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Estate agents

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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭jimwallace197


    <SNIP>

    MOD

    Recommendations by PM please.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,108 ✭✭✭Jellybaby1


    You couldnt afford to pay their fees but probably ended up getting a lot less for your property than you could have if used one.


    Not at all. Compared with other houses selling on our estate at that time, we actually got one of the highest figures. Sellers have a choice, to use an EA or not. We chose not. We weren't in the business of squeezing every last drop from buyers, or playing a game, we just wanted a fair price, which we got.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    Jellybaby1 wrote: »
    Not at all. Compared with other houses selling on our estate at that time, we actually got one of the highest figures. Sellers have a choice, to use an EA or not. We chose not. We weren't in the business of squeezing every last drop from buyers, or playing a game, we just wanted a fair price, which we got.

    After spending a number of months dealing with EAs we're basically fed up with them. I'm certain we would have already made a deal on at least two houses if we could directly talk to the owners. Estate agents are blocking information going both ways between buyers and sellers and I don't believe it's what sellers really want. My feeling is that both buyers and sellers would often like to sort out a sale quick and move forward.

    The main reason houses aren't being sold in timely fashion is because EAs are delaying the sales.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,108 ✭✭✭Jellybaby1


    Roisin76 wrote: »
    After spending a number of months dealing with EAs we're basically fed up with them. I'm certain we would have already made a deal on at least two houses if we could directly talk to the owners. Estate agents are blocking information going both ways between buyers and sellers and I don't believe it's what sellers really want. My feeling is that both buyers and sellers would often like to sort out a sale quick and move forward.

    The main reason houses aren't being sold in timely fashion is because EAs are delaying the sales.


    As we've never used them I can't say what their practices are, but we discovered they were unnecessary. The only time I had any knowledge of an EA was when a neighbour told me he managed to get his house at a very low price because he 'knew the estate agent personally'. That sort of confirmed I was right not to bother with them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭jimwallace197


    Roisin76 wrote: »
    After spending a number of months dealing with EAs we're basically fed up with them. I'm certain we would have already made a deal on at least two houses if we could directly talk to the owners. Estate agents are blocking information going both ways between buyers and sellers and I don't believe it's what sellers really want. My feeling is that both buyers and sellers would often like to sort out a sale quick and move forward.

    The main reason houses aren't being sold in timely fashion is because EAs are delaying the sales.

    That is absolutely ridiculous, you are making assumptions that have no basis in fact. Looking to blame estate agents because you are didnt get what you want. You dont know the owners, didnt speak to them but are nearly convinced you would have been able to negotiate a deal with them.:rolleyes:


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,386 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    I don't agree with the negativity towards EA's here either.

    I currently have my house on the market and my EA has been extremely professional and transparent, at least as far as I can see. Regularly updates me, arranges viewings with enough notice and has called me with feedback after the few viewings we've had so far. I cannot imagine a scenario where he wouldn't be disclosing me information about potential offers or genuine interest from a prospective buyer. We all want the house sold. Anything else is tinfoil hat nonsense.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,502 ✭✭✭ Daniel Quick Diner


    Boardsies are generally anti anyone to do with property (estate agents / letting agents / landlords etc), so I would talk to friends / family as opposed to asking here.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,134 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    JoeA3, you're paying your EA handsomely for that service. What I, and many others wonder, is if EAs can, as they claim, get you a price for your house that's higher than what you'd get on your own by a large enough margin to justify the expense of hiring them. As they work on a percentage of the sale price, and usually bill the seller for any marketing / administration expenses separately, it's a hell of a lot of money and unless they can persuade a buyer that a house is worth 5-10k more than the homeowner themselves could, it's a poor return on investment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,386 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    Sleepy wrote: »
    JoeA3, you're paying your EA handsomely for that service. What I, and many others wonder, is if EAs can, as they claim, get you a price for your house that's higher than what you'd get on your own by a large enough margin to justify the expense of hiring them. As they work on a percentage of the sale price, and usually bill the seller for any marketing / administration expenses separately, it's a hell of a lot of money and unless they can persuade a buyer that a house is worth 5-10k more than the homeowner themselves could, it's a poor return on investment.

