(Inspired by BrenDAnn's "How not to sell a car")
My house has been on the market for about 6 months. I'm extremely happy with the current Real Estate agency I have as they have done everything except sell my house. Needless to say the advertisement has attracted a lot of other salesmen and businesses trying for a piece of the pie.
I keep getting letters from conveyancing firms offering good rates/quick service. Only problem with that is, my sale is complicated by a couple of legal issues that I need my current solicitors to handle. So those letters go straight in the bin.
I am also getting letters from the other Real Estate firms in town offering to take over my sale. Those letters also go into the bin. One in particular just amazed me at the sheer effrontery involved.
When I started this process I asked my neighbour (who is a builder) to introduce me to a good real estate agent. He came up with one, we met. We discussed what I needed and he had (what sounded like) some really good ideas. Part of my sale involved my buying a much smaller place to live, but the only place he could show me on that day was too small and not suitable.
So I rang this agent a few days after I talked to him, told him my solicitors were working on my legal problems and they would be solved in a week or so and we needed to move on advertising my house and looking for somewhere new. My words were "Let's not wait, let's go now. Do it. Now"
I waited a fortnight for him to do something. Nothing happened. I asked my neighbour if he knew another agent and he introduced me to the one I currently have. What a difference! I said "Let's go!" and they did. They had photos done a web listing, advertisements in the weekend supplement. Everything moving.
The original agent wrote to me last week. It was a folder with all the houses in the area that had sold and a cover letter that said "I realise you were in contact with us some months ago and at that time indicated an interest in selling your house."
That letter went into the bin at the speed of light.
But the culmination of it all was the next trick from a third agent. I have a sticker on my door that says "Do Not Knock - No Salesmen" So this agent knocked on my door. He started by saying "I know your place is for sale, but tell me is the house next door occupied?"
I relied by saying I did not know. He finished up by saying "Well lots of luck with your sale" obviously fishing for a comment from me that it had not sold yet and I wanted to swap agents.
Not a chance. He's lucky I haven't had time to complain about him. It was the lamest excuse I have ever heard for knocking on a door when he was not supposed. He knew that house had been sold about 3 months ago and it was obvious by the work in progress that it was vacant. His agency will never get any of my business either.
To summarise: Just like BrenDAnn's "How not to sell a car" it started with the first salesman not listening to me and not offering me anything I really wanted. Then it has continued with other salespeople hanging around, writing me letters, trying to get an easy commission.
My house has been on the market for about 6 months. I'm extremely happy with the current Real Estate agency I have as they have done everything except sell my house. Needless to say the advertisement has attracted a lot of other salesmen and businesses trying for a piece of the pie.
I keep getting letters from conveyancing firms offering good rates/quick service. Only problem with that is, my sale is complicated by a couple of legal issues that I need my current solicitors to handle. So those letters go straight in the bin.
I am also getting letters from the other Real Estate firms in town offering to take over my sale. Those letters also go into the bin. One in particular just amazed me at the sheer effrontery involved.
When I started this process I asked my neighbour (who is a builder) to introduce me to a good real estate agent. He came up with one, we met. We discussed what I needed and he had (what sounded like) some really good ideas. Part of my sale involved my buying a much smaller place to live, but the only place he could show me on that day was too small and not suitable.
So I rang this agent a few days after I talked to him, told him my solicitors were working on my legal problems and they would be solved in a week or so and we needed to move on advertising my house and looking for somewhere new. My words were "Let's not wait, let's go now. Do it. Now"
I waited a fortnight for him to do something. Nothing happened. I asked my neighbour if he knew another agent and he introduced me to the one I currently have. What a difference! I said "Let's go!" and they did. They had photos done a web listing, advertisements in the weekend supplement. Everything moving.
The original agent wrote to me last week. It was a folder with all the houses in the area that had sold and a cover letter that said "I realise you were in contact with us some months ago and at that time indicated an interest in selling your house."
That letter went into the bin at the speed of light.
But the culmination of it all was the next trick from a third agent. I have a sticker on my door that says "Do Not Knock - No Salesmen" So this agent knocked on my door. He started by saying "I know your place is for sale, but tell me is the house next door occupied?"
I relied by saying I did not know. He finished up by saying "Well lots of luck with your sale" obviously fishing for a comment from me that it had not sold yet and I wanted to swap agents.
Not a chance. He's lucky I haven't had time to complain about him. It was the lamest excuse I have ever heard for knocking on a door when he was not supposed. He knew that house had been sold about 3 months ago and it was obvious by the work in progress that it was vacant. His agency will never get any of my business either.
To summarise: Just like BrenDAnn's "How not to sell a car" it started with the first salesman not listening to me and not offering me anything I really wanted. Then it has continued with other salespeople hanging around, writing me letters, trying to get an easy commission.
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