Estate agent tactics to ‘avoid’ falling for when buying a home

Property experts at Land of Rugs said that estate agents may use some ‘tricks’ to pressure buyers into making quick decisions, while it is best to take some time to consider these decisions. 1. They don’t tell you the price The pros explained: ‘This is a common trick estate agents use to create a bidding war among buyers. ‘This can result in buyers paying a higher price for a property than they would if the estate agent was honest about the price from the start.’ 2. They make you think you’re losing the property Some estate agents use tactics to urge buyers to act quickly or they may run the risk of losing out on the purchase. This sense of urgency can lead buyers to make impulsive decisions while overlooking important considerations or negotiating with the agent. Estate agent ‘tricks’ to ‘avoid’ falling for when buying a home or risk future ‘regrets’ (Image: Getty) The experts continued: ‘Estate agents use terms that may convey a different meaning to what is actually meant. ‘For example, common phrases such as ‘has so much potential’ or ‘needs TLC’ actually mean that the property needs lots of work done. ‘Observe what words estate agents use and try to uncover if they’re actually trying to hide something.’ 4. They are chatty Estate agents may be very chatty when buyers view homes, hoping that the prospective buyers will provide lots of information about their personal life or financial situation. Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea The pros noted: ‘Buyers should be careful not to disclose too much information, as estate agents may use this to urge you to buy the house.’ 4. They tell you to offer more Estate agents may tell homeowners to increase their offer, in hope that they will have a better chance to purchase the property and beat others. However, it is important to stay firm and not go out of budget from pressure as there will always be another home for sale. 5. They tell you to skip the property survey The property experts said: ‘Estate agents often try to convince buyers that there are no issues with the property, so there’s no need to complete the property survey. Most desirable UK areas (Image: EXPRESS) ‘This is often the case if the property was listed for quite some time. It’s important to complete the survey, so that you may be aware of any issues that the property has before you make an offer.’ 6. They try to sell you the neighbourhood According to the pros, estate agents will often use the location as an important factor when selling you the home. While this is often a huge factor for many people, buying a house based only on the appeal of the neighbourhood can lead to future ‘regrets’. Make sure the agent knows your main priority, which should be finding the perfect house first, while also liking the neighbourhood it is situated in.