    For me, its a worthwhile investment. Do I want to be dealing with buyers / tyre kickers / arranging viewings and all the hassle and aggravation that goes with that? No way. Am I confident I'd be able to put my best foot forward and sell a house on my own bat? Again, no way. I personally would even be reluctant to try selling a car privately, never mind a 300k house.

    I think you under estimate the effort required to do this. I've found it enough work in itself just getting the house in a presentable condition for the photos and viewings!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭jimwallace197


    Sleepy wrote: »
    JoeA3, you're paying your EA handsomely for that service. What I, and many others wonder, is if EAs can, as they claim, get you a price for your house that's higher than what you'd get on your own by a large enough margin to justify the expense of hiring them. As they work on a percentage of the sale price, and usually bill the seller for any marketing / administration expenses separately, it's a hell of a lot of money and unless they can persuade a buyer that a house is worth 5-10k more than the homeowner themselves could, it's a poor return on investment.

    Yah, you wonder, in other words you dont have a clue what you are talking about and unless you have some experience of actually working in the industry, then would be better off not promoting misinformed opinions. Truth is, if it was so easy, a lot more people would be doing it and making great money from it.

    Alot of estate agencies that set up dont usually last longer than a year or two


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    That is absolutely ridiculous...

    Are you an EA or work for EA by any chance?


  • Registered Users Posts: 467 ✭✭utmbuilder


    To be honest Dublin is pretty good value for agents , mostly everyone is 1% free valuation , free photos, no sale no fee

    Small EAs covering 3 or 4 post codes could be holding 80k in deposits

    1% of loads of 230k sales is 2300 +vat each after a 4 month lead time. The time for the free valuation, all the viewings all the calls, closing the deal, the photos, most still have shop fronts, my home fees, staff, insurance , probally ipav fees, then their marketing costs to get listings


    Regulations loosened again for what trainee agents can do in November they can feature on bill boards now , write things down just got value

    None are finding buyers , my home and daft are not enough anymore if you want a sale after August
    They get a listing and have no way to market it other than the general old school methods in a decade when people are getting hit with ads online all day
    Even if the agent did know how to run targeting campaigns why would he or she as they have margin left to do so. Less viewers less bids for home seller

    The industry needed a shake up but young 30 year olds need to be regulated and the low margins will lead to problems emerging in the future

    Mortgage brokers get 2% that's the business to.be in


  • Registered Users Posts: 177 ✭✭flowerific


    utmbuilder wrote: »
    id love someone to try yourbricks or auctioneera and let us know the outcome

    600 euro aparently

    I used the latter and it worked out well. They're both around 1299 plus VAT not 600.


  • Registered Users Posts: 467 ✭✭utmbuilder


    flowerific wrote: »
    I used the latter and it worked out well. They're both around 1299 plus VAT not 600.

    I believe auctioneera is a few people based out of Cork or Galway, fair play to them getting in on a bit of nationwide action. Although the Galway or Cork markets are pretty on fire at the moment. The name really went over peoples heads, what they are doing is simple, it takes a few visits to get that they are just bringing good value to the market.

    The business model is sound, however relies on google adwords for them to get valuations from their cheap offering, if all the agents start clicking on their ads in Dublin, which I am sure is happening, their conversion rates must be in the toilet on google adwords. As soon as the IPAV members cop that not sure how they can sustain the ad costs. Adwords in an industry with heaps of agents seeing them is not a good mix, most post codes have 8 estate agencys in dublin averaging about 4 staff per agency, all chasing typically 700 to 900 sales per year in postcodes like d12, 22, 9 etc

    A top digital guy would probably cost 2 of their salary's but would love to see them succeed. Someone mid level would just do the same tactics they are already doing for customer acquisition

    Cheaper listings is a great business model, has to be simple for people to understand, and they really did'nt think out their targeting well at all, which appears little understand of digital strategy.

