Can we ditch the agent? Advice Needed

wodgerdodger · 10 March 2011 at 2:48PM

The only moot point to this is it is the OP who made the "introduction" to their property not the estate agent. from the original post it doesnt appear that the vendor had even considered buying their viewers house and had not seen it via the agent.

Honest_EA · 10 March 2011 at 2:56PM

The OP saw the house through their own agent and arranged a viewing. They said the following thing in their post:

The agent had arranged the viewings and marketing etc but nothing more.

They also say that they both could save 1000s by doing everything privately by cutting the EA out even after admitting that the EA arranged all viewings etc. They cant have it both ways.

wodgerdodger · 10 March 2011 at 3:06PM

I agree that the Ops viewing was via agent and have to pay,but the two sentances contradict each other as she stated she informed the vendor of her property and invited the vendor to look at their property not that agent organised it . If both viewings however were via the agent then they have to pay.
Even if events occurred as stated in her first sentance if subsequently the agents have been involved then there is no option than to pay both sets of fees.

celyn90 · 10 March 2011 at 5:04PM

I agree. I think you owe them their fee as they have done their job; quite efficiently in fact!

Honest_EA wrote: »

I have been lurking on these froums for a few weeks and never felt the need to register until I saw this thread. I need to make a few things clear to the OP before they make the wrong choice and possibly end up in court.

Estate Agents are often given the tags as selfish, money grabbing sharks with no thought for their customers - just an eye on the prize which is getting their fee. Speaking purely from my own situation, I am instructed to do a job which I always do with professionalism, transparency and honesty, even to the extent that it has annoyed some vendors where I have told them the blunt truth about the state of the property market or the value of their house.
.

We are FTB and for the most part - we have found the EA's we have dealt so far with to be really helpful and professional when we have called. We've seen some properties in dreadful condition - it's hardly the agents fault and they all sell at market value eventually (or they don't sell at all) - The EA can only advise the vendor based on their knowledge and experience, if the vendor chooses not to listen then what can they do? Pretty sure noone wants to hear their house is worth less than they thought it was and it must be really hard trying to get people to take a realistic objective view when they are attached to their investment. I do think EA's get a lot of flack - it can't be easy trying to bring home reality in situations like that.

Yesterday I phoned about a property on RM; the guy I spoke to was really professional - told me the property had been sold a few days ago, told me what it went for (30K under the asking price), explained why it went for that amount (it needed significant work and had no central heating) and then mailed me details of several other properties in the area - two of which I am going to see tomorrow. Quite impressed really.

Of course people want to sell houses at the maximum the market will allow - that's true of selling anything; but as a buyer - if I do not consider it worth it it's up to me to walk away and my responsibility to do my homework.

justme111 · 10 March 2011 at 7:00PM

check the contract, I think it is for 6 months since last dealing with an agent that you have to pay them the fee. If you can wait 6 months and take a risk another vendor will too with no husstle ( telling ea what you up to, buying from someone else etc etc) it may be worth it, as you said business is business and legally you may not have to pay fee to ea after 6 months.