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Sole agency contracts and estate agents

Please help!! I have stupidly entered into a 20 week agreement with an estate agent on a sole agency basis. Does anyone know if another agency even introduces a potential buyer during this contract period, I will be liable to pay the first agent's commission? Even if the contracts are exchanged after the contract period, would I still be liable to pay the first estate agency please? Desperately want to get out of their contract! Many thanks for help/advice from anyone that knows!!
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Comments

  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Think about it. How can another agency introduce a buyer when you've granted sole agency to the current one?
  • amcluesent
    amcluesent Posts: 9,425 Forumite
    Is it sole agency or sole seller? If the later, then any sale = paying them commission. If sole agency, then you could 'find' a buyer yourself and not be liable during the contract period.
  • go_cat
    go_cat Posts: 2,509 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Sounds like another EA has contacted the OP and said they have a potential buyer just to get them to sign up with them , then the "buyer"will miraculously disappear!!
  • Cheeky_Monkey
    Cheeky_Monkey Posts: 2,072 Forumite
    You need to read your contract very carefully. Sometimes, it stipulates that even if you find a buyer yourself, you still have to pay their commission.
  • Skaip27
    Skaip27 Posts: 23 Forumite
    Thank you. It is a sole agency agreement, and not a sole seller. Wondering whether I can somehow find this buyer myself then, wish I could but guess agents do dig around much after a sale has gone through? Awful paying two lots of extortionate commission! Thanks again.
  • Skaip27
    Skaip27 Posts: 23 Forumite
    Thank you. It definitely does not say if we find a buyer ourselves, but unfortunately does make reference to if another agency does.
  • Cheeky_Monkey
    Cheeky_Monkey Posts: 2,072 Forumite
    Why are you so desperate to get out of their contract?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Skaip27 wrote: »
    ....a 20 week agreement with an estate agent on a sole agency basis.

    Does anyone know if another agency even introduces a potential buyer during this contract period, I will be liable to pay the first agent's commission?!

    Of course. "Sole agency"!
  • Richard_Webster
    Richard_Webster Posts: 7,646 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You'll have realised this by now, but if they were such good estate agents and they hadn't overpriced the property to get you to instruct them, they wouldn't need more than 6-8 weeks!
    RICHARD WEBSTER

    As a retired conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful assuming any properties concerned are in England/Wales but I accept no liability for it.
  • Skaip27
    Skaip27 Posts: 23 Forumite
    Their service has just been terrible from day 1, promised 'xyz' that never materialised, and almost as if they have now given up on selling it! Thank you.
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