Offer made - Connells want us to use their services

harrys_dad

Before you say "no" perhaps you could ask Connells to put their request in writing, including the conditions. They will run a mile. Then say no, and ask for them to confirm they have put your original offer to the buyer.

verulamium

We bought our first property via Connells, and was pressured to use their conveyancing service (we were naive back then) and it was a nightmare. Stay away.

NightJack

Thought I would share a little this little tactic with you. I was in my local Connells recently speaking to their in house mortgage advisor when I overheard a conversation their manager was having with a client on the phone.

During the conversation the manager told them that the vendor of a particular property was not willing to listen to offers from anyone unless they had been pre-approved for a mortgage with their own in house MA. Nice little tactic there I thought, if I were that client I would be popping in on the vendor to see if that's what they actually said because as a seller myself there's no way I would turn down an offer from someone, as long as they had an OIP I couldn't care less who it's through! The more I go through this house buying process the more tricks I am beginning to see.

On a side note I didn't go with the Connells MA as they wanted £400 off me for their services, that's on top of the £850 they get from the mortgage company.

They do seem to want every last bit of cash out of you!

jonewer

Connells are notorious for doing this. They are shysters and scumbags.

kingstreet

It's not just one firm.

National estate agency chains in general have form for this. As I often say at this point;-

limited panel
fee charging
expensive/poor quality conveyancing
insurance tied

why would ANYONE choose to use such a service?

There is no upside!

Mortgage_Mark_2

I don't think Connells charge for mortgage services do they?


Not that I'm disagreeing with the rest of your post necessarily!

kingstreet

Mark_McBurney_CMME wrote: »

I don't think Connells charge for mortgage services do they?


Not that I'm disagreeing with the rest of your post necessarily!

A couple of posts above talk about £400. thequant's link at 8.32 has a fee mentioned, as does NightJack's post.

movilogo

Your conveyancer/solicitor should work in order to protect YOU, even if that means sale falling over.

If you use EA's conveyancer, whose interest you think they'd look after?

Mortgage_Mark_2

kingstreet wrote: »

A couple of posts above talk about £400. thequant's link at 8.32 has a fee mentioned, as does NightJack's post.

Interesting, a former colleague now works for Connells and I was under the impression that they did not charge, though I stand corrected, so thank you, that's good to know.

Do Countrywide charge a fee, out of interest?

Mortgage_Mark_2

movilogo wrote: »

Your conveyancer/solicitor should work in order to protect YOU, even if that means sale falling over.

If you use EA's conveyancer, whose interest you think they'd look after?

Legally yours, which is why they aren't allowed to act on behalf of both vendor and buyer.