Estate agent not passing offer across!

chant1l

I am buying a house without having been inside, I have done this a couple of times and understand the risks. However having blown out the appointment the agent tells me that it is their company policy not to pass across offers where the buyer has not been inside.
I am fairly sure there is a law against estate agents being able to do this, I need to be able to quote it....

clutton_2

why not write the offer in a letter and put it thru the door of the property ?

saxy1

Estate Agents are legally obliged to pass on 'all' offers they receive.

Rick62

Why not go inside?

lush_walrus

If the EA has agreed this method with the vendor (which possibly they have) then there is nothing wrong with it, as in effect it will then become the vendor's instruction not to receive offers from people in such and such circumstances.

The fact that you won't view the would flag up messer to most EAs unless you are known by the EA or known for buying that particular type of property. OUtside of those circumstances it just isn't the norm, even auction properties people take the time to see them as wih. I personally would have put forward the offer with a very large health warning attached if it were just the case that you didnt want to see the property without any rational reason as to why not, and as such I doubt the offer would be accepted. In the past, people have done things like this to try to get the property on hold and off of the market till they can make their mind up, and EAs do not like it, and as I say rightly or wrongly generally comes under the messer catagory of potential buyers. I have known people put in offers without having ever been into the area even, needless to say when eventually they did they didnt go ahead with the sale.

Why not just go and see it? Any viewing only takes a little bit of time, normally less than 30 mins...

Robert_Sterling

Duplicate post removed

Robert_Sterling

I would not want to receive an offer from somebody who had not seen round my property unless they were going to knock it down and develop the site.

chant1l

House is unoccupied but may possibly be squatted
Clutton& Rick 62-I am in purley, the property is in Hull. The agent blew the viewing out as they "feared squatters"
I have seen the outside and understand the messer argument, I do buy regularly from this company and they have quoted me this as company policy before - I don't mind if it is the sellers view as well I just want them to pass the offer across and need to know which legislation covers this.
I often buy renovation jobs this way as the inside will need total renovation anyway - I just dont need to see a knackered kitchen to believe it.
I have faxed my offer with proof of cash and ability to complete in 7 days - they will have the cash before they can show it.

lush_walrus

If they know you as a buyer then that is very strange and silly of them to not be helpful, especially as they were the ones cancelling the viewing in the first place. It's very bizare for them to not take a viewing as they fear squatters! I presume it's a probate sale or reposession if the owner is not having any involvement with this situation.

Anyway, in regards to legislation on this, are they actually EAs ie: registered with NAEAs or do they just sell houses? If they are EAs and belong to NAEA, then there is a code of practice to follow (http://www.naea.co.uk/pdfs/naeacop.pdf) and there is also a complaint proceedure through them. But, as I said earlier, the crux of the situation is to find out if they have been instructed to not put forward certain offers, if they have this will mean that they have not acted out of terms. IF the vendor is probate, there is a good chance that they have specified certain terms, same with repossessions from some lenders.

If they are not members of NAEAs then it will be a matter only for trading standards.

But, in both routes, neither will ultimately help you in getting the property to be honest as both are long investigative processes. Both will put the EAs back up on a case that is easily justified by the fact that the property hasnt been seen, whether that is fair or not, and it may even make life difficult for you in the future with other EAs in the area too (most communicate over things like this). If you are planning to use it as a threat, then again I wouldn't, threats are not a good form of operation.

Try the powers of persuasion first, speak to a negotiator you have used before in that branch, or tell them about other sales you have completed with them under similar circumstances. All you are actually up against is their trust in you as a good buyer, it sounds as if they do not trust you to complete and so are standing in your way, get them on side and problem solved.

clutton_2

do you know anyone who can act as your agent who lives in hull and can view for you ?

going2die_rich

I'd just tell the estate agent fair enough, and let them know you'll write the offer down in a letter and just post it to the address and that they will save money since it cuts out the estate agent.