    I reckon they are spending 6k a month on advertising, on google , and have limited costs being a rural agency.

    I'm not an agent by the way just watch the market closely.



    Auctioneera is a sign of things to come, before all agency's go online in the next decade.

    It's cheap, its young owner is 34 with 100% of the share capital, its newly incorporated in march auctioneera ltd 2018 with no accounts filed yet, according to visionnet,

    the price register should list the agents that sells propertys with the selling price, that really would give house sellers a better way to choose agents.

    It's a sign of things to come with new, younger agents hitting the market, being 36 myself dont see it as a bad thing, but you know selling property is a big deal the public needs full transparency, I would like to see more not from auctioneera but from the whole industry as a whole with many new startup auctioneers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭jimwallace197


    utmbuilder wrote: »
    I believe auctioneera is a few people based out of Cork or Galway, fair play to them getting in on a bit of nationwide action. Although the Galway or Cork markets are pretty on fire at the moment. The name really went over peoples heads, what they are doing is simple, it takes a few visits to get that they are just bringing good value to the market.

    The business model is sound, however relies on google adwords for them to get valuations from their cheap offering, if all the agents start clicking on their ads in Dublin, which I am sure is happening, their conversion rates must be in the toilet on google adwords. As soon as the IPAV members cop that not sure how they can sustain the ad costs. Adwords in an industry with heaps of agents seeing them is not a good mix, most post codes have 8 estate agencys in dublin averaging about 4 staff per agency, all chasing typically 700 to 900 sales per year in postcodes like d12, 22, 9 etc

    A top digital guy would probably cost 2 of their salary's but would love to see them succeed. Someone mid level would just do the same tactics they are already doing for customer acquisition

    Cheaper listings is a great business model, has to be simple for people to understand, and they really did'nt think out their targeting well at all, which appears little understand of digital strategy.

    I reckon they are spending 6k a month on advertising, on google , and have limited costs being a rural agency.

    I'm not an agent by the way just watch the market closely.



    Auctioneera is a sign of things to come, before all agency's go online in the next decade.

    It's cheap, its young owner is 34 with 100% of the share capital, its newly incorporated in march auctioneera ltd 2018 with no accounts filed yet, according to visionnet,

    the price register should list the agents that sells propertys with the selling price, that really would give house sellers a better way to choose agents.

    It's a sign of things to come with new, younger agents hitting the market, being 36 myself dont see it as a bad thing, but you know selling property is a big deal the public needs full transparency, I would like to see more not from auctioneera but from the whole industry as a whole with many new startup auctioneers.

    You don't happen to be involved or connected with the company in any way by any chance:rolleyes:

    Truth of it is, every man & their dog thinks they could make money from estate agency & the few that actually try, find out the reality in Ireland is very different.

    Auctioneera.ie or other online only platforms for selling peoples houses fail to recognise the amount of work that goes into selling a house. In theory it sounds fine and simple but there is a lot more to it than that. Selling at that kind of price, 1299, they would need to sell in bulk and with only 2 recognized agents (who are not even a member of any professional body) in that company, what do people think they are going to get. Yes, more than likely a substandard service as it is simply not financially viable. On top of this, even though there is less of a need nowadays for an on street presence than there was previously, its still quite useful to have one and they have zero on street presence along with other online platforms.

    People can make up their own minds but I'm pretty sure, the more people that try out these services, the more they will realize they are a waste of time when they see their property selling for less than what it could have but they managed to save 700/800 euros in estate fees.


  • Registered Users Posts: 177 ✭✭flowerific


    I used them in Dublin and I didn't get a lower price on my property than other agents got for similar property.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭jimwallace197


    flowerific wrote: »
    I used them in Dublin and I didn't get a lower price on my property than other agents got for similar property.

