Why Do Estate Agents Lie?

While many property sales agents are highly reputable and treat the fair sale of real estate as their main priority, others have a less “squeaky clean” reputation.

In this article, Property Solvers Home Buyers explore common questions like “do estate agents lie?”, “is my estate agent lying about viewings?” and “do estate agents lie about offers?”.

Do Estate Agents Lie?

There are a large number of professions in which the truth can sometimes be bent in order to make the service provider look more capable than they really are – or to squeeze a little extra money out of an arrangement.

Of course, the majority of specialists in the property sales industry are diligent and honest.

However, where there is commission involved, there is always the potential for underhand techniques to come into play.  This is often the reason why many people have a distaste for estate agents.

It’s important to know that the estate agent you’re using is honest – and that their reputation is based in truth. This should be the case whether you’re buying or selling a house. That’s why we need to ask questions like “can a real estate agent lie about other offers?” and “might your estate agent be lying about viewings?”.

Can Estate Agents Lie About Offers?

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSEAT) exists to regulate estate agents across the UK. Property sales agents are also beholden to the regulations set out in the Estate Agents Act of 1979. Residential estate agents should belong to an official redress scheme too. The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme and the Property Redress Scheme are two of the largest.

These bodies exist to ensure that the work of UK estate agents is undertaken in an honest, effective and professional manner. They are also there to help unsatisfied clients making complaints or seeking compensation if required.

Of course, it is still possible for certain activities to slip under the net. This risk is all the greater because no law exists requiring an estate agent to be in any way qualified or licensed.

So, if you are planning to buy a property, can a real estate agent lie about rival bids to push up your offer and receive a higher commission? The answer is yes – it’s certainly possible.

It should not happen, and there are standards in place to prevent it. This means that incidents of this kind are relatively rare, but not out of the question.

Might Your Estate Agent be Lying About Viewings?

Although estate agents are regulated, there are techniques that less reputable professionals have been known to use when selling.

This includes “bending the truth” by booking in multiple back-to-back viewings. This makes it look as if there is more interest in a property than actually exists.

In reality, these viewers may be the only enquirers that the house has had to date – but the apparently huge influx will make the estate agent appear more skilled than they actually are.

Other estate agents miss calls and online messages, often failing to check their own databases and tools like Rightmove Plus.

Some agents may even call on friends and family to register false interest in order to boost their numbers.

In other circumstances, some estate agents refuse house viewings for a range of reasons.

It can be even easier for an estate agent to mislead a seller when they have already left the property. In certain cases, the seller will have moved into their new home, or started renting elsewhere while renovating their next place.

Much of the time, they do not have the capacity to “keep tabs” on what the agent is doing. On these occasions, sellers may be forced to take the agent’s word for whatever is happening. This provides the perfect opportunity for less reputable service providers to report large numbers of viewings that never actually take place.

How to Tell if an Estate Agent is Lying

Whether you’re a buyer suspecting that an estate agent is lying about offers, or a seller wondering if your estate agent is lying about viewings, there are steps you can take.

As a seller, you can present yourself as a no-nonsense customer from the off. From the beginning, you should show that you are willing to do research, undertake background checks and stay very much “on the scene” throughout the sale. This may be enough to deter dishonest behaviour from your service provider.

If you still suspect that your agent may be bending the truth or acting in an underhand manner, do not hesitate to challenge them. Ask them about the actions they’ve taken to promote your property and try to be present for all viewings.

Run background checks on them by exploring online reviews and speaking to others who have used them. Should you remain concerned, contact the ombudsman and take steps to move to a different service provider.

If you’re a buyer, you should ask for written proof of a rival offer before considering raising your own. Should the estate agent refuse or appear reluctant, the offer may be a ruse. At this point, you should contact the ombudsman for further investigation.

What to Do When Real Estate Agents Lie

Whether you’re concerned about offers, viewings or even being conned into using a service like in-house mortgage brokering, your first port of call should be the property ombudsman. They will review your complaint and attempt to resolve the dispute – usually forcing the estate agent’s hand.

To avoid any kind of dishonesty from an agent, read online reviews and study their track record before committing. It’s also best to use a service provider who is registered and licensed.

If you are concerned about selling your property via an estate agent, there are other available routes. At Property Solvers, we buy any house in as little as seven days, for a transparent up-front cash offer. You won’t have to wait for viewings and offers, and there will be no estate agent or solicitor fees to pay.

For further information, contact us today.