Estate Agents - What Is Classed As an introduction to a House?

fleetingmind

I have just agreed a price on my property through our estate agent.
So I am now looking for a new house. A friend at our local church (Who also married myself and my wife) has put his house on the market with the same estate agent.
On a few occasions before it went on the market he suggested we look at his place. (We have been there in the past but not been there looking at it to buy)
All the estate agent in our area are keeping us informed of any new houses that come on the market. Our estate agent has NOT sent us through the details or even mentioned our friends house (Even though it is in our price range and know that we are looking for somewhere!!!).

We arranged to see it today (Not through agent just phoned them up) and will probably look to buy it.

The question is does our friend have to pay estate agent costs as they have not introduced us to this house. Although they do have a board up outside and it appears on a website where I have seen it on there (other estate agents also advertise on there.

Thanks for your help.

fleetingmind

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Alan_M_2

Try the same question on the Houseing forum, you'll get more joy there.

bs0u0128

the ones who arrange the viewing are the ones who can get the fee IF the viewing results in an offer

Alan_M_2

From your description there's certainly no introduction, however I personally wouldn't involve the agent at all, if you intend to buy simply get your friend to remove the property from the market and expalin a private sale had been agreed without any intervention from the Agent, they'll scream and moan but they've done nothing to earn any money at all.

mbailey

Depends on the T&C's your friend signed when they put their house up forsale.

If you are on the books of the estate agent although they didn't specifically send you details they could argue that you saw the advert in the paper or advertised else where and then you approached the seller directly. As they know you are actively looking you might be in sticky ground.

So could go either way...!