x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
Written by rosalind renshaw

haart in Leicester had to turn people away when over 100 arrived for a block viewing on a property last week.

The three-bedroom semi-detached house was on the market with haart for offers inexcess of £120,000.

Chris Sanders, branch manager, said: “I have been working in estate agency for over 20 years now and I have never seen anything quite like it before.

“We had agreed a block viewing with the vendor and had been marketing the event in the days leading up to it. But we never imagined for one minute so many people would turn up or that we would have to turn people away because we couldn’t accommodate them. It was quite unprecedented.”

As a result of the block viewing, the vendor received over 25 offers, one of which he has now accepted.

Comments

  • icon

    Hi Pee Bee

    Yes I realised that as soon as I had posted, but too late to amend!!

    This was a 3 bed semi so how they would have fitted them all in I don't know anyway!!

    One other thought - was there a board outside the property? If so then that could be read by locals two ways as well. One side of the street might think "Wow what a great agent look at how busy they are" while the other side of the street might think "What a bunch of dopes clogging up our road like this"

    • 01 August 2011 09:51 AM
  • icon

    Industry Observer: Hello again, Sir! Okay - this time I need to pick you up on what you have said below. You stste "It says Haart TURNED AWAY had over 100 potential viewers turn up... " Actually, it doesn't. The article actually states "haart in Leicester had to turn people away when over 100 arrived.." They may have turned away a hundred - but they may easily have only turned away a handful.

    THAT BEING SAID, I agree with what you are stating - that these people took time out to come; surely they deserved the opportunity to view?

    What we don't know, of course, is why the viewers were turned away. For all we know, the vendor may have instructed the viewing to be cut short as they didn't expect so many people to turn up in one go! We also don't know whether as a result haart arranged a second viewing for those who were disappointed the first time; or whether individuals were allowed to book personal viewings instead, as the story is somewhat focused on the single headline.

    Basically what I am saying is that news stories are one-sided. unless we have full facts, then it is obvious that we are going to make a one-sided opinion of the 'facts' as we interpret them.

    As far as I am concerned, the only negative is that, from the vendor's point of view, had ALL viewers been allowed to see the property, then they may have achieved an even higher offer than they have accepted.

    See how we all read it different?

    (and I fully acknowledge your history allows you insight into the industry, by the way - but of course as I'm not an Agent either, I WOULD have to say that - wouldn't I... ;o) )

    • 30 July 2011 11:05 AM
  • icon

    @Thinks He Knows It All

    One thing I don't do is make personal and especially derogatory remaks to people I don't know and people who don't know me.

    If estate agents are so liked why until Murdoch and MPs expenses scandals did they almost always top any 'poll' of unpopular professions? You should re-read the article and my post.

    It says Haart TURNED AWAY had over 100 potential viewers turn up - wonder how many of them travelled any distance, wasted time and petrol money etc. And I said I don't dislike estate agents.

    I comment on here because I am a lettings specialist and an alleged legal eagle and have been in the industry 20+ years previously as national rented housing manager for a major building society and for the past 17 years out here at the sharp end.

    I have spent almost all my working life in customer service related roles of one kind or another and for me such a shambles of a block viewing is certainly not something to crow about. That's my view - anyone else who wants to say well done Haart they are obviously brilliant at customer service then go ahead.

    You are all entitled to your opinions. But I have worked alongside estate agents in one way or another for the past 40 years sometimes very closely and still to this day so do give me credit for some knowledge even if only a tiny bit.

    And above all you and others in this thread if you need to resort to personal comments then it is you that should not be posting.

    • 30 July 2011 09:37 AM
  • icon

    So why spend time commenting on a website for estate agents industry observer?

    I could ask every one of my vendors and not one of them would say they do not like estate agents.

    Your comments are unfounded because they are not based on anything at all.

    You are clearly quite sad. If someone who claims they were an "industry observer" (who clearly thinks they are more important than they are) were to make negative posts on a website for your profession, you too would get agitated. Why waste your time?

    • 30 July 2011 09:23 AM
  • icon

    Anna: The let-off is much appreciated - I deserved a savaging for not reading properly before wading in!

    I will maybe follow my own advice to others in future!
    I MUST practice what I preach.
    I MUST practice what I preach.
    I MUS...

    You have a good weekend also. ;o)

    • 29 July 2011 16:47 PM
  • icon

    PeeBee- Thanks, faith restored in you, I was confused at the dig! Have a good weekend all, even those who talk rubbish (HPC) and Haarts. XX

    • 29 July 2011 15:55 PM
  • icon

    So people don't hate EAs - I certainly don't though I have little respect for most of them but I wonder where I've been all my life to overlook that everyone likes EAs.

    By the way there are millions (?!) of properties on EAs books because there are no realistic alternatives other than to use an EA if you want to sell a house.