    Yah Im sure:rolleyes:

    Keep up the shilling though


  • Registered Users Posts: 177 ✭✭flowerific


    I'm really not sure why you have a attitude and a complete disregard for other posters experience.
    I have no affiliation with auctioneera my experience was positive and i got a good price for my property. I would not sell for any less than I wanted and knew the value of my property and did my home work on what other properties were selling and other agents sold similar for. I did ring more than one agent before setting in which I was going to go with to sell.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,505 ✭✭✭✭Mad_maxx


    bri007 wrote: »
    Stay clear of fl#nn estate agents. Have been trying to purchase properofrom the the last 6 months, friend of a friend was interested in same house we were bidding on turned out they were telling a different story to each person that viewed it.

    We recently found out the house went less than we bid on it, as we know who bought it in the end..... strange!

    Estate agents sometimes have someone in mind for a property, more common when market is cheap however

    Preferred buyer phenomenon


  • Registered Users Posts: 467 ✭✭utmbuilder


    i deffo dont any relationship or nore do i know auctioneera team


    i cant stand cork people


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  • Registered Users Posts: 782 ✭✭✭Dolbhad


    I viewed a house that auctioneera were selling. It was 3 bed semi in a good area. Anyway we debated whether we would put a bid on it. However we were greeted at the door by a young girl who was about 20. She just took our name and email (to send us a link to bid but never got the email and emailed them twice for it). She didn’t know anything about the property ( I would usually have questions) so just wandered around. I remember saying to my partner I wouldn’t use them if I was selling. We have met some great auctioneers who were just good salesmans. And that’s what I’d want selling my house. I did google them and they looking for sales advisor for an hour at a time to pay them I think €20 an hour to take the names etc. So I’m not sure how involved auctioneers are in that. House went sale agreed but didn’t go through as saw it for rent on daft soon after.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    <SNIP>

    MOD

    Recommendations by PM please.

    Roisin76 wrote: »
    Are you an EA or work for EA by any chance?
    You don't happen to be involved or connected with the company in any way by any chance:rolleyes:
    flowerific wrote: »
    I used them in Dublin and I didn't get a lower price on my property than other agents got for similar property.
    Yah Im sure:rolleyes:

    Keep up the shilling though



    The only one shilling here is you jimwallace197.
    And still no answer to my question:

    Are you an EA or work for EA?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76



    Truth of it is, every man & their dog thinks they could make money from estate agency & the few that actually try, find out the reality in Ireland is very different.

    Auctioneera.ie or other online only platforms for selling peoples houses fail to recognise the amount of work that goes into selling a house. In theory it sounds fine and simple but there is a lot more to it than that. Selling at that kind of price, 1299, they would need to sell in bulk and with only 2 recognized agents (who are not even a member of any professional body) in that company, what do people think they are going to get. Yes, more than likely a substandard service as it is simply not financially viable. On top of this, even though there is less of a need nowadays for an on street presence than there was previously, its still quite useful to have one and they have zero on street presence along with other online platforms.

    People can make up their own minds but I'm pretty sure, the more people that try out these services, the more they will realize they are a waste of time when they see their property selling for less than what it could have but they managed to save 700/800 euros in estate fees.

    You really sound like a desperate defender of a sector which is on a brink of a disruption. Your days are numbered. The same way retail is struggling as buyers go online, same as traditional soul matching lost to tinder, same as social moved to facebook or twitter and cashiers are being replaced by self checkouts.

    EAs are the obstacle here and most people hate dealing with them therefore they will go at the first opportunity.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,863 ✭✭✭✭Dav010


    Roisin76 wrote: »
    You really sound like a desperate defender of a sector which is on a brink of a disruption. Your days are numbered. The same way retail is struggling as buyers go online, same as traditional soul matching lost to tinder, same as social moved to facebook or twitter and cashiers are being replaced by self checkouts.

    EAs are the obstacle here and most people hate dealing with them therefore they will go at the first opportunity.

    Buying a house will never be like buying a jacket or dating, though website listings make it easier to identify properties that are of interest to you, you still want to see the property and ask questions about it. As an earlier poster said, the online auctioneer actually knew nothing about the property apart from what was online.

