Estate Agents

Leela_G

Hi

Sorry if this is a bit of a silly question, but can i put my property on the market with 2 different estate agents?

We are currently using countrywide, however i am very unhappy with the service they have provided, but have already paid fee's etc.

Can i also instruct another estate agent and then pay the one who sells it commission?

LisaLou1982

Countrywide will require sole marketing for the first 12 weeks so you will have to stay solely with them for that period.
After that, you just need to let them know if you are going to market the property with another agent.

If youre still within your 12 week sole agency then I'd suggest calling and speaking to the office manager and seeing if they will let you out of the sole agency period.

Catbells

Hi. As far as I am aware you should only be paying fees to agents ONCE THEY"VE SOLD and not until.
You can appoint as many agents as you like though I think the percentage fee is greater but there's nothing against doing it.

G_M

You need to check what contract you have with Countrywide. Certainly it is unusual to pay fees in advance - usually only when they find a buyer. However read your contract.

If you signed a 'sole agency agreement' with Countrywide, which may have been for 12 weeks or more, or less, then if another agent finds you a buyer you will still have to pay Countrywide commission as well as the new agent.

However if you signed a 'multi agency agreement', then you can instruct as many agents as you wish and just pay the one who finds a buyer.(the commission you pay is usually higher however).

A 3rd, rare, possibility, is that you signed a 'sole selling agreement' which is similar to sole agency above except that even if you find a buyer yourself (ie your neighbour) you have to pay the agent commission.

A final possibility is a fixed fee contract, where you pay for the advertisingf etc irrespective of whether a buyer is found.

No one here can advise you. Only you know what agreement you signed!