    I have to use a bank - doesn't mean I like them, their attitude, their business ethics etc etc.

    So which of my comments were "unfounded" then in my opening post?

    Anyway I'm off for the week-end - especially with posters obviously getting agitated over this. Mind I'd only expect EAs to support other EAs..

    • 29 July 2011 15:45 PM
  • icon

    Anna: Having re-read your post I now realise that you weren't asking a question; you were making a statement.

    I believe apologies be called for. I was obviously in rant mode...

    • 29 July 2011 14:20 PM
  • icon

    Industry Observer: Sorry - but it looks like we are back to our old sparring days over this one, matey! :o) 24 people simply did not offer enough to purchase the property they were interested in - that is all that happened. How many times do you have prospective tenants who offer too low on a rental only to be turned down? The result in BOTH these examples, is that they will all know better next time!

    My guess is that the average EA branch takes at least that number of unacceptable offers a month - and some per week. They just happen to be on a larger number of properties...

    Anna: What 'responsibility to buyers' are you referring to? They arranged for the viewings to take place; they accepted offers from those who wished to offer; they succesfully tied up a sale to one of the offerers. In ANY multiple offer scenario there are unsuccessful bidders.

    How could Haart have done anything that would have brought about a different result for the other 24 people?

    • 29 July 2011 14:06 PM
  • icon

    Industry Observor, we work for the vendor not the buyer?? Do you moan to tesco when the chicken has sold out? What do you propose they did with the other 24 offers??

    Some people are never happy. If the vendor was happy with the price he got, so what? People don't hate estate agents, otherwise there wouldn't be millions of properties on their books. Much of the hate is about becuase idiots like you make unfounded comments.

    And please understand that this is just a blatant advertising feature from haart which won't have been confirmed by EAT, and probably never actually happened.

    • 29 July 2011 13:50 PM
  • icon

    They sold the house, got 24 more prospective buyers and with the publicity will probably get more instructions.
    Have to agree with Anna, job well done........where IS the soap??

    • 29 July 2011 13:46 PM
  • icon

    Haart are the lowest form of life, just behind HPC crew, but their job was to sell at the best price, no responsibilty to buyers at all. Hate to praise them, but job well done and great PR. Off to wash my mouth out with soap this hurt!

    • 29 July 2011 13:23 PM
  • icon

    I sometimes glance at these stories and I must admit half of you lot need to get back to work or get a life.

    Wow an estate agent actually sold a house and very well.
    Accept it and shut up

    • 29 July 2011 13:04 PM
  • icon

    IO, you could say that about anyone. I know someone who went for a job interview recently. Lovely chap, lots of experience, and he was there with 30 other people. 29 of whom went away disappointed.

    Is that the interviewers fault?

    • 29 July 2011 13:00 PM
  • icon

    So it's OK to have 25 offers and 24 prospective buyers disappointed then is it - assuming they were sensible offers.

    And you wonder why EAs are so little loved.

    • 29 July 2011 12:51 PM
  • icon

    C'mon guy seriously does it really warrant criticism?

    Without knowing all the facts it looks like haart had a property at a sensible price that attracted a world of interest. 25 offers, vendor happy job done!

    I'm no fan of haart but personally I would rather have to turn buyers away than beg them to come and view.

    It really doesn't need over analysing so lets just let haart have their '15 minutes' because for the rest of their branches it's business as usual.

    • 29 July 2011 11:51 AM
  • icon

    *should say 'take note'

    • 29 July 2011 09:13 AM
  • icon

    Thats the point of block viewings/open days to encourage people to pop in when they are not always on your books. No EA can ever have ALL the people on their books.

    With 25 offers it is highly likely that the bidding process would guarantee the owner the best price from a buyer in the best position.

    Much as I don't like Haart if they have acheived this then they have done EXACTLY what theit contracted job is for their client.

    Offer it only to people who are cash and no chain and watch them try and gazunder at exchange - take not that EA are the purveyors of of other people actions.

    • 29 July 2011 09:06 AM
  • icon

    And agents are the local knowledge experts are they?

    Presumably they know how many prospective buyers they have listed who are interested in 3 bed detached houses? Whether such properties are not the norm and not as many in that area - and so likely to attract extra attention. Is it in the catchment area for a particularly good school etc etc etc.

    And at what price range - and absolute maximum range? Did they even need to do any additional marketing in the run up to this block viewing.

    Is it a "must go" price it sounds it even for, with all due respect, Leicester area and its price ranges.

    Forgive me for stating the obvious but why wasn't it organised as an invitation and book your place viewing - then numbers would have been controlled. I'd say this disorganised chaos is something to be embarrassed about, not publicising.

    • 29 July 2011 08:28 AM
MovePal MovePal MovePal