Giving Estate Agent Notice

jillybobs

We put our house up for sale in late January with a local estate agent and have not had one single viewing. Our house is a modern town house, very neutral with modern fittings. Estate agent blames it on a number of new developments being built in our town and the incentives people can get when buying a new home.

We've decided to put our house up for sale with another agent who has sold a number of other properties on our development and were hoping to put it up with them next week.

I've just for the paper work out from our present agent and it says we have to give 90 days notice!!! Is there any way around this? Really don't want to wait another 3 months with no viewings.

shortchanged_2

Have you considered the possibility that your property is overpriced?

jillybobs

Forgot to mention estate agent valued at £175,000 and we knew we would no chance of getting this so put it on at £15,000 less. We have since reduced by £10,000. Two of the same style houses sold last year for £5000 & £10,000 more than ours is up for - so definitely not overpriced .

kingstreet

Why not ask the two agents about marketing jointly, with a "who sells wins" agreement on the commission?

Don't go into joint agency without that agreement though, as you could end up paying two lots of fees.

With a bit of competition between them you might find you get more interest.

jillybobs

kingstreet wrote: »

Why not ask the two agents about marketing jointly, with a "who sells wins" agreement on the commission?

Don't go into joint agency without that agreement though, as you could end up paying two lots of fees.

With a bit of competition between them you might find you get more interest.

Thanks for your reply. Going to phone them tomorrow to see what we can do. We'd gone with the original estate agents as the house we really want is up with them - so thought they would work hard for us.

Really hope there is something we can do.

Nicholas-bloody-Parsons

jillybobs wrote: »

We've decided to put our house up for sale with another agent who has sold a number of other properties on our development and were hoping to put it up with them next week.

I've just for the paper work out from our present agent and it says we have to give 90 days notice!!! Is there any way around this? Really don't want to wait another 3 months with no viewings.

Tread carefully. You will end up paying fees to the first agent (as well as the second) if you agree a sale with another agent without giving them full 90 days notice.

Given that the summer is usually slow for the housing market, you may consider giving notice now and try again with the new agent come September.

The spring and Autumn are usually the optimum times for house sales!

jillybobs

Thanks for the reply. Think we are going to give notice but ask that they come back and take new pictures as the original ones aren't that great.