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How to deal with my Solicitor - advice please!
gtothec
Posts: 234 Forumite
I asked a local solicitor's firm to market my property (which is the norm in Scotland) at the beginning of May this year. They were on my street and I believed this would be excellent for people passing the window, and for my dealings with them etc. That week they moved premises, said they were just moving down the road - ends up they moved 6 miles away to a completely different area of the city.
They were way out with their initial valuation, they didn't call round once to look at the flat or to give me advice on how to market the property. The adverts in local windows never appeared. They didn't arrange one viewing in the first 2 and a half months.
In short I was really disappointed with their service, and wrote a letter explaining that I was dissatisfied. I was particularly annoyed as I had signed a contract with them that they would be sole sellers of the property and at the time I paid them £355 up front.
On receipt of my letter they wrote to assure me that they were doing all they could. I am realistic about the terrible market, but they appeared to have done nothing since they got my money. I challenged them on various points - things they said they would do like have solicitors in my area advertise the property - they said that they cannot force them to advertise my flat. Additionally they (in a letter and not directly) insisted that they had told me they were moving, giving me their new card with all contact details. This is completely untrue. I only found out their new number by ringing the old one and being re-directed by BT.
After they recieved my letter they had a viewer the next day! fancy that.
The lady who came around was surprised that it was only one bedroom as she had said she was looking for a two bedroom. She also said it was difficult to get a hold of the solicitors and thought their communication was poor.
A few weeks later a man with top budget considereably less that what I could ever accept was surprised that the flat was not in his price range. I feel the solicitors were just directing people to my flat in a panic, even though they were completely unsuitable. I was totally fed up.
I decided to rent my property and carried out all the relevant procedures with the council and mortgage company etc. I managed to get a tenant after a few weeks and everything is going well. I have not told the solicitors as the contract that I signed way back in April mentioned a cancellation fee of £95 and I am loathe to give them another penny of my hard earned cash.
Can they do this? Can they lawfully demand this money if I take my house off the market?
In the last few days they have been on the phone leaving messages for me about two possible viewers and that they are awaiting my instructions. They have called about 10 times and I haven't had the nerve or inclination to answer. The lady can be very sharp and would demand to know why I haven't answered her.
In short, I wish to take the house of the market but do not wish to pay them money, or have a confrontation with them. Is this possible???
Many thanks
G>C
They were way out with their initial valuation, they didn't call round once to look at the flat or to give me advice on how to market the property. The adverts in local windows never appeared. They didn't arrange one viewing in the first 2 and a half months.
In short I was really disappointed with their service, and wrote a letter explaining that I was dissatisfied. I was particularly annoyed as I had signed a contract with them that they would be sole sellers of the property and at the time I paid them £355 up front.
On receipt of my letter they wrote to assure me that they were doing all they could. I am realistic about the terrible market, but they appeared to have done nothing since they got my money. I challenged them on various points - things they said they would do like have solicitors in my area advertise the property - they said that they cannot force them to advertise my flat. Additionally they (in a letter and not directly) insisted that they had told me they were moving, giving me their new card with all contact details. This is completely untrue. I only found out their new number by ringing the old one and being re-directed by BT.
After they recieved my letter they had a viewer the next day! fancy that.
The lady who came around was surprised that it was only one bedroom as she had said she was looking for a two bedroom. She also said it was difficult to get a hold of the solicitors and thought their communication was poor.
A few weeks later a man with top budget considereably less that what I could ever accept was surprised that the flat was not in his price range. I feel the solicitors were just directing people to my flat in a panic, even though they were completely unsuitable. I was totally fed up.
I decided to rent my property and carried out all the relevant procedures with the council and mortgage company etc. I managed to get a tenant after a few weeks and everything is going well. I have not told the solicitors as the contract that I signed way back in April mentioned a cancellation fee of £95 and I am loathe to give them another penny of my hard earned cash.
Can they do this? Can they lawfully demand this money if I take my house off the market?
In the last few days they have been on the phone leaving messages for me about two possible viewers and that they are awaiting my instructions. They have called about 10 times and I haven't had the nerve or inclination to answer. The lady can be very sharp and would demand to know why I haven't answered her.
In short, I wish to take the house of the market but do not wish to pay them money, or have a confrontation with them. Is this possible???
Many thanks
G>C
0
Comments
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Just tell them to double the asking price.
Tada, no more viewers.Bankruptcy isn't the worst that can happen to you. The worst that can happen is your forced to live the rest of your life in abject poverty trying to repay the debts.0
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