Sole agency contracts and estate agents

googler

Skaip27 wrote: »

I have only found out through agent 2 that the buyer will only stick to agent 2. That is definitely a good point asking agent 2 to refer the buyer to agent 1 in exchange for a referral fee.

I think that's your best option at the moment.

Contact agent 2 and invite them to send their buyer to agent 1. Invite your agent to share a slice of the pie with agent 2 in return for the buyer. You'll find out then if agent 2 really has a buyer.

When you sell, you only pay agent 1 and it's up to both agents to make their own arrangements for money to change hands between them

You shouldn't get involved. Let the agents sort it out amongst themselves and keep you apprised of progress.

If you were in America, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Agent 1 would routinely make the keys available to Agent 2 or any other agent, who would then show their own client around your house, and if the buyer liked it, he (maybe with their own agent's assistance) would make you an offer. Once you'd sold, you'd pay your agent (around 5-6% of the sale price) and he would automatically send between a quarter to half of that to the buyer's agent.

Skaip27

Gosh that would make so much more sense if they would do that! Having just spoken to agent 2 they will not, as they are so far insisting their buyer tends to stick with them only! System in America you have said sounds so much more reasonable and non-problematic!

So now I have agent 1 tying me in to the contract, agent 2 insisting potential buyer will buy (as has viewed another identical property) and price willing to be paid, so just seems stupid that I have to sit and wait until contract period ends as agent 1 will not get anything anyway! Isn't that really annoying or is it just me??? Thanks

Skaip27

Also, does anyone please know I do not have an EPC as of yet, estate agent has not followed up, might that render the contract null and void by any chance?

googler

Skaip27 wrote: »

Having just spoken to agent 2 they will not, as they are so far insisting their buyer tends to stick with them only!

That's impressive. Agent 2 is available for contact at 5pm on a Sat evening.

Call agent 1 then (YOUR agent, who's working for you), and tell them agent 2 has a buyer, and get them to contact agent 2.

Skaip27

Yes I think I might just do that. Seems agent 2 is willing to do absolutely anything to effect this sale! Truly I have been allowed to contact agent 2 at anytime! There is definitely something not right somewhere and so very annoying... you wouldn't think so hard to just sell your house??!!! Thanks

googler

Skaip27 wrote: »

Yes I think I might just do that. Seems agent 2 is willing to do absolutely anything to effect this sale! Truly I have been allowed to contact agent 2 at anytime! There is definitely something not right somewhere and so very annoying... you wouldn't think so hard to just sell your house??!!! Thanks

Would be so easy if agents 1 & 2 would get along.

seriously, if the buyer knows about the house, and is keen, why wouldn't they just contact agent 1? Doesn't it seem odd they haven't?

Hoof_Hearted

Of course, if you had used an online agent you could have avoided all this trouble and saved lots of money.

Skaip27

Googler -- you are absolutely right in that all would be much easier if both agents got along rather than playing these tactics! I too am unsure why the buyer does not just contact agent 1, and wish he would so to make my life easier! I can only guess that agent 2 is enticing him to stay with them because we will be leaving agent 1? Does make me suspicious though! Do you think agent 1 will ever find out if i do show the buyer around during the contract period? Is that likely do you know?

Skaip27

Hoof hearted - very true! I wish everyone would use such on line agencies as estate agent fees are inflated and not always justified I think!

googler

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Of course, if you had used an online agent you could have avoided all this trouble

Please explain. If the online agent is agent 1, and the buyer won't view the house unless it's through agent 2, how does agent 1 being an online agent help the situation?