Estate Agents - bad practice

WhiteHorse

I've been looking to buy a cheapie for the last few months. Quite a few times, I've been told by Estate Agents that I can't view or even make an offer, because someone else has 'already offered'.

Note that I am NOT referring to a situation where a firm offer has been made and equally firmly accepted, merely to a situation where an offer is being considered.

Surely the Agent should be on the lookout for further offers, and these should be communicated to the seller? A situation where another potential buyer is effectively told to push off, stinks.

Anyone else come across this phenomenon?

MissMotivation

If you make an offer it MUST be put forward to the Vendor, however, if the Vendor has instructed the agent not to carry out any more viewings then there is nothing you can do.

It may well be that the person who has offered on the property has offered on the basis that no further viewings are to be carried out?

If you are genuinely interested in a property then make an offer.....the agent CANNOT refuse to put the offer forward to their client

saddo

Yes, we were called by an estate agent as a house had unexpectantly come back on the market as the chain had broken, we viewed the house and really liked it and put an offer forward, we were told that they had shown a lot of people around a bungalow they were selling and if they get a sale they will buy the house we viewed, we were shocked I tried again to make an offer as we were cash buyers and was told subject to the bunglow selling they will buy the house, but if that fell through they would call us.
Estate agents are annoying me, even in this "buyers" market.

HellsGranny

Unfortunately estate agents are paid by the seller, not the buyer, so they will do as their seller instructs.

Cheers, HG

Doozergirl

It goes with the territory unfortunately - if you are looking for something cheap then it's entirely possible that someone has already got there before you. It's like the reduced section in the supermarket - when it's gone it's gone and there's usually people in the queue before you!

It's a complete PITA because even talking to EAs most of the time just gets you a blank look when you're asking about something suitable. Occassionally you hit upon someone more forthcoming - when you do you grab hold with both hands and keep in touch regularly to get yourself to the top of their mind when something comes in. A lot of the time if you wait for the proeprty to hit rightmove, it's already gone.

That said, I've had a couple of bargains that have been on the market a while - just not marketed correctly that you could appreciate the size of the proeprty/garden or whatever it is that makes it special.

And auctions -they give you as much chance as any if you have the finances.

Loaner

At Doozer gal

Why don't ya dispell everyone. Property wannabies are well gone. Apparantenltly, you are professional. Let's see....

googler

Loaner wrote: »

At Doozer gal

Why don't ya dispell everyone. Property wannabies are well gone. Apparantenltly, you are professional. Let's see....

Can we have this in English, please?

princeofpounds

Agents are required by law to pass on offers made in writing. The only exception is if the seller has specifically asked them not to take any more offers.

The way to get around it if you think you are being blocked (and you probably aren't as the condition of many offers is to cease marketing, although EAs have been known to be unscruplous at times) is to go to the land registry and find the identity of the owner for a few quid and contact them directly.

Gwhiz

princeofpounds wrote: »

Agents are required by law to pass on offers made in writing. The only exception is if the seller has specifically asked them not to take any more offers.

The way to get around it if you think you are being blocked (and you probably aren't as the condition of many offers is to cease marketing, although EAs have been known to be unscruplous at times) is to go to the land registry and find the identity of the owner for a few quid and contact them directly.

Or what I did - pop a letter through the door saying the agent will not allow you to view but you'd like to if the owner is willing.

princeofpounds

Or what I did - pop a letter through the door saying the agent will not allow you to view but you'd like to if the owner is willing.

Works well, if you know the owner lives there.

Gwhiz

princeofpounds wrote: »

Works well, if you know the owner lives there.

Goes without saying!