Offers coming in after agents contract has expired

Muran

Hi
We have my deceased MIL's house on the market and the 3 month estate agent contract with them ends on Tues 4th.

We had a 2nd viewing this weekend and will have another 1st viewing on Tuesday.

Where do we stand if these people put in offers on Tuesday or after?

Will the agent try to rope us in to another 3 month contract? (we were taking it off the market until spring). Can we ask for a 2 week contract or similiar.

Like to know our rights and if we can negotiate a short contract.

DVardysShadow

If the agent introduces a buyer, then they get their fee. If you don't want to continue with them, give them their notice in writing and give them 14 days [I plucked that from the air] to advise you in writing of all parties they would claim to have introduced to the property. Do this, even if they introduce a buyer in the meanwhile. This will help spare you grief if you put the house with another agent and viewers from the first agent give you an offer.

Of course they will try to keep the contract going - probably by doing nothing apart from introducing viewers

PasturesNew

When the contract is up, ask them for a list of people they've shown round the house. If you take up with a new agent, pass them a copy of the list.

If anybody on that list comes back (usually) within 6 months to buy it, the fee's due to the 1st agent, usually even if the buyer subsequently went to the 2nd agent to renew their interest in it. Agents are used to this arrangement, it happens to them all the time.

If you're unsure, write to both/any agents to confirm the situation.

I had two agents on mine. First agent showed people round, they offered, I declined as they weren't in a position to proceed, they kept being interested though. I finished with the first agent and put it with a second one. Those early viewers came back when they were in a position to buy and they bought it, I paid the first agent because they were on the list - and the 2nd agent was completely happy with this/used to it working that way.

hazyjo

I've never actually had to renew a contract with an EA... if you don't want to deal with them, don't allow viewings until your contract has expired. If they introduce someone who offers and you accept, you will have to deal with them. I doubt very much they'll actually make you sign another contract if someone offers and you accept. Pretty much standard that the contract would still stand and you'd pay them (as far as I'm aware).

I remember when my hubby's flat was on the market and the EAs had been pretty useless - tonnes of viewings, but no offers (I'm wondering now if they were forcing people to see their financial adviser or something) - anyway, he had an offer after giving notice he was terminating his contract with them, I was a bit worried they were just inventing viewers to get him to sign up for another 3 months or something. Is that basically what you're worrying about? The deal never happened, but there was no mention of re-signing anything. If you don't mention it, they probably won't.

Jx