Estate Agent requires ID after offer

peytonx

Hi All,

I have made an offer on a property which is on the market with William H Brown.

My initial offer was turned down yesterday and so I increased my offer. At the same time the estate agent said they would require my ID and proof of address and this would have to be taken in person. The offer has not yet been accepted.

William H Brown have been really pushing really hard for me to meet with their advisor despite me having an agreement in princial which was obtained by a advisor I appointed.

So, do I HAVE to take my ID? As I feel they are doing it to get me in front of their advisor. It is a bit out of my way and I work the same hours as they are open.

I only wish they was as pro-active at selling me a house as they are at pushing their advisor!

bebewoo

I would tell them that they have lost a sale by their attitude, but if you love the house:

Tell them that you refuse to take time off work, as you will need to keep that job in order to pay the mortgage of your future house.

Tell them that they are required by law to pass on the offer to the vendor, and can they please do that.

Senior_Paper_Monitor

From the specific OFT guidance to estate agents:


10.8 Whilst estate agents are required to only undertake customer due diligence measures for sellers when acting as their agents, best practice would be to identify the purchaser in addition to the seller once an offer has been accepted.

..... as for solicitors/lenders etc, it would be perfectly reasonable (and in full compliance as far as the OFT are concerned) for them to accept certified copies from your appointed adviser (assuming the adviser, or network, is FCA regulated)


Frankly - the agents don't seem to bother about the vendor ID that much (despite a requirement to do so) and I suspect they will lose interest in yours 'after offer acceptance' and you have proceeded to application via your appointed broker/adviser.

AS bebewoo states - they have to pass your offer on (an extract from the Property Ombudsman Code of Practice - as approved by OFT):


6.Submission of Offers



6a By law, you must tell sellers as soon as itis reasonablypossible about alloffers that you receive at any time untilcontracts have been exchanged (in Scotland, missives have been concluded)unless the offer is an amount or type which the seller has specificallyinstructed you, in writing, not to pass on. You must confirm each offer inwriting to the seller, and to the buyer who made it, within two working days.



6b You must keepwritten or computerised record of all offers your receive – including the dateand time of such offers – and the seller’s response. Such records should bemade promptly.

ACG

Estate Agents done NEED that info. If they needed it, every estate agent would be requesting it but theyre not.

Tell them you will get your solicitor/mortgage broker to send certified copies, that should be enough - see what they say?

Wywth

peytonx wrote: »

Hi All,

I have made an offer on a property which is on the market with William H Brown.

My initial offer was turned down yesterday and so I increased my offer. At the same time the estate agent said they would require my ID and proof of address and this would have to be taken in person. The offer has not yet been accepted.

William H Brown have been really pushing really hard for me to meet with their advisor despite me having an agreement in princial which was obtained by a advisor I appointed.

So, do I HAVE to take my ID? As I feel they are doing it to get me in front of their advisor. It is a bit out of my way and I work the same hours as they are open.

I only wish they was as pro-active at selling me a house as they are at pushing their advisor!

William H. Brown are open 7 days a week - you can't be working every one of those days/hours they are open!

I've had this before where an EA wants to sell you a mortgage.

Just play the game and when you meet their financial advisor, simply start by saying:
"Before we go any further, I'd just like to explain that I already have made my own arrangements to obtain a mortgage to purchase this property, and I am not interested in anything you can offer, thank-you"

You won't then be there very long, I can assure you

kingstreet

Go in about ten minutes before they are due to close on Sunday afternoon with your ID & PoA and tell them that's the only time you could make it.

Get them to take copies there and then.

Do not warn them you intend to do this.

afly

kingstreet wrote: »

Go in about ten minutes before they are due to close on Sunday afternoon with your ID & PoA and tell them that's the only time you could make it.

Get them to take copies there and then.

Do not warn them you intend to do this.

haha, tell them you want a full breakdown of each available option. When you feel you have exhausted the issue as far as you can, lean back in deep thought and ask them

"Umm, so... what's a mortgage exactly?"

Personally I would just tell them you have made other arrangements and they will be notified in due course. If they persist, a threat of backing out will probably be enough. You're the interested buyer here, you hold the bulk of the power.

kingstreet

I wouldn't even expect the adviser to be in at that time on a Sunday, so one of the office staff will have to do the copying. I don't know why it would be the adviser's responsibility anyway, if it is a genuine request.

spacey2012

Take you offer to the seller in person in writing and ask them to pass it to the agent themselves as they are refusing to submit your revised offer to the seller.

roonaldo

peytonx wrote: »

.

As I feel they are doing it to get me in front of their advisor.

Say in your speaking voice you have "no thanks".

peytonx

Wywth wrote: »

William H. Brown are open 7 days a week - you can't be working every one of those days/hours they are open!

No, not all of them! This branch is open Mon-Fri the same hours as I work and the Sat until 1pm. They are closed Sunday.

I had delays viewing the property because they lost my contact details and then I submitted my first offer last Tuesday and only heard back from them yesterday. I am a FTB so I do not know how long things can take but I though they could have at least updated me on the situation especially since they said they would not pass on my offer until my AIP & proof of deposit checked out with their advisor.

I am reluctant to go out of my way on a Saturday morning to go and give them ID when they do not seem in a rush to deal with my offer or have the courtesy to keep me updated.

When I went to view the house the vendor told me that they always call on the house phone and leave a message but the vendor only has 1571 and never uses the house phone so is not aware they have called.

I have exchanged text and emails with the seller already so if the delays continue would it be ethical to contact the seller directly to negotiate?