Estate Agent Terminating Contract Via Email

MeShell

Hello this is my first time on this part of the forums and was wondering if anybody could help.

Our property (1 bedroom flat) has been on the market for 3 1/2 weeks with no interest at all. We asked a few work colleagues, who have never been in the flat, to take a look at the rightmove listing to see if they could see if there was anything that we could improve to make it more appealing.

The general concensus was that the living room and kitchen photos could be much better so i contacted the estate agent to ask if new photos could be taken, his response was quite rude stating that he wasnt change the photos as the idea wasnt to put people off but get them interested.
I was quite taken aback by his response but emailed him back and said again that we would like them changed and he emailed me back to say that he was terminating our contract as of yesterday and that we should find another agent. Obviously this wasnt quite the response i was expecting although im a little glad if im honest as they havent been that great anyway (refusing a floorplan and forgetting to organise EPC etc).
They did say that all marketing (rightmove basically) would be removed by midnight last night but its still there this morning.

My question is- Is the email enough to say the contract has been terminated? Im worried about instructing another agent and then the original one then comes back and says that we are in breech of contract.
If anybody has any advice i would be grateful

Thanks in advance

MeShell

Doozergirl

The email is enough. Don't worry.

Pick your agent better this time! My criteria would be one with a wide angle lens and therefore a basic grasp of how to make a house look good and floorplans. And check how they treat you as a buyer first too.

MeShell

Doozergirl wrote: »

The email is enough. Don't worry.

Pick your agent better this time! My criteria would be one with a wide angle lens and therefore a basic grasp of how to make a house look good and floorplans. And check how they treat you as a buyer first too.

Thanks for replying Doozergirl, we have another agent already lined up to visit this afternoon but wanted to check first.
The agent above did actually used a wide angled lens but he kept insisting on sitting on the floor whilst taking the photos! They also said they'd do a floorplan but then after 2 weeks decided we couldnt have one- its all been very strange!
I have a long list of questions for the agent this afternoon so it wont be happening again!!

Doozergirl

MeShell wrote: »

The agent above did actually used a wide angled lens but he kept insisting on sitting on the floor whilst taking the photos!

There's a word for people like him. :rotfl:

Worcsman

MeShell wrote: »

Thanks for replying Doozergirl, we have another agent already lined up to visit this afternoon but wanted to check first.
The agent above did actually used a wide angled lens but he kept insisting on sitting on the floor whilst taking the photos! They also said they'd do a floorplan but then after 2 weeks decided we couldnt have one- its all been very strange!
I have a long list of questions for the agent this afternoon so it wont be happening again!!

Name and shame!! What agency was it?

Orpheo

MeShell wrote: »

Our property (1 bedroom flat) has been on the market for 3 1/2 weeks with no interest at all.

Sounds like the EA has decided that he can't sell your flat and to keep you on his books would simply be a cost. Is your flat sensibly priced?

sonastin

I think it is worth replying to the first agent accepting his termination of the agreement. Do it by e-mail and letter, enclosing a copy of his e-mail. If he's going to dispute that your contract has ended, that would be the time for him to do it and you'll know where you stand. If you don't hear anything and sell through another EA and then he comes back trying to claim commission, you'll have a written record that both of you agreed to rescind the contract and he'll just look like a chancer coming back later.

poppysarah

Yes def confirm in writing about him ending it.

How utterly bizarre though....

It's not the one off the apprentice was it? ;-)

MeShell

Sorry ive taken a while to come back to this, thanks for all your replies

Orpheo- We put it on a the price suggested by the agent himself (which was the same as the other agents that come round) I honestly think he was offended that i thought his photos needed redoing!

They have now removed all of our details off of rightmove so am less worried now. Hubby went in to get the set of keys they had and the agent initially hid :rotfl: but then came out and said something about no hard feelings. Strange strange man.

Anyway i think it might have been fate as its looking likely my husbands transfer is going to fall through so we are going to stay off the market until we have more certainty.