Topic ID 4625
If phoning estate agents once a week, checking their websites every day (twice) and calling them as soon as a property becomes available isn't enough to get a house in Hertford, what is? We've just missed out on a house, despite calling agents on Friday (our weekly phone call) to make it known we're still able to move quickly with a mortgage in place. A property registered as available on the agents website at lunchtime today- there was nothing there when I checked originally at breakfast time- but had actually (when I called up) already been sold, last night, without anyone contacting me. Can any new property owners out there share the secrets of their success?
Reply ID 66388
quote:Not successful yet but I was advised to phone once every two days!
Originally posted by newbie2
If phoning estate agents once a week... Can any new property owners out there share the secrets of their success?
Reply ID 66389
Check rightmove and the agency websites every hour. Tell the agencies you are a cash buyer and move quickly.
Reply ID 66390
i suggest walking in to the agents office and saying hi. you'll either become their best friend or they'll have enough of you coming in and find you somewhere ASAP. you could also tell folk on here what you're after and who knows what might happen. Failing all of the above, contact Phil and Kirsty from location location location.
Reply ID 66396
offer an extra 0.5% on the commission
Reply ID 66399
carlos fandango, do other buyers actually do that? I haven't heard of that before
Reply ID 66405
As for checking websites, having searched on Rightmove you can then subscribe to the RSS feed for that search (it's next to the print icon on the page). Set your RSS reader preferences to check every 5 mins and you're done - saves manually (re)checking the site. The latest browsers tend to have RSS readers built in else take a look at http://www.google.com/reader
quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Check rightmove and the agency websites every hour.
Reply ID 66406
Perhaps we could start a matching service on the forum, and cut out the estate agent altogether :)
Reply ID 66407
Excellent idea! We're after a two-bed cottage near Hertford North (although it seems that everyone else is too!). Anyone looking to sell in September/ October?
Reply ID 66408
We sold our house after getting one of those 'We're looking for a house in your street' letters, proving they can be succesful sometimes. Luckily they posted it through our door on the very day we decided sell.
Reply ID 66409
quote:No cottages I'm afraid, but if anyone wants a 2 bed, grade 2 listed flat, with parking, on Cowbridge, I've got one of those for sale. Vacant possession in October.
Originally posted by newbie2
Excellent idea! We're after a two-bed cottage near Hertford North (although it seems that everyone else is too!). Anyone looking to sell in September/ October?
Reply ID 66410
Never tried to be honest newbie, but you would be amazed what a little palm greasing can usually achieve.
Reply ID 66421
I'd say the key is to never rely on anybody doing what they say they will do or wait for call backs. If the agent says they will call the vendor straight away, call back after 15 minutes and ask what the result was. Chances are they won't have even tried yet. Don't let solicitors slow stuff down either. Courier any documents yourself and if possible, get a direct contact with the vendor. If the vendor is there at a viewing, take written contact details with you and ask for theirs. Above all be ready and even more important, prove that you are to all parties. The old claim to be a "cash buyer" doesn't wash anymore and the phrase is considered a joke. If you've sold, have your mortgage approved in principle and can demonstrate a workable chain, get all those details and push them at the vendor or their agent. Don't even think about asking for a discount unless you have all of that in place before you make your first offer. If you haven't, you'll just destroy your credibility at the start.
Reply ID 66423
I second shunt. And if you do offer an extra 0.5% commission, make sure it's on the final selling price, not on the asking price as you may end up paying more. Obviously, if you're considering go over the asking price, the 0.5% needs to be on the asking price, not the selling price!
Reply ID 66442
I see there is a 2 bed semi on Cowbridge featured in the Mercury, if they are so popular whay does that one need a feature I wonder? Shunt don't tell me it is one of the Model cottages, always wanted to go inside one as Gt Grandad lodged in one of those for 10 years in the 1880's with a family of about 7 !!
Reply ID 66444
quote:My wife urged me to offer the Estate Agent acting on behalf of the Vendor an incentive when we very recently offered on a house but I thought it seemed wrong. We only lost out because the other party had a larger deposit then we do & we have a substantial deposit. Maybe I need to change mt tactics [:D]
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Never tried to be honest newbie, but you would be amazed what a little palm greasing can usually achieve.
Reply ID 66446
I agree that you need to badger the Estate Agents. We recently offered on a property that went to sealed bids & the Estate Agent suddently became unavailable & never returned my calls but would send me voicemails. Infuriating.
Reply ID 66458
quote:It is one of the Model cottages. Lovely place for two or three and way more character than modern flats, but a bit cramped for seven I'd say! Standards change, eh?
Originally posted by Marilyn
I see there is a 2 bed semi on Cowbridge featured in the Mercury, if they are so popular whay does that one need a feature I wonder? Shunt don't tell me it is one of the Model cottages, always wanted to go inside one as Gt Grandad lodged in one of those for 10 years in the 1880's with a family of about 7 !!
Reply ID 66460
quote:I was wrong it was 9, 7 were next door and 5 in each of the other 2 so in all in 1881 there were 26 people living in the 4 flats, most of them adults................and that was a great improvement on where he had been. He eventually got up to 63 and 65 Port Hill had 2 cottages for himself his wife and 9 children and the business so that was palatial !! Sorry off topic!!
Originally posted by shuntquote:It is one of the Model cottages. Lovely place for two or three and way more character than modern flats, but a bit cramped for seven I'd say! Standards change, eh?
Originally posted by Marilyn
I see there is a 2 bed semi on Cowbridge featured in the Mercury, if they are so popular whay does that one need a feature I wonder? Shunt don't tell me it is one of the Model cottages, always wanted to go inside one as Gt Grandad lodged in one of those for 10 years in the 1880's with a family of about 7 !!
Reply ID 66469
Hi Shunt - please invite Marilyn to view. What a fantastic gesture that would be for Marilyn to view where her ancestors lived. [:)] I always love Marilyn's family Hertford tales.
Reply ID 66496
quote:I will before it's sold, but not fair on the current tenant to add to the disturbance of the viewings that selling will require anyway.
Originally posted by Woody
Hi Shunt - please invite Marilyn to view. What a fantastic gesture that would be for Marilyn to view where her ancestors lived. [:)] I always love Marilyn's family Hertford tales.
Reply ID 66501
quote:You're a gentleman - fully understand the current circumstances.
Originally posted by shuntquote:I will before it's sold, but not fair on the current tenant to add to the disturbance of the viewings that selling will require anyway.
Originally posted by Woody
Hi Shunt - please invite Marilyn to view. What a fantastic gesture that would be for Marilyn to view where her ancestors lived. [:)] I always love Marilyn's family Hertford tales.
Reply ID 66503
Thanks Shunt you know how to contact me.............I will take you up on that if you get a chance before it is sold.