Can I sack my estate agent?

Scully's_Girl

On 7 April we put our 4 bedroom house in Kent up for sale with Haart. We signed an agreement saying they would act as our agent for 16 weeks, and if we were to sell the house independent of them, they still get a cut of the profit. AThey priced the house at 305k - 315k, but our neighbor argued that that was a severe underpricing, meant for a quick sale. When the first couple to come in offered 315, we agreed it was probably underpriced, and asked the agent to rise it to 330k, which was more in line with what identical houses on the market had sold for the previous year. At first they bought people to our home, but that dried up pretty quickly to a trickle. Considering the rate rise, we were displeased, but not suprised and certainly didn't blame the agency. We advised them of our rules, that whenever they bought someone by they call us to let us know their feedback (so we can make any necessary adjustments) but they always neglect to do so. We constantly chase them, and each time its the same thing "Oh, that wasnt my client, that was so & so's, you'll need to speak to them. Shall I have them call you?". And they rarely do.
Then, this weekend, we found out that a neighbor went up to enquire about comps, as they are interested in selling their own house. They were advised of ours, but told it was very overpriced.
I now feel they do not have our best interests at heart. What steps can one take in this situation? I will be confronting them with that information later today.

danlightbulb

If you've signed a sole agency contract then I don't think there is much you can do unless you can mutually agree to terminate it. They may agree to this given that you have evidence of them being negative about the property.

Only choice otherwise is to wait until it expires, ditch them and have a replacement agent ready to start marketing.

We are marketting at the moment and our first agent failed to get us a single viewing in 12 weeks. We have now ditched them but our second agent is also failing to get people through the door. There are severe signs of a property crash in my area at present though and the house is worth a lot less than yours.

stolt

Hi you could get a family memebr, or a friend to call the estate agent, and advise that there looking for hosues aroudn your way, see if the estate agent puts your home forward. I did this with my house because i had reservations about my EA, although i was surprised that he did try very hard to push my house to my friend when she phoned up.

you coudl also put in writing that they haven't kept to their side of the contract in advising you of feedback on viewings and therefore giving them notice of a week or so. I'm about to do the same thing with one of the agents that we are on with, complete waste of time and full of BS, i think they read the excuses from a book that they have on there desk. At the end of the day if your not happy with them i would get on the case straight away, because once you send your letter off i would be surprised if they send anyone else around there again.

good luck

full-time-mum

How about getting a friend to act as a mystery shopper - not necessarily as a means to sacking the agent but just as a way of seeing how they deal with the customers.

Have them go into your estate agent with a cover story - give a price range of say 300K - 350K and see what happens. Let them have a viewing and then ask them to give some agreed feedback. Find something reasonable - it needs to be something that you can be expected to act on -s uch as the living room felt cluttered and small rather than the bathroom suite is old fashioned.
You will then know who the feedback went to and what was said and can compare that to the what the estate agent says.

What you do with the results is another kettle of fish, but at least you would know where you stand.

I assume you've looked around the area and found out what other properties are on the market around the 350K mark.

full-time-mum

Great minds - cross posted with stolt!

EliteHeat

Hold on, the EA valued the property between £305K-£315K and introduced several prospects. You had an offer of £315K which you declined because your neighbour thought the house was worth more.

You increased the price and are now complaining that it won't sell. The EA's are advising that it is too expensive. You now want to sack the EA.

Am I missing something here?

And what is your neighbours' expert opinion on the matter?

silvercar

So the neighbour tells you to raise the price and then decides he wants to sell his own property, the agent then says your is overpriced.

Sounds like the neighbour wanted you to test the market before he puts his own house for sale.

lynzpower

I agree

Maybe there is a trickle now- the more expensive something is the less people can afford it!

I agree, I think by the sounds of it, youeneighbour has given you duff advice for whatever reason.

rosysparkle

EliteHeat wrote: »

Hold on, the EA valued the property between £305K-£315K and introduced several prospects. You had an offer of £315K which you declined because your neighbour thought the house was worth more.

You increased the price and are now complaining that it won't sell. The EA's are advising that it is too expensive. You now want to sack the EA.

Am I missing something here?

And what is your neighbours' expert opinion on the matter?

I agree.

Never mind your neighbour's opinion, what are comparable properties selling for in your area (not the price they are marketed at, the actual selling prices)?

advent1122

danlightbulb wrote: »

We are marketting at the moment and our first agent failed to get us a single viewing in 12 weeks. We have now ditched them but our second agent is also failing to get people through the door.

So it is the house that is the problem, not the EA.

BTman

EliteHeat wrote: »

Hold on, the EA valued the property between £305K-£315K and introduced several prospects. You had an offer of £315K which you declined because your neighbour thought the house was worth more.

You increased the price and are now complaining that it won't sell. The EA's are advising that it is too expensive. You now want to sack the EA.

Am I missing something here?

And what is your neighbours' expert opinion on the matter?

Couldn't agree more. Sounds like wishful thinking on your neighbors part, what makes them such an expert.
The EA had done their job, until you decided you wanted more...

How much did the property cost you and how long have you owned it?