Sole or Multi EA - advice please

natters_2

My OH has been left a property and the house is now ready to go onto the market.

We have had 2 EA visit, measure up and value. We are not in a position to pay for the HIP ourselves, so the solicitor who is also the executor has said he will supply one and recover the cost out of the estate - this means we can go multi agency.

One of the EA's has said they can supply a HIP within 3 days and are prepared to defer the fee, but as that means they own it we cannot use it with another EA, they are prepared to take a 2% fee wether sole or multi agency.

The other EA were first to visit and are now saying we misled them by now saying we wish to go multi agency - this EA however will not defer the HIP fee and say it must be paid for up front and will only charge a 2% fee if they are sole agents, 2.75 for multi, but are prepared to accept a sole agency for 6 weeks and not the usual 12/18

The executor says we can do as we please as in sole or multi - it's our choice - the more we sort out the less he has to do.

The first EA says that having a multi agency is bad in terms of selling - I think he is trying it on - however not knowing very much about selling a property - I am doing what I usually do when unsure and post on MSE :rolleyes:

So thoughts and suggestions are most welcome - do we go multi or give the first EA a chance to sell in 6 weeks?

1echidna

Estate Agents charge more for multi agency agreements. In these days of widespread use property Internet search engines I can't see that it is worth going multiagency.

PasturesNew

Always sole. Make sure they are on Rightmove. Make sure they sell houses just like yours regularly (e.g. if it's a 2-up-2-down don't use the posh ones that do waterfront properties, or the ones that only do high value holiday homes). If most of the houses on their books are like yours then they'll have the right sort of people on their books.

With two agents you can end up paying both, you'll certainly pay more - and neither is particularly bothered at selling it after the first month because they know the other one's got it on their books too.

I watch all that property !!!!!! stuff - and one that's been on recently is Unsellable - and they often come across houses with more than 1 agent... it looks desperate. Buyers notice and assume you're desperate.

cattie

If a property is multi-agent, it always seems to smack of desperation to me.

Try one agent & if they don't seem to be getting viewers through the door, switch to another one as soon as the mininum contract is up.

natters_2

We have decided to go with the 2nd EA as they seem to be the most accomodating - the 1st one is being a right pain in the butt even though they wouldn't budge on any of the fees, deferring hip payment etc, they seem to think we should go with them - I thought we were supposed to be the customer and had a choice!