Estate Agents

blueshrimp

My Mum died 6 weeks ago and stupidly we put her bungalow on the Market with an Estate Agent whilst we were very emotional and not really taking things in.

Stupidly we allowed ourselves to be tied into the Agent for 12 weeks and have had nothing but problems with them. For example, they dropped the price on Rightmove without asking us, not ensuring the house is locked up when they have showed viewers round (they are showing people on our behalf) and worst of all, despite us telling them in writing when my Mothers funeral was, as the funeral cortege turned up, so did some viewers! and these are only a few of the problems.

We have asked to be released from our contract, but the Agents are refusing (although they did drop their percentage by .25%). Does anyone have any idea what we can do, because we want to go to another agent which we have faith in.

GAH

Sorry to hear about your ordeal with your agent, are they a member of any trade bodies?

Have you been on 6 weeks already? if so, give them notice now and tell them to take the property off with immediate effect.

In the meantime, you can then get 3 other agents in and make a decision which one you want to go with.

You will have to sit it out until the other contract ends though.

sonastin

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Are you in a position to sell the house yet - i.e. have you done the probate thing and got all the right paperwork in place?

blueshrimp

It will be 6 weeks this Wednesday.

Does that mean that the next Estate Agent we go with can't take over the Marketing until the 12 weeks is up?

we can't move on until the house is sold and also we ar

blueshrimp

sonastin wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Are you in a position to sell the house yet - i.e. have you done the probate thing and got all the right paperwork in place?

My Husband is due to go to the Probate Court next week and be issued with the Deed of Probate and so we aren't that far away now.

googler

How did you manage to instruct an agent, before the funeral, and (presumably) without probate or confirmation of the estate....?

blueshrimp

googler wrote: »

How did you manage to instruct an agent, before the funeral, and (presumably) without probate or confirmation of the estate....?

We had no problem in instructing an Estate Agent without it. My Husband who is the Executor of my Mum's will showed the Agent the
original will, the death certificate and 2 forms of ID and they didn't have a problem with that. Even the Conveyancer said it wouldn't be a problem to Market the property as long as the Deed was in place if a Buyer was found.

GAH

Yes you will need to see out reaminder of contract for 6 weeks, even if you terminate it.

If you were to put it on with another agent within this contract, you will probably find original agent putting in a bill.


If you are keen to get things moving, Other thing to do is say to your current agent, that you want to put it on with another agent and see if they agree to a joint contract, and if they disagree, just tell them you are giving them the boot, if they want your business that bad they will be forced to do that.

blueshrimp

I have never heard of a joint contract. Can you explain what one of those are?

womble12345

Ask your EA if you can go 'multiple agency' they will increase their fee but seeing as you think they are rubbish they are unlikely to get the fee anyway. Go to a new EA and say you want multiple agency until the contract with your existing one ends and then you want sole agency. Expect them to send lots of viewers round just before they go from joint to sole as it will be worth more to them to sell it when you are joint.

blueshrimp

womble12345 wrote: »

Ask your EA if you can go 'multiple agency' they will increase their fee but seeing as you think they are rubbish they are unlikely to get the fee anyway. Go to a new EA and say you want multiple agency until the contract with your existing one ends and then you want sole agency. Expect them to send lots of viewers round just before they go from joint to sole as it will be worth more to them to sell it when you are joint.

That is a great idea. I am sure that they will all differ, but does anyone know how much a typical multi agency rate would be?