Help for Getting rid of estate agent?

jasperb182

Hello All,

I desided to put my house on the market and recived a evaluation fronm an estate agent, I then discussed this with my next door neighbours who I am frends with and have know for over 20 years.

I then spoke to the estate agent about putting it on the market I then had 4 people view the propert and an add was placed in the paper, I recived a contract to sign last week and have not yet signed it.

My Nextdoor neighour has just poped round expressing interest in buy my house with out the estae agent.

I have not yet signed the contract, where do I stand on getting rid of the estae agent?

Japer

hazyjo

You have a verbal contract. If they have started marketing your property, you are deemed to have instructed them.

Check your contract - are you still liable for a fee if you sell privately? We can only guess without seeing the contract. If they are due a fee, you will have to pay it (all to the best of my knowledge).

Jx

jasperb182

Thanks for your help!

Can I sell it without giving them fees after the 8 week contract?

DVardysShadow

jasperb182 wrote: »

... I have not yet signed the contract, where do I stand on getting rid of the estae agent?

Don't go there. We all born to hate Estate Agents, but if your neighbour buys, it will be on the strength of the marketing done by the agent, so they should get their fee.

hazyjo

Yes, if you give them the required notice. And make sure you're not liable for a fee if you do. Some charge to cancel the contract, even if the contract has come to the end of whatever period you signed up for.

Jx

jasperb182

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Don't go there. We all born to hate Estate Agents, but if your neighbour buys, it will be on the strength of the marketing done by the agent, so they should get their fee.

Even though they knew I was going to sell before the estate agent?

How can they have a right to 1.4% if I have not signed anything THAT CANT BE FAIR!

Alexei

hazyjo wrote: »

You have a verbal contract. If they have started marketing your property, you are deemed to have instructed them.

Check your contract - are you still liable for a fee if you sell privately? We can only guess without seeing the contract. If they are due a fee, you will have to pay it (all to the best of my knowledge).
Jx

Hang on - you're saying that having verbally instructed the agent, thr OP is bound by the terms of a written contract that they haven't signed (and may not have even seen at the point they verbally instructed the agent)?!

If the agent is foolish enough to begin marketing the property without a signed contract in hand then that's their problem.

hazyjo

PS DVardysShadow is right - I presumed you'd mentioned it to your next door neighbour. If it's as a result of seeing the board, etc, you should really be paying the EA.

hazyjo

Alexei wrote: »

Hang on - you're saying that having verbally instructed the agent, thr OP is bound by the terms of a written contract that they haven't signed (and may not have even seen at the point they verbally instructed the agent)?!

If the agent is foolish enough to begin marketing the property without a signed contract in hand then that's their problem.

Pretty much, yep!

Actually I think it's the other way round - if the seller is foolish enough to let the EA market the property without knowing the terms they've signed up for, it's their problem...!

Jx

jasperb182

hazyjo wrote: »

PS DVardysShadow is right - I presumed you'd mentioned it to your next door neighbour. If it's as a result of seeing the board, etc, you should really be paying the EA.

My neighbour recomended the estate agent to me.

We also have no board so work that one out.

I did not agreed to a contract or discuss terms ont he phone.

Like NORMAL places i thought i would get to read the contact before i agreed to it! Seems ready unfair and backward to me.

DVardysShadow

jasperb182 wrote: »

Even though they knew I was going to sell before the estate agent?

How can they have a right to 1.4% if I have not signed anything THAT CANT BE FAIR!

Ah, the spoilt child argument. Off to bed with yourself and no supper.

Your problem is proving that the neighbour knew. If the neighbour had expressed any interest, you should have told the agent as part of your contract discussions. Even better, you should have got yourself an offer in writing from the neighbour and told the agent that they need to beat that offer by at least their own fee.