Estate agents - is it always like this?

[Bakingmad]

Hi UKBusiness

I’ve been longtime lurker here but an experience I’m having caused me to write my first post!

I’m currently looking for a premise for my business (London) but I’m finding it so difficult dealing with estate agents and simply arranging a viewing. Most never answer their phones and I can’t leave a voice message.

I use the arrange a viewing form on their websites and on the search sites and in the event that they actually get back to me, its taking weeks just to arrange a time to meet and view the property. For example last week I finally managed to get a viewing booked in but the agent never arrived. When I called up the office at first the receptionist said the commercial agent was on his way, then after a while I got a call saying he forgot about the appointment and was too busy to come down that day. Most if not all of the properties I’ve tried to view are still listed online.

I’m just worried that I’m possibly approaching this wrong or is this generally how estate agents are? Do I just keep persisting? I’ve only ever dealt with landlords directly so this is quite the new experience for me. A very small paranoid part of my brain is worried that I’m not being taken seriously… I look and sound younger than I am (although i’m 33!) so maybe that’s having an effect.

Any advice or commiserations would be much appreciated!

 

[Swiss_Cheese]

Also having a similar issue myself. So annoying that they advertise places and then ghost the interested parties...

 

[Bob Morgan]

An Estate Agent falls into a pool of sharks. Surprisingly, the sharks do not eat him, and leave him alone - WHY?

A: Professional Etiquette!

 

[OMGVape]

No experience, and no offence intended, but maybe estate agents have a sixth sense to filter out the ‘big money’ enquiries from the 100’s of first timers ?

 

[Bob Morgan]

No experience, and no offence intended, but maybe estate agents have a sixth sense to filter out the ‘big money’ enquiries from the 100’s of first timers ?

It's called GREED!

 

[The Byre]

Estate agents want things to go through on the nod. They hate leg-work. They hate things that do not follow a pattern that they know and understand. For example, they like being in the middle of the offer and counter-offer game because that's something they know.

I've bought and I've sold properties - not often, but often enough and I have never known an estate agent accompany me or a prospective buyer to the property. I can't imagine them getting out of bed for a rental!

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Agents generally are inherently lazy.

Make their job as easy as possible if you want their cooperation.

The response will be different if you ask:

• can I see several premises across London as I'm thinking about perhaps wanting some space in the next couple of years for a business that I'm considering launching one day, or
  
• I need x sqft on a single floor plate with a roller door, within a specified postcode. My solicitor is ready to review the lease, funds are in place for deposit, rent in advance, etc etc

 

[Mark T Jones]

There are some good agents out there - generally (but not always) more mature ones without white socks or spikey hair.

As a buyer, unfortunately you don't get to choose your agent so you need to present yourself as an easy target - a ready and motivated buyer (ideally a naive one).

 

[intheTRADE]

Have you tried using Instant Offices? They are very good

I've got a contact there if you want me to introduce you to him

 

[DontAsk]

I've bought and I've sold properties - not often, but often enough

Me too.

and I have never known an estate agent accompany me or a prospective buyer to the property.

More often than not in me experience, but it depends on the agent. It's one of the criteria I use in choosing an agent for selling.

Some do 100% accompanied viewings (really!), some will say they do but then ask if it's OK to just send someone round. Often it's not the Estate Agent themselves but an assistant employed to do viewings, no experience necessary, or the office admin (FiL had a nice little job doing that after retiring from his main job).

 

[DontAsk]

thats really bad

What is?

Unless you want to appear like a troll getting their post count up, include some context in your replies.