House Sold by Different EA's (Which do I Choose ?)

thequant

I've seen a house which I like and is being sold by different EA's. It came on with EA 1 in sept, property hasn't budged, no reduction in price and no updates to the right move link.

A couple of days ago it came up with EA 2 for the same price.

Question is which estate agent to approach ?

My theory is that the vendor is not happy with EA 1, no doubt not getting the viewings and offers they want. So they are trying their luck with EA 2, blaming their lack of sucess on EA 1.

However I quite like this house, and subject to viewing I'm quite likely to make an offer. But if I arrange a viewing and make an offer through EA 2 within days of them advertising the property, then it will confirm the vendors fears that EA 1 was crap and they will be less flexiable through any subsequent price negotiations.

The problem with going through EA 1, is that from reading online reviews, it does seem they are crap, they are badly organised, lose paperwork, fail to pass on offers etc.

So my fear is that I use EA 1 first, they fail to pass on my offer, I then have to approach EA 2, but because I approached EA 1 they can lay claim to the sale.

Any advice on how to play this ?

thequant

Sorry, Title should have been "House Being Sold By Different EA's"

googler

Are both of the EAs ACTIVELY marketing the house? Do they both have it for sale online, both have sale boards at the house?

If so, take your pick. You're not paying them, the seller is.

If they owner has terminated EA1 and EA2 is the only one currently marketing the property, then it's a no-brainer. You arrange viewings with and make offers to EA2.

You may find that EA1's advert is still hanging around even though the owner has dispensed with their services....

thequant

I think it is still officially with EA1, as EA1 board is still outside the property, and EA2 has put their Board under EA1 board and not removed it.

thequant

Some further information, I suspect the house is a probate sale, as it's empty, no onward chain, dated decor, and carpets so bad it looks like the former owner may have been scraped off them before vacating the property.

Also EA1 who is advertising the property is miles away from where the property is and theres tens of dozen who are much closer, EA2 is also miles away but round the corner from EA1. Which suggest to me, that whoever is handling the sale is local that area and are trying to get shot of it.

Davesnave

Go with EA2. If you decide to offer, they could take the line, "We've found you a proceedable buyer quickly, but you may have to take quite a hit on the price.".

Don't try and second guess your vendors' thoughts, especially if it's a probate sale. In many of those there will be a range of opinions, and often an amount of friction too!

The bottom line is that no one likes to leave property empty over winter.

ognum

Davesnave wrote: »

Go with EA2. If you decide to offer, they could take the line, "We've found you a proceedable buyer quickly, but you may have to take quite a hit on the price.".

Don't try and second guess your vendors' thoughts, especially if it's a probate sale. In many of those there will be a range of opinions, and often an amount of friction too!

The bottom line is that no one likes to leave property empty over winter.

If you have already seen the house with one of the estate agents then your offer should go to the one who showed you around, the vendor will be contractually obliged to pay the first estate agent even if they are no longer listed with them.

If however you have not seen the property my choice would probably be EA number 2.

thequant

ognum wrote: »

If you have already seen the house with one of the estate agents then your offer should go to the one who showed you around, the vendor will be contractually obliged to pay the first estate agent even if they are no longer listed with them.

If however you have not seen the property my choice would probably be EA number 2.

I got my partner to ring EA 2, they were totally dismissive of him, "property has had loads of interest", "has had 3 offers so far", "one for asking price", "one for a couple of k below, but cash buyer"," the other not so far behind".

On my partner saying they wern't willing to go over asking price, especially since we had not seen it! EA response was "no problem, property was not meant for you, we would have both wasting our time seeing it".

Best quote though was " owner wants to get shot of property as quick as possible, so not willing to look at offers over"

considering this property has been up with EA1 since Sept for the past 6 weeks, how come if this is such a hot property EA1 couldnt shift it ?

Testing the water, I rang EA1 who have organised an viewing tommorow morning and are falling over themselves to sell me the property.

Any ideas whats going on ?

Pupnik

Sounds like EA2 are playing games - I find it hard to believe people would be falling over themselves for it when it has been on the market for a while with EA1 already.

I think you've found the answer I was going to suggest - go with the EA that feels like the nicest! There are certain EAs in the area that I now completely avoid purely based on past experiences with them.

Fire_Fox

Clever games by estate agent 2 - they got your partner to admit they could/ would go up to asking price!

Better_Days

EA's will almost always say that a property has had a lot of interest, and it is not unknown for them to create fictional 'buyers' to try and get interested parties to increase their offer.

However you do need to have a look round before you can decide whether or not to put in an offer. If the property has been on the market for 6 weeks and not sold it is clearly not a bargain, or there is something wrong with it.

So you are right to be cautious. I wonder if EA2 was being super lazy and trying to get offers without doing the viewings!

Did your partner give his name to EA2? It could create some disagreement about fees if you make an offer, and it is accepted and the first enquiry was to EA2 but you viewed through EA1. Although this would be the vendors problem, it may slow down the sale process.

Good luck with EA1. Given the snottiness of EA2 it would be great if EA1 could progress the sale, although unfortunately EA's are thick skinned and some appear to have no shame.