Estate Agent Fees

steve1500

We have pulled our house off the market. It was both residential & commercial property. I hadn't spotted in the contract that they would bill me for advertising. Now they have sent me a big bill.

I am going to ask them to provide proof that they actually placed the ads they say they did.

They are asking for £50 per advert. Which it does state in the contract.

My question is are they allowed to profit out of it? If say the ad cost £20 a time.

Thanks

chickmug

You will need to be very careful how you deal with this as Business Agents (I assume it is a Business Agent) make normal Estate Agents look like angels --- and many are not.

Who is the agent?

How much is the bill?

Bear in mind it will be business-to-business even though there is living accommodation. And as such it is all in the contract as many of the rules that apply to residential agents will not apply the same.

You say it is in the contract but I would sure ask for proof of all the adverts but as to cost that will be a tough one. I would reckon to charge adverts out a the full card rate and not the discounted rate that we were given. Sometimes I would of charged at the cost rate but business selling is tougher than witf house and the agents can't be expected to work for free.

steve1500

They are business agents although all their blurb mentions Nat'l Assoc of Estate Agents etc. The bill is £4k.

Apparently they placed ads in Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds & York.

During the entire period these bankers never gave any indication of the bill that was being run up

We stopped using them because they were as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Cannon_Fodder

In your line of business, would you halve the bill when you had fulfilled a contract, just because the customer hadn't read their contract properly ?

The commercial property market is said to have suffered 40% falls in the last two years. Lots of empty businesses/premises.

I'm not sure how realistic it is to expect sure-fire results in the midst of the 'worst recession in 100 years'. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7881301.stm

googler

chickmug wrote: »

You will need to be very careful ....

Wondered when you'd be back...

timmyt

chickmug wrote: »

You will need to be very careful how you deal with this as Business Agents (I assume it is a Business Agent) make normal Estate Agents look like angels --- and many are not.

Who is the agent?

How much is the bill?

Bear in mind it will be business-to-business even though there is living accommodation. And as such it is all in the contract as many of the rules that apply to residential agents will not apply the same.

You say it is in the contract but I would sure ask for proof of all the adverts but as to cost that will be a tough one. I would reckon to charge adverts out a the full card rate and not the discounted rate that we were given. Sometimes I would of charged at the cost rate but business selling is tougher than witf house and the agents can't be expected to work for free.

agree entirely

chickmug

googler wrote: »

Wondered when you'd be back...

The addiction (to post) may get a hold again.

I am fighting it.

However I have been still been reading most posts:eek:

So I am not sure if you would be pleased to see me back? Or not?

chickmug

steve1500 wrote: »

They are business agents although all their blurb mentions Nat'l Assoc of Estate Agents etc. The bill is £4k.

Apparently they placed ads in Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds & York.

During the entire period these bankers never gave any indication of the bill that was being run up

We stopped using them because they were as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

PM me if you want but the exact agent mans I may be able to offer better advice?

PasturesNew

To place an advert might cost £20, but how much time/cost was the artwork and admin time to actually get it to the papers to deadlines, how much time/cost will it take to process that purchase through the purchase ledger and to bank reconciliation?

Running_Horse

I said he'd be back, and would never really go away.

googler

steve1500 wrote: »

We have pulled our house off the market. It was both residential & commercial property. I hadn't spotted in the contract that they would bill me for advertising. Now they have sent me a big bill.

I am going to ask them to provide proof that they actually placed the ads they say they did.

They are asking for £50 per advert. Which it does state in the contract.

My question is are they allowed to profit out of it? If say the ad cost £20 a time.

Thanks

OK, so you didn't read the contract. You admit the costs of the adverts are specified in the contract. I'm struggling to see where the agent is at fault here.

What should the agent charge you for an advert that (maybe) costs them £20? Well, as a previous poster points out, there's the cost of preparing the advert, and the financial paperwork associated with it, etc. If the newspaper bills them £20, are you suggesting that they should merely bill you £20, and do the work for free?