Hastings Forum

Anyone looking to buy property in Hastings be very aware!
One of the newer local Estate Agents has recently picked up a marketing trick, from elsewhere, no doubt.
Present a property as 'offers over' then arrange a mass-viewing on one day (shortly after a property has come to market) and pressure potential buyers to put in a bid on the same day (as viewing) suggesting that the property will sell very quickly otherwise.
The Agent will advise you if your bid is too low but will correctly say that they cannot state what the (presumably) higher bid is at.
Too much rests in the Estate Agents control for my liking.
Surely the investment of a life-time should not be subject to such coercion?

Estate Agents have a bad press enough without this sort of mischief.

Some may say that this new English method of selling a property is the same as the Scottish method but it is not.
In Scotland the seller has to provide a survey on their property, at their own expense, prior to marketing and then potential buyers submit sealed bids accordingly.
These bids cannot be altered or revoked and the winner is immediately and contractually obliged to proceed to exchange and completion.