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Estate Agent left message on my phone meant for venfor?

bob_dob
bob_dob Posts: 432 Forumite
in Mortgages & endowments
Hi,
My partner and I have been looking at some houses to buy and recently found one we liked but the vendor wanted £130,000. We advised the Estate Agent on Friday that we want to put a bid of £120,000 in on it.
Today I received an answerphone message on my phone from the estate agent that said "Hi, this is xxx xxxx from xxx and xxxx, thought you should know that the couple...well, I doubt you want to know....this is going to depress you.....they have put a low bid in that isn't really in the ball park. Give me a ring back please on xxxxxxxxx"

I thought the Estate Agents were supposed to remain neutral in these matters, not give their own opinions or attempt to persaude vendors either way? Besides, I didn't think the bid was that low?

Please can I have some thoughts on this?
«1

Comments

  • kingstreet
    kingstreet Posts: 39,160 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The agent works for the vendor. They are not impartial arbiters. They are not neutral. You are mistaken.

    This could be a very clever ploy to tell you the offer is too low, without actually reporting such to you...

    Await the official response to your offer.
    I am a mortgage broker. You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice. Please do not send PMs asking for one-to-one-advice, or representation.
  • Let_Us_See
    Let_Us_See Posts: 1,319 Forumite
    The estate agent acts on behalf (and is paid a fee by) the vendor.
  • ACG
    ACG Posts: 24,314 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    Theyre acting on behalf of the seller. Its their job to get as much money for the house as possible for the seller.

    Admittedly, its not the most professional way to do it but i dont think they have done anything outside the rules.
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Perhaps the EA knows that the vendor wants significantly more.

    Play dumb. Use the knowledge to your advantage, ie. at a later date.
  • opinions4u
    opinions4u Posts: 19,411 Forumite
    The estate agent is not your friend. They are not impartial. They are employed by the vendor. They exist to make money out of selling houses.

    Don't think they are anything special.
  • bob_dob
    bob_dob Posts: 432 Forumite
    Aha! Thank you for your help, I appreciate that!
  • greatgimpo
    greatgimpo Posts: 1,256 Forumite
    If it's a genuine mistake, then the vendors won't even know of the offer as the estate agent thinks he's phoned them whereas he phoned you instead.
  • mrcow
    mrcow Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's not a genuine mistake. It's a ploy. Surely not even an estate agent could be that dim to think it would work?
    "One day I realised that when you are lying in your grave, it's no good saying, "I was too shy, too frightened."
    Because by then you've blown your chances. That's it."
  • greatgimpo
    greatgimpo Posts: 1,256 Forumite
    If the vendors were to accept the offer of £120,000, the estate agent would only be down £200 (assuming 2% commission) - wouldn't it be in their favour to try to get the vendors to accept the lower offer, after all, a bird in the hand...
  • mrcow
    mrcow Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    greatgimpo wrote: »
    If the vendors were to accept the offer of £120,000, the estate agent would only be down £200 (assuming 2% commission) - wouldn't it be in their favour to try to get the vendors to accept the lower offer, after all, a bird in the hand...


    The estate agent's job is to eek as much money out of the buyer as possible. That's what they are trying to do.
    "One day I realised that when you are lying in your grave, it's no good saying, "I was too shy, too frightened."
    Because by then you've blown your chances. That's it."
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