're right, anyone can be an estate agent - the trick is to find an established one who WILL belong to the trade body. Part of my daughter's work also is to work with the Serious Fraud Office in an effort to crack down on mortgage fraud - something her well-respected company is happy to fund. Not all estate agents are dubious. http://www.naea.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 Is this the norm???? Looking for a house in Upper Shirley/Bellemoor way and have been along to see a few (one not bad, one not good and one in the middle, but none what we're looking for). However, trying to arrange a viewing with Austin & Wyatt and they will only meet us for a viewing if we first meet them at their office to see their Financial Advisor to discuss mortgages and to establish our financial position!!!! Now I don't want (or need a sales pitch) regarding a mortgage, I've already got that sorted, I just want to view the house. They are adamant that that is what has to happen. Is it the norm now that viewings are restricted and used as a tool for them to try get commission on any potential mortgage business??? A fine area to choose. No riff-raff please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrek Posted 16 May, 2012 Share Posted 16 May, 2012 EAs are desperate at the moment as property simply isn't shifting (just check out Rightmove via the PropertyBee toolbar for the number of properties going SSTC and then coming back on the market after the buyer can't get a mortgage). They want the buyer to be serious and to make as much commission as possible. Just get a mortgage in principle from a proper lender and tell them you don't want to talk to their agent as you've already got the best deal going i.e. it will be a waste of their time. They probably won't even check if you really have one (although they will likely ask you some basic questions e.g. who is it from?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 17 May, 2012 Share Posted 17 May, 2012 What's the problem? They have an obligation to their client that the people they are showing around are not time wasters (plenty about). Better to filter out the **** before they show you around. They aren't to know you have got a mortgage sorted, but i'm sure if you take just 5 minutes to explain this then they will be happy to show you around. And of course you are not under any obligation to take any products from them. They tried to sell me a mortgage / life cover. etc, but it was no more "hard sell" than any banks or building societies provide. Not a problem at all FWIW i sold my house through A&W last year. If it's the Shirley branch then all the agents there were OK, better than others around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 17 May, 2012 Share Posted 17 May, 2012 Btf, you are being too generous. Many are scrupulous but many more aren't. You can trade as an agent without being qualified or regulated. You have no cpd obligations. You can be a crook or a bankrupt. That cannot be said of the other people in the property selling professional network. Lawyers, ifa's, surveyors etc. The agents earn the biggest fee of the lot, and are the main link between the lay public and the professionals but aren't proper professionals. Madness. Building Surveyors are the biggest crooks, charging over £500 for a "valuation report" that isn't fit to wipe my arse with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Tone Posted 17 May, 2012 Share Posted 17 May, 2012 Out of interest, we have looked at police on this forum, Celtic fans on the other but has anyone every met a good estate agent or at least one that is not a total kock? I am not usually one to tar a whole group of people with the same brush but in my experience they are usually the scum of the earth. Out it this way -- I'm be more likely to have a policeman as a mate than an estate agent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petersfield Saint Posted 17 May, 2012 Share Posted 17 May, 2012 My mate is going through the process of buying...he had to meet with the finical advisor before being allowed to view properties...this was the case with all the estate agents...when you get a financial check and they tell you what sort of mortgage you can get. saves time wasters i guess. This; a colleague is selling his house (in London) and it seems pretty much the norm there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 May, 2012 Share Posted 18 May, 2012 (edited) OK checked with my daughter last night. She said ALL agents now have to belong to the trade body I mentioned earlier. She said most agents wouldn't need to confirm financial arrangements until an offer is made but that sometimes vendors specify that they don't want time wasters and this is a way to filter out casual viewers. She also said that many buyers say they have financial arrangements in place but that when things reach offer stage it emerges that they'd been told they would probably get a mortgage for £x but that they hadn't even started the application process! Finally she said she was surprised, given the state of the market ATM, that A & W were being so picky and that it would be a good idea to let the vendor know the problems you had. Since the vendor is an older woman, she might not have wanted any old casual viewer around and that A & W were fulfilling her instructions. Edited 18 May, 2012 by bridge too far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now