Cease Contract with Estate Agent

jeggburt

Hi there,

I've had a look around the site but I can't quite find what I'm looking for.

I've been with my agent since August and I want to move to a different agent.

Basically, I have my new agent ready to take over on the 15th day of my 14 day notice period with my current agent but I don't know quite how to word my letter to the current agent.

What I've got so far is:

I am writing to advise I no longer wish to use the service you are providing and will be selling my property through another agent as from Thursday 11th March.

This covers the 14 day notice period that I am required to cease the marketting.

Do I need to ask for names of people that they've introduced to my flat and I can I ask them to remove the sign from my flat (it's on a middle floor and it's not in a good position for me to take down)?

Thanks in advance

Bufger

I would just add 'please can you arrange to remove any advertising of the property performed in the name of XXX (EA) including website postings, advertisement boards etc within this period and write a letter of confirmation to this request'.

LandyAndy

jeggburt wrote: »

I am writing to advise I no longer wish to use the service you are providing and will be selling my property through another agent as from Thursday 11th March.

This covers the 14 day notice period that I am required to cease the marketting.

Do I need to ask for names of people that they've introduced to my flat and I can I ask them to remove the sign from my flat (it's on a middle floor and it's not in a good position for me to take down)?

Thanks in advance

This is very important. Get a written list of the people they consider they have introduced. Make it clear that these are the only people you will consider paying them commission on. Pass the list to your new EA so that they know not to deal with these people.

pastmybest

And make sure you don't agree to Sole Selling Rights otherwise you could end up paying commission twice.

timmyt

pastmybest...what are you talking about!

always sole agency, the only alternative is joint which yuoud be crazy to have two agents.

at the moment it is a sellers market as so few coming on.

you have a perfect letter

REMEMBER all forum readers....NEVER use a national estate agent. They do not advertise nationally or in any of their national offices. they contract you in to minimum period agreements meaning you are stuck with them, they can hold your passports under pre-text of doing id (but it means you wont back out with them) , they get you to pay a regsitration fee (never pay an agent upfront), they cover the HIP charge but if you back out, you pay an inflated charge and you cannot take the HIP with you.

AVOID...spread the word......and always think local independent, they have local contacts and great waiting lists.

THI

They can't hold your passport - they are obliged to confirm your identity and should take a copy of your passport / driving licence, but they are not able to hold on to it!! Money Laundering Regulations. Best advice is to pay for your HIP up front - it's cheaper that way, it's yours to do with as you wish thereafter. Letter perfect BTW.

timmyt

THI - yes pay for HIP upfront, but again watch those agents who try and argue it is defective...so try to use a local lawyer not an internet one who wont care to make any required amendments

they cannot hold your passport (Nothing to do with Money Laundering Regulations though as that isn't there to addres an estate agent holding a passport), that is the point, but I have heard it has happened...only for say a week, but enough time to make you think twice about pulling out as marketing has then started

googler

timmyt wrote: »

they cannot hold your passport (Nothing to do with Money Laundering Regulations though as that isn't there to addres an estate agent holding a passport), that is the point, but I have heard it has happened...only for say a week, but enough time to make you think twice about pulling out as marketing has then started

Yes, and you've also posted the same in another thread where you freely admit that this story about a national agent or agents holding passports is mere hearsay...... can you provide anything more?

G_M

timmyt wrote: »

pastmybest...what are you talking about!

always sole agency, the only alternative is joint which yuoud be crazy to have two agents.

at the moment it is a sellers market as so few coming on.

you have a perfect letter

REMEMBER all forum readers....NEVER use a national estate agent. They do not advertise nationally or in any of their national offices. they contract you in to minimum period agreements meaning you are stuck with them, they can hold your passports under pre-text of doing id (but it means you wont back out with them) , they get you to pay a regsitration fee (never pay an agent upfront), they cover the HIP charge but if you back out, you pay an inflated charge and you cannot take the HIP with you.

AVOID...spread the word......and always think local independent, they have local contacts and great waiting lists.

What a load of c*bbl**s!

Avoiding a 'sole selling' contract is an excellent idea. They are rare but some agents still use them, meaning if you sell privately ie not through an agent, you still have to pay the agents fee.

Passport blah blah - !! never heard such tosh!

minimum periods - ALL agents, national or local, use these on sole agency (selling!) agreements. The period of course varies and is negotiable.

HIP - again, local agents do this too sometimes. so yes, important to read the T&Cs. Nothing to do with national chains.

Poster isn't a (semi-literate) local agent by any chance....??!!

timmyt

jeggburt - hope you make the right choice next time, happy to give you more info, as I am always seeing estate agent agreements, some are shocking, hence my 'national v local' posting, and the things to check with the Agent.

pastmybest

timmyt wrote: »

pastmybest...what are you talking about!

always sole agency, the only alternative is joint which yuoud be crazy to have two agents.

at the moment it is a sellers market as so few coming on.

you have a perfect letter

REMEMBER all forum readers....NEVER use a national estate agent. They do not advertise nationally or in any of their national offices. they contract you in to minimum period agreements meaning you are stuck with them, they can hold your passports under pre-text of doing id (but it means you wont back out with them) , they get you to pay a regsitration fee (never pay an agent upfront), they cover the HIP charge but if you back out, you pay an inflated charge and you cannot take the HIP with you.

AVOID...spread the word......and always think local independent, they have local contacts and great waiting lists.

What do you mean what am I taking about.

More the other way round why on earth are you questioning my post/advice? Do you see it as being wrong and if so why.