EA Sole Agency

YMH

Basically we agreed to a sole agency for 12 weeks approximately 8 weeks ago now (despite trying for less). We are now unhappy with the way our agents are dealing with our sale for a variety of reasons to the point where we wrote to the EA last week and asked to be let out of the agreement early. They have since refused.

We did consider trying to sell our house ourselves but have since noticed our EA contract prohibits us selling through any other web based portal other than their own.

They have not had anyone round to view in nearly 4 weeks and only minimal viewings prior to that. That may not necessarily be entirely their fault but they also promised us feedback and "excellent" communications but neither have been forthcoming. Since the last viewing at the end of July we have barely heard from them. They have offered no suggestions or insights as to why our house is not getting anyone viewing it nor what we can do to achieve the sale we require.

We now just want the opportunity to go elsewhere as whatever our current agents are doing is obviously not enough.

Also before anyone says the housing market is slow at present and it's August - we know this but other houses in the area are selling.

Any advice about how we can convince our agents to let us go now would be gratefully recieved as we would prefer not to waste a further 4 weeks.

DannyboyMidlands

OK, a shot in the dark, have they suggested that you reduce the price?

googler

Another shot in the dark;

What differentiates your house from the others that are selling? Any features or aspects that would make yours preferable? Price differences?

How many viewings have you had in 8 weeks?

If no-one is even contacting the agent with regard to your home, what do you want the agent to communicate to you?

GAH

1. Give your agent 4 weeks notice now (they aren't going to let break contract by sounds of things.
2. In meantime, get 3 further valuations. You sound as though your very keen to sell. Ask for honest valautions, if they have sold any similar etc, what type of buyers they have.
3. Choose new agent and get them to come back and take details and photos a week before your current contract ends.
4. New Agent can then start marketing as soon as your contract finishes.

But, there are three things that can stop property selling, 1. Price 2. Property 3. Agent, and normally it is in that order.

YMH

In response to DannyBoy no they have suggested absolutely nothing. We have reduced the price quite drastically to get a sale but that was on our insistence not theirs and so far to no avail. Last time we questioned this we were told the price is just right but had no answer to my follow up question of why no viewings.

To googler. The point is we have not had a viewing in 4 weeks and at no point have the EA suggested why this may be nor made any suggestions as to how to combat this. They have also not been able to provide us with any feedback from over half of the viewings we have actually had despite repeated requests. Obviously they are not interested but it would have been good to know why.

As I said we wrote and outlined the majority of our issues with the service thus far and asked to be released but they are saying no. I can't see how there will be any improvement in this situation over the next few weeks so if they won't release us we will just be wasting a further 4 weeks of time. In August this is not so much of an issue but to lose most of September too could be.

YMH

GAH I suspect you are right in your assumption just wanted to see if anyone knew of some magical loophole! Head in the clouds I know but it does seem incredibly unfair that an EA can hold you to a contract even if they are not really doing what they promised.

We wouldn't have a problem with the no viewings if we actually got the impression they were trying their best to sell our house.

Jeffrey_Shaw

YMH wrote: »

Basically we agreed to a sole agency for 12 weeks approximately 8 weeks ago now...

Any advice about how we can convince our agents to let us go now would be gratefully recieved as we would prefer not to waste a further 4 weeks.

Not really. You did sign-up (voluntarily) for a twelve-week term, of course! Sorry.

YMH

Except at the time we weren't given the whole picture and certain important things were withheld from us hence why we are a little put out that they are not budging or even suggesting a way forward.

I'm very well aware of the agreement we signed and in hindsight I would have never agreed to it, however, we did.

It just feels very unconstitutional that they can hold us to a contract when they are not fulfilling their side of the agreement - oh that's right there is nothing in the contract about what their obligations to us actually are, merely how much we have to pay them should we break any of our obligations to them.

Jeffrey_Shaw

Er, so why did you sign a contract imposing insufficient obligations on your contractor (EA)?

Caroline73_2

You can't blame an EA if they can't get feedback from viewers. I had 10 viewers before I got an offer on mine. Feedback was...it was too small, not in right location, etc all things I couldn't change.

I viewed houses and things like that were the only feedback I could give on houses I didn't want. It's either those things or the house is too expensive.

Sit tight for a few weeks, get the ground work done with other agents and be ready to go with them in a few weeks.

ognum

I think the thing to do is give notice. Leave the agency as soon as you can.
My anecdote is - I signed an 8 week contract and after 5-ish I had enough of the none communication and various other things so I gave notice to exit the contract at 8 weeks. I arranged for my new agent to pick the key up from the first agent.
Low and behold a few days later I got an offer from a viewer from Agent 1. We have accepted so I still have to deal with Agent 1 Meanwhile if it falls through we will proceed with Agent 2 interestingly Agent 2 will continue to market the property list interested but not show the property in case it falls through. Convention is that they do not have to put SSC or Under Offer on the listing. This is apparently standard practice.