EA Code of Conduct?

JonnyCat

Does anybody know if there is a Code of Conduct that ALL estate agents have to abide by? In particular regarding written letters of offers to vendors and the buyer who made the offer.

I have read about a Code of Practice for Estate Agents, such as the Ombudsman and other Codes of Practice for Estate Agents which say something like:
"By law, an estate agent must tell sellers AS SOON AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE about all offers that you receive at any time until contracts have been exchanged, unless the offer is of an amount/type that [you have already agreed with the seller not to pass on]. You must confirm each offer in writing to the seller, and to the buyer who made it, within TWO WORKING DAYS. You must keep a written or computerised record of all offers that you receive - INCLUDING THE DATE AND TIME OF SUCH OFFERS - and the seller's response. Such records should be made promptly."

We have put in an offer for a house, the EA says there are a number of offers so it will go to best & final offers. I want to make sure our first offer and the terms/details have definitely been passed on, and to have a copy (like that suggested above) of what has been given in writing to the vendor. Two working days will have passed by tomorrow. Can I call the EA and ask to pick up my copy of the letter in person, or does this seem pushy? If it's not normal for all EAs to have to abide by this code of practice, then I don't want it to seem pushy/rude/distrusting of my by asking for the letter?

Thanks for any advice.

Nynaeve

Might be a bit late now but someone on here gave me good advice. Put your offer in writing yourself directly to the vendor (not forgetting to put STC etc of course)

GAH

So is your offer you have put in your best and final offer?

If it is, all you need to do is call the agent and ask them when the decision is made by the vendor who they will go with.

DVardysShadow

JonnyCat wrote: »

Can I call the EA and ask to pick up my copy of the letter in person, or does this seem pushy?

Yes, you can ask. Yes it is pushy.

No they don't have to give it to you.

steve1980

If you want the property offer the full asking price.

cattie

Never had a letter off an estate agent regarding an offer, unless it had been accepted. In the case of an offer being turned down the norm seems to be for the EA to phone & give you the bad news & see if you want to up your offer.

I think it's a bit much expecting a letter as proof of an offer being made if your offer wasn't acceptable to vendor. The time to talk terms & conditions is when your offer has been accepted.

BizzleBozzle

It's sometimes been as much as a week later but I've received letters confirming all the offers I've made on houses, accepted and unaccepted. I do live in a small town though so maybe all the EA's sing off the same sheet here.

JonnyCat

Thanks for your replies, we thought we should probably sit tight and wait and see. Our first offer was asking price because we knew there was competition, even so it is now going to sealed bids, so we'll have a rethink and see that happens. Thanks again.