Want to buy but not with a particular estate agent

silvercar

I would put a note through the vendor's door. Say you are interested but won't deal with estate agent X. that gives them the option to get in touch with you directly or appoint another agent.

The other option is to approach a friendlier estate agent and