Melbguy

To all those people who are posting threads and article about selling houses in the Uk, maybe I can offer some advice or helpful tips. I was an Estate agent in the UK for over ten years and I know all the cons!! that are used by buyers and crap estate agents alike. If you need some advice then try me.
We packed up and moved to Melbourne 8 months ago and have never looked back, so if i can help in anyway, then i would feel i would be contributing back to the site. A thank you to all the advice we received when we first thought of moving.

Lindsay Clan

We are in Melbourne, I think the estate agents here are worse than UK if that is possible! We are looking to buy established & are having to chase them all the time, even though they all have our wish list. Any tips for getting the most out of an Ozzy estae agent is much appreciated.

Stu

Rachel1978

We had the opposite problem when we were looking here, they wouldn't leave us alone, I was scared to answer the phone in the end.

Melbguy

Funny enough i am now a Australian estate agent in the CBD. Pretty much like the UK, agents out here especially in the suburbs have had a very good time of it over the last few years and havent had to chase the business, ie lazy!! Be polite, firm and persistant and demonstrate that you are ready to purchase. It does actually seem to be more web based in Oz. It is also common place that if the agent is slack, knock on the vendors door and explain that you are getting no joy from the agent!!!

Melbguy

G'day Rachel, Did you buy brand new cos they are like vipers

Rachel1978

We weren't looking for a new property but we gave up looking in the end, didn't see anything that grabbed us at all, we are now building in Point Cook but we were originally looking around Carrum Downs, Skye, Langwarrin etc. and the agents were always hassling us, even on the first viewing they were wanting us to make an offer. I found MPRE the worst offenders.

Melbguy

Good Agents are persistant, bad agents are too pushy. Most estate agents are commission only paid so chasing is something they have to do. I guess on a positive if you were selling how hard would you want them to push!! How's the build going?

Rachel1978

They were definately pushy but depends what agent you get in the end.

The builds going ok, were at frame stage at the moment and it should be ready some time in June, its stressful but also exciting watching it being built.

Melbguy

Stu,

If you PM me I can ensure that youre details are the sort of things an EA will prick their ears up to, and if my organisation has an office there i'll try to pull a favour or two

Melbguy

I have mates building in Point Cook and Caroline Springs, and they both seem to be pretty excited. Something nice about having a home built to how you want it and that no-one has ever lived in it before you. I'm definately a fan of new homes.

Rachel1978

There nice but the companies can be pigs to deal with and the cost of the upgrades is just silly. Next time, if there is one, definately a private architect and private subcontractors, we met someone the other day building the same house as ours who has done it privately and saved around $40,000 with more added extras than us.

Still, it will be nice to get in it and have our own home again.

Melbguy

not sure if i've done the right thing creating this post, kinda think i'm gonna get a huge response, but i hope that some advice will release some of the stress from the stories i keep reading on here.

Melbguy

It does appear that the builders are very backward at coming forward in helping with the extra's, and when you do decide you want them they absolutely fleece you (or try to). Always worth looking to employ a project manager.

Melbguy

How long have you guys been out?

Rachel1978

six months now. Have to run