Complaining about the agents selling your house

milanos

2 things have really annoyed me about the agents selling our property. 1 - Losing contact details of a keen viewer (after we had accepted an offer, which then fell through). And then 2 - Having our property still showing as SOLD in the window, despite it being back on the market for 3 weeks!

Are these worthy of complaint? Are they likely to do anything other than say sorry (and then maybe hold a grudge against me)? Would people consider moving to use someone else to try and sell? I really don't want to have to do this because of the costs invloved but I'm pretty angry today.

Caveat_Mortgagor

Why did you pick this agent ahead of the others in the area?

milanos

Caveat_Mortgagor wrote: »

Why did you pick this agent ahead of the others in the area?

2 reasons, 1) recommended by the wife's friend who's a mortgage advisor and 2) reasonably priced (not the cheapest)

milanos

With that in mind, anyone have any thoughts?

poppysarah

Put your complaint to them in writing. Use an envelope and a stamp.

If they do not respond favourably in a week give them notice.

InkZ

Speak to them, and if you aren't satisfied then vote with your feet

kingstreet

As with any situation, tell them what they've done wrong. Ask them to put it right. Give them a timescale in which to respond.

milanos

What can I really ask of them though (other than to miraculously find a buyer!)? Can't really put it into monetary terms how much these errors could have cost. They've already removed the 'SOLD' signs and have no way of getting the person's number back so not sure what sensibly I could say they do/give me?

Caveat_Mortgagor

Hmmm, what I was angling at, was did they make any specific promises / boasts whilst pitching you for business and does their performance to date breach any such promise / boast?

I know that not losing a number should be a very basic thing to do, but everyone makes mistakes.

Whilst it is frustrating that you have been erroneously listed as sold after the sale fell through, and they lost a number of a viewer, I'm not sure that the problems are irreversible.

Now you are listed as 'for sale' again, maybe the viewer will spot the change of status and get in touch. If they dont, then it might suggest they werent as serious about the house as you would like to believe.

I cant believe I am defending an estate agent here, but you've lost 2 weeks. My guess is that the buyer that fell through cost you a lot more than that (and even contributed to you not proceeding with the other interested party!).

I would say take it on the chin. As you originally stated, I'm not sure there is much you can ask of your agent in terms of making things right, but I would give them a hard time about lack of professionalism to make sure they do not repeat these silly errors.