Fee wanted by non selling agent.

imsi

I had my (mothers) property on 2 agents books.
When I accepted an offer from one agents client, I let the other agent know. They have sent me a bill for £180. Is this normal, I thought all these deals were no sale no fee?

G_M

What kind of contract do you have with the agent? Sole agency? Sole selling rights? Multi-agency?

Who introduced the buyer?

imsi

G_M wrote: »

What kind of contract do you have with the agent? Sole agency? Sole selling rights? Multi-agency?

Who introduced the buyer?

Multi agency, Selling agent introduced buyer.

It is described as a "Withdrawal Fee"

G_M

Ha! Sounds like an underhand way of getting multi-agent customers to be treated as sole agent customers! Never come across this.

Have your read the contract you signed? Is the fee mentioned there?

Is the agent a member of a professional body (eg NAEA)?

Whether this would be an unfair contract term I don't know. Doubtless the agent would argue it's a lot less than their full fee and is fair as it covers their marketing costs. Ask Trading Standards?

Werdnal

Did you pay any upfront fee with this agent to cover their marketing costs? When we were selling last year, our agent charged a non-refundable set-up fee before they would take our property onto their books. Said it covers their admin costs for visit, photos, measuring, website, literature etc.

If you haven't paid them anything, it is reasonable for them to bill you for their costs to date. Mind you, £180 sounds a bit steep!

G_M

I always assumed the reason agents charge more for multi agency agreements than sole agency was to offset the costs of losing a sale to the other agent, with the higher fees if they were the successful one.

ie their 'successful' multi-agent clients subsidise the unsuccessful ones.