Does this sound suspicious?

lb364

I found a house I pretty much wanted to buy before I'd even viewed it. It had only just gone up for sale and another house in the same area had been up for months but hadn't sold.

I called the agent who arranged a viewing. However, when it got to the day, I received a phone call telling me the vendors had had to go out so we would rearrange.

Rearranged it, got to the day, received a phone call, the vendors have had an emergency and had to go out. Called back to arrange another viewing on the same day, was told the agent would ring back - no returned call.

Called back day after the bank holiday weekend (next working day), was told the agent would ring back - no returned call again. Called again today, told the house sold yesterday.

I am in shock. And yes, I know it's possible that by some miracle someone else did manage to view the house and bought it immediately but surely the vendors would have the decency to let the buyer they had cancelled viewings with twice view it?

Are agents legally required to tell vendors of all interested parties or could they have just made the whole thing up to get a good deal for someone else?

jozbo

!!!!!!, the lot of them.
you're right to be suspicious.
sounds to me like the other buyer was already offering etc and they had you as a back up in case couldnt get it up to the price they wanted.
may have been that the vendors felt committed to first buyer and it was the EA using you as insurance. Likely he didn't tell the vendor about the arranged viewings hence the short notice 'cancellations'
as for legality.. i think EA's operate under 'jungle law' only

dodger1

Drop a note through the door telling the vendors you were going to offer the full price it the property was well maintained but the agent wouldn't get you a viewing.

lb364

dodger1 wrote: »

Drop a note through the door telling the vendors you were going to offer the full price it the property was well maintained but the agent wouldn't get you a viewing.

Thank you, I am going to do that and let you know what happens Any idea on the wording - formal? Or more casual? And should I give just my first name and mobile or all my details? I'm just worried the agent will get hold of it (I'm a wimp!!)

DRP

lb364 wrote: »

Thank you, I am going to do that and let you know what happens Any idea on the wording - formal? Or more casual? And should I give just my first name and mobile or all my details? I'm just worried the agent will get hold of it (I'm a wimp!!)

I would introduce yourself then list the dates of the contact you had with the agent (As you detailed above).

ie.
1st June - rang EA to request viewing

etc

detail your approximate offer (subject to condition of the place etc) and detail that you are in a v good position to buy

what can you lose?

irishcol

lb364 wrote: »

Thank you, I am going to do that and let you know what happens Any idea on the wording - formal? Or more casual? And should I give just my first name and mobile or all my details? I'm just worried the agent will get hold of it (I'm a wimp!!)

I'd be inclined to keep it fairly simple.

Just say you tried on a number of occasions to arrange a viewing through the Estate Agent, which were all cancelled. Say you are very keen to buy in this area, are in a great position to proceed and would have been willing to pay the asking price if everything was as good as it looked on the internet. Leave your name and mobile number and I can 99% guarantee you'll have a phone call within a few hours.

Even if you don't end up getting to see it, you can be sure that the EA will get some abuse from the vendor, which will cheer you up.

lb364

irishcol wrote: »

you can be sure that the EA will get some abuse from the vendor, which will cheer you up.

True! :T:T:T

Davesnave

This happens. Estate agents have friends.

When something broadly similar happened to us, it was a local solicitor who bought the property, although it was some time before we found out the identity of the speedy, clued-up buyer.

Go for it. The vendor has a right to know.

AMO

Please reply to this group once you find out the situation.

We had a similar situation and came to the same conclusion, but thne found out that it was a divorce couple of which one party did not want to sell the house.

The estate agent has written to them as well as ringing them and emailing them but no response until one day they did respond having got a court order to sell the house.

We took a look and realised that they have overpriced their house but a LOT so we backed away.

Hoof_Hearted

There is always the possibility that the EA had a mate who wanted the property. It would be very interesting to know what the vendors accepted. Mate wants property -- no other viewings so vendors deduce a lack of interest in the property -- low price offered and accepted -- mate gets a bargain and EA gets a "present". It does happen, although most EAs are moral and upright citizens who only have their clients' interests at heart.

Cheeky_Monkey

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

most EAs are moral and upright citizens who only have their clients' interests at heart.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

It certainly sounds like a 'brown envelope' job to me!