Going with a different EA - a bit cheeky?

JustAnotherSaver

We're looking for our first house & we viewed one a month or so ago. It's really nice, but £9k over budget & we were preferring to move into the city. With that looking unlikely at the moment we're looking once again at this house we viewed first time round & are interested in a 2nd viewing.

I contacted the EA again about this. I informed them what times we are available Mon-Fri, what time we are available on Saturday & Sunday is just all day. The last time we viewed it it was a Saturday.

Their response was that their viewer no longer works Sunday's. A dinner break viewing was suggested, but this is impossible. If we can't view within the times i gave then it'd be down to my wife & I trying to book annual leave for the same day (which we'd rather not use).

I asked again about a Saturday as this would be ideal. As yet there's no response.


However ... this house has also been listed up with another EA.

Would it be very cheeky/not the done thing of me to try them to see if we can view on a weekend through them?

I don't know if this would upset the first & could in some way (don't ask what, i don't know - perhaps i'm being paranoid) work against us in the future, either if we look to buy this one or pursue another through the first EA?

Or do you see it as fair game - we'd like a weekend viewing & if one can't provide that then it's fair enough to try the other, regardless of who the first viewing was through?

googler

View it through whichever EA you want. You don't have a contract with either of them, and if you buy, it's none of your concern which of them gets the seller's commission. That's up to the three of them to thrash out.

DRP

Arguably it isn't your problem, but if you ;ve already been introduced to the house in some way via the first EA, then no doubt he'll have an interest in obtaining fees from the vendor even if you buy it through an offer to EA#2...

It could get messy and may effect the way the vendor views any offer you make...

In the case where 2 EAs are involved, then EA#2 is quite likely to ask if you have been involved with EA#1 - this has happened to me on occasion.

JustAnotherSaver

And how are we to answer? I would say truthfully (but would that go against us?).

Personally i don't see anything wrong with saying to EA#2 - we're coming to you because we need a weekend viewing which EA#1 can't provide us. Are you able to provide us this, or not?

I'm not being defensive here - but how could it effect the way our offer is viewed?

Yes, we have approached EA#1 a month ago & viewed the house through them. Ideally we'd like to stick to the same EA, but it's looking like we're going to have to use annual leave for a viewing which is 1) not what we want to use it for & 2) difficult to get us both on the same day - especially with my employer.


If it's out of order & could cause more trouble than it's worth then we'll not do it - this is just something i'm trying to find out before i make contact with EA#2 though.


edit - just for the record, at no point has EA#1 asked us any question with regards to EA#2.

<sebb>

There's a good chance if you view through agent 2 and make an offer that both EAs will expect commission. Now technically that's the sellers problem, not yours. But if they get another offer, even if its lower, from someone else, they may be better taking that other offer. They may also see it that you have cost them money and expect you to pay the difference. I wouldn't risk it if I were you and try and find some other way to persuade EA1 that you are seriously considering an offer so they need to be flexible and find a way to fit you in.

JustAnotherSaver

The sellers have moved out (bang goes the idea of a repo i suppose) & so they're relying on this viewer showing us about. I don't understand how we can be shown around on a Saturday but a few weeks down the line weekends are out of the question. Plus, they say their viewer as in singular. Surely they don't just have one person showing everyone around houses. That person must be rushed off their feet.


How would the vendor know i'd seen both EAs? How would EA#2 know i'd originally viewed through EA#1? If both would expect commission then that suggests they'd be informing each other.

Based on what's been said, it's probably best we stick with EA#1. I just wish they'd be a bit more helpful regards viewing time. We're not viewing it a 2nd time because we're bored with nothing better to do. We're wanting a 2nd go because we're interested & obviously from this an offer may materialise. Surely it's in their interest to be a bit flexible?!

eddddy

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

....

How would the vendor know i'd seen both EAs? How would EA#2 know i'd originally viewed through EA#1? If both would expect commission then that suggests they'd be informing each other.

....

The vendor and "the other EA" would find out after you had an offer accepted.

E.g.

- The vendor would accept your offer via EA2
- The vendor would phone EA1 telling them they've had an offer through EA2, and so it needs to come off the market.
- EA1 would ask the name of the 'offerrer'
- EA1 would check their records and find that they introduced you, and tell vendor that their commission is payable.
- EA2 tells vendor that they conducted negotiations, so their commission is payable as well.

- Lots of grief for vendor. EA1 and/or EA2 may compromise, or they may insist that the vendor pays double commission. As a result, the vendor may refuse to sell to you (or insist you increase your offer to cover double commission).

Dan-Dan

Seems to me , a vendor using two estate agents is just asking for trouble!

DaftyDuck

If the first agent is so useless that they can't organise a weekend viewing, the sellers are probably in the process of switching agents to one that's a bit more efficient.

For simplicitys sake - and the best chance of getting the house, you should put your offer in through the first agent.

However, were you to phone the second agent and, for the sake of argument, gave slightly incorrect personal details , and enquire about a viewing at time X, a perfectly reasonable, convenient time, then phoned agent 1 pointing out that, if they are unable to arrange a viewing at a suitable time, you'll view through the second agent, who would, no doubt, wish to split the fee at the very least.....

....then I suspect they'll pull their fists out of their stoma, and be there for a viewing. 7:30pm on a Sunday, if you so choose!

witchy1066

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Seems to me , a vendor using two estate agents is just asking for trouble!

yes and it can get confusing for the prospective buyer ,

we nearly ended up in same situation as the OP but it was completely innocent on our part ,

we booked a viewing and liked what we saw, decided to book another viewing , so I booked it , went to view , the EA introduced himself ,
OH giving me funny looks all through the viewing :rotfl:

first viewing OH booked with EA 1
second viewing booked by myself with EA 2 :rotfl:

I was quite relieved when OH said it was to far from his employment

dizzydonkeys

sometimes a vendor will use two EA's and they will have an agreement in place to split commision. Maybe ring EA2 and enquire on the house but casually mention you have seen advertised also with EA1 was there a reason or anything that may affect you. Then enquire re your booking date/time and perhaps you might of forgotten you had got married thus a different name so nothing can tally up in relation to viewings.
If you then want to offer on the property have a discussion with EA2 (hopefully you should know by then if they are working together or what is happening). EA1 may of introduced you to the property but if they are not willing to fit a second viewing in for you then they have shot themselves in the foot as no viewing is going to mean no offer.
Therefore if EA2 is prepared to put in the work yes they should get paid, the vendor shouldn't be funny with you as if were to buy well they wouldn't be getting a sale at all if you had stayed loyal to EA1.
However the contracts are a different matter but not really your problem - stick your neck out and ask the questions - it's not going to put you in any worse position than you are now surely?
Good luck