    All industries are always on the brink of disruption, new technology, work practices, modernisation mean few can stand still.

    You may delight in the thought that EAs may become superfluous, but the fact is they won’t. There will always be a market for online auctioneers, and they appeal to some, but the majority will still go with a local auctioneer with knowledge of local markets and who can give insight to both sellers and buyers.

    You see them as an obstacle to a purchase, they don’t work for you, they work for the seller to facilitate a sale. And I hate dealing with EAs when I’m buying, but I sure like them when I’m selling.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    Dav010 wrote: »
    Buying a house will never be like buying a jacket or dating, though website listings make it easier to identify properties that are of interest to you, you still want to see the property and ask questions about it. As an earlier poster said, the online auctioneer actually knew nothing about the property apart from what was online.

    All industries are always on the brink of disruption, new technology, work practices, modernisation mean few can stand still.

    You may delight in the thought that EAs may become superfluous, but the fact is they won’t. There will always be a market for online auctioneers, and they appeal to some, but the majority will still go with a local auctioneer with knowledge of local markets and who can give insight to both sellers and buyers.

    And I hate dealing with EAs when I’m buying, but I sure like them when I’m selling.

    What buyer need from EA other then what one like moovingo offers? They advertise on public websites, arrange viewings, hold ea licenses. Plus offers are transparent so both buyers and sellers know what's going on at every stage of the process.

    And why do you like traditional EAs when you're selling? What do you get on top of what would you get from a sami-online one?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    Dav010 wrote: »
    You see them as an obstacle to a purchase, they don’t work for you, they work for the seller to facilitate a sale. And I hate dealing with EAs when I’m buying, but I sure like them when I’m selling.

    Buy/Sell is a two way transaction. The only reason EAs are getting away with their questionable practices at the moment is that we're in the Seller's market because of the massive under supply.

    This state is not going to last forever.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,863 ✭✭✭✭Dav010


    Roisin76 wrote: »
    What buyer need from EA other then what one like moovingo offers? They advertise on public websites, arrange viewings, hold ea licenses. Plus offers are transparent so both buyers and sellers know what's going on at every stage of the process.

    And why do you like traditional EAs when you're selling? What do you get on top of what would you get from a sami-online one?

    Again, the EA works for the seller, not the buyer, so the buyer doesn’t dictate what type of EA the seller uses.

    The seller doesn’t need “transparent offers” showing online, the EA tells the seller. Buying/selling is a two way transaction, but the EA works for only one side in that transaction.

    All EAs have websites, so they are all “semi online ones”, the poster above who described their experience with an online seller should tell you all you need to know.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 29 Roisin76


    Not convinced. One person's bad experience is not the end of the world. Also, this is a very new market, it will tak time to mature. The seed has be planted thought.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,365 ✭✭✭Sono


    Bought my house 3 years ago and I have to say if I could have avoided dealing with EA’s I would.

    Impossible to trust them, putting bids on houses through them and was not convinced the bid was being rejected by the vendor or not and often felt I was bidding against myself at times, no transparency whatsoever and I have no proof of what I am saying either but just a feeling I got.

    If we do decide to sell I would much rather do it alone than pay any of them a fee for something we could easily do ourselves. At this moment in time they are a necessary evil which in time will no longer be required thankfully.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 13,863 ✭✭✭✭Dav010


    Roisin76 wrote: »
    Not convinced. One person's bad experience is not the end of the world. Also, this is a very new market, it will tak time to mature. The seed has be planted thought.

    You have the luxury of choosing what way you sell your property, you don’t however have that luxury when you want to buy one, so it really doesn’t matter whether you are convinced or not. Property selling/exchange is as old as civilisation and buyers have always complained about how it was done. This is not a new market by any stretch of imagination, property cycles have always existed. People thought when online portals like daft and myhome began that it would revolutionise the buying/selling of property, it did to an extent, but the basic mechanics of the industry stayed the same.


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