Frustrated and need encouragement

Our family is arriving in the UK mid June...I've spent endless hours on the internet and on the phone trying to line up a place to live.  I'm finding it incredibly difficult to understand the lack of any assistance in this endeavor!  The agents simply act like they can't be bothered, and I've spoken with several of them.  I was hoping to 'shortlist' a few properties and hop over (we're in Germany) to secure something, but I can't get anyone to speak with me for more than a minute.  Is this an attitude common in all avenues of life in the UK or somethink unique to the real estate nightmare?  I'm starting to think we'll be living in our car, and am really starting to question if this move was just an outright goof...Any positive feedback appreciated!  I'm wilting!

I think part of the problem (and it is hugely inconvenient when you're trying to find a place to live!) is that estate agents a) expect you to do a lot of the foot work and b) don't represent clients (i.e. whereas in the US you have your own agent to help you search, here the agents take care of the property they have listed only). My suggestion would be to phone up each agent on the high street in the area that you are interested in and ask them to post or fax the details of any places they have available. Or check their websites as it seems that a lot of agents now list all of their available properties there....

Or try findaproperty.com or rightmove.com.

Good luck - I know how frustrating it is!

It's also tough as, believe it or not, this is considered 'early' to be looking at mid-June moves...and they want you to be available 'now' to look at a place.  I would go with the rightmove.co.uk thing, mark the properties you are interested in, let them know that you are making an international move and are willing to come over for a short time to check things out.

Best of luck!

estate agents do seem to be in a class all their own for lack of helpfulness sometimes.

We were planning on spending under 800 for a three bed in York.  One agent told my husband it couldn't be done.  Course when we got a three bed for 600 we just wanted to go back and show him.  And the group showings....what is up with that???

One or two have been bright shining stars in the dark dark night of looking for property, but on the whole, they are a nasty bunch.

(PS One corrected me everytime I said "oh what a nice yard (speaking to my husband)" and said "That's a garden" (same inflection used one uses to tell a dog they should sit, etc)

Thanks to everyone, I am feeling a bit better today (and am glad to know others have experienced the same thing!).  I'm going to stop driving myself crazy, and just find something when we get there...I guess it's never too late for an adventure (though I feel a bit old for it). Have a great weekend...

I recently just got the same feedback about it being far too early to look now for June.  Lucky for me that my bf is in the UK and is getting lists for me to review.  I was so surprised that they seem to want to wait til the last minute and there is no concern for an international move
Good Luck!  I am looking in the Southwell area right now and anticipate being in UK by the third week of June.

And the group showings....what is up with that???

Amen!!

And people show up an hour early to get in line...on top of that, some yahoo always tries to convince you to leave, because they have been looking "so hard" and  they "need this flat more than you do." 

It is pure laziness on the agent/landlord's part. I know agencies get a bad rap, but I found a small one and the money I paid to make my life easier was worth it.

Group showings?!  No Thanks - eek 

estate agents do seem to be in a class all their own for lack of helpfulness sometimes.

Without a doubt! We are looking to buy and its shocking that most of the estate agents have NO clue about the council tax band for the house you are looking at (oh, we need to get back to you on that) nor do they work past 5:30pm and most are closed on Sundays??? Shocking! Excuse me but showing a house is not rocket science.  Talk about earning your living by solely turning a key for your commision? 

It seems that estate agents here in the UK are regarded in much the same way as politicians     They are not the most popular group of professionals, so much so that there was a TV program here recently about unprofessional practises during which a reporter gained access with a hidden camera and recording equipment while posing as a hired employee.    She managed to reveal some pretty underhand dealings which showed that the estate agents were more interested in their own profits than getting the best for their clients.

No way do I want to discourage you in any way - just put you more in the picture about this business generally.

I had a great house hunting experience. It was awful to look from abroad, but I had a clue about neighborhoods and prices and what's available. I had agents lined up and made appointments with them and they took me around. I ended up with the last one I saw on the first day I tried. It was part luck and part good timing. I went with a small property management agency.

Perhaps you'd have better luck if you booked your trip over, had agencies in mind and have them show you what they have... as opposed to having specific properties in mind. Turn over can be pretty fast.

Good luck!

Maybe it will turn out for the best (I hope)...I'll get a chance to see the places in person I guess before I sign anything.  Good luck with your move!

I recently just got the same feedback about it being far too early to look now for June.  Lucky for me that my bf is in the UK and is getting lists for me to review.  I was so surprised that they seem to want to wait til the last minute and there is no concern for an international move
Good Luck!  I am looking in the Southwell area right now and anticipate being in UK by the third week of June.

Thanks!  It's encouraging to hear your experience...I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I had a great house hunting experience. It was awful to look from abroad, but I had a clue about neighborhoods and prices and what's available. I had agents lined up and made appointments with them and they took me around. I ended up with the last one I saw on the first day I tried. It was part luck and part good timing. I went with a small property management agency.

Perhaps you'd have better luck if you booked your trip over, had agencies in mind and have them show you what they have... as opposed to having specific properties in mind. Turn over can be pretty fast.

Good luck!

And people show up an hour early to get in line...on top of that, some yahoo always tries to convince you to leave, because they have been looking "so hard" and  they "need this flat more than you do." 

During the whole dot-com thing in San Francisco people would show up in droves to see apartments AND they would show up with stock shares, cheques for a year's rent up front, etc. It was INSANE. I looked at one really small apartment and there were so many people there the owner had to let people up in groups of 5 at a time. It was HORRID. I finally got a place by showing up an hour early with a money order for the deposit and first month's rent.  That was the era that changed SF forever for me - it'll never be quite the same....

/hijack 

We found our place quite by chance.  We were getting NO WHERE with estate agents.  Basically, they wouldn't rent to us unless we viewed the place and we were having a difficult time finding someone to view places for us.  We knew the area, how much etc.  we didn't really care so much about the place, just find us something in the catchment area of the school, Please!

My parents just happened to be in England on holiday and had a day travel scheduled in, so they came up and viewed a few places for us.  They were unimpressed with all of them (their standards are waaaay higher than ours!) so they asked if there were any other places.  The agent told them of one house that was going to be listed so she gave my parents the address and told them to drive by.  No paperwork on the house had been completed with the agency.  My silly dad stood outside the house, taking pictures and the woman inside came out and asked him why.  She actually owned the house and  invited them in  and then my dad brokered a private deal with her.  My dad even called me from her house!  We pay considerably less than if we had gone through the agent.  It was pure luck.  And we'll be there as long as she'll have us!

And BTW, she was having an equally difficult time with the agency.  They were no help to her at all.  She was glad to be rid of them.