Multiple Estate Agents

Still a little unsure of how estate agents work over here. Do you have to pay the agent fees before they start showing you properties, or do you wait until you've chosen a property. Can you have multiple agencies working for you?

In my experience, you don't need to pay them a fee to view properties. They will probably charge (a lot!) for a credit check, etc. once you've chosen a property. And yes, you can work with multiple agencies. Dunno about the "working for you" bit--in my experience, I've been the one doing all the work!

It's a joy.....

One main difference in Estate Agents between the US and the UK is that as the buyer/Renter you don't really have anyone working for you.

Definitely call multiple agents, because that is the only way you will see a good selection of properties.  They will normally take your details, suggest a few properties to view that are on their books currently and then they will start sending you all sorts of crap that doesn't meet the criteria you specified.  It really does work out that you have to be looking for a needle within a haystack. 

If you are renting:   They won't want to talk to you more than 4 weeks from your move date.  The only fee you should have to pay is a credit check.  I think the one we paid 2 years ago was £50 for each person.  Once you find a place and the credit checks go through, you will need a deposit to secure it.  Depending on the agent this could be £100 non-refundable or the whole 4-6 weeks deposit required by the landlord, refundable if everything doesn't go through. 

If you are buying:  You will generally work with one contact person at each office, but not necessarily.  They don't generally go out of their way to show you properties, i.e. past 6:30 in the evening or on Sundays.  They often times just give you the address and you have to go to the flat/house and be shown around by the owner/tenants.  Awkward!   I don't think as the buyer you have to pay anything to the agents, because your solicitor does most of the work re: mortgage, surveys etc.

I would say in both situations you will find that you do most of the leg work finding suitable places to view.  Sites like propertyfinder and a findaproperty will be your new favorite websites!

Good luck!

We are looking to rent. Wow, at all sounds so lovely! I've read a few stories about having to put down 6 month's deposit, if you don't have any credit. Is this a common occurrence?

We are looking to rent. Wow, at all sounds so lovely! I've read a few stories about having to put down 6 month's deposit, if you don't have any credit. Is this a common occurrence?

I think that might depend on the city. I remember someone from Oxford saying they had to have 6 months deposit. 

If you have no credit record in the UK and don't have someone who can act as guarantor then it is possible.  It will depend on the agent/landlord.

Vicky

We used multiple agents (at least back in July and we ended up with an 8 week deposit.  It would have been 6 weeks, but we have cats (which were consolidated into 1 cat for approval purposes) and offered to pay extra to smooth over any lingering reluctance to rent to pet owners. 

We did, however, have a guarantor in form of my husband's employer. 

Ohhh...I forgot about the gaurantor.  When I first moved here, I rented a place on my own, but my BF was my gaurantor so I only had 6 weeks security deposit.  I too have heard about 6 months requirement by some of the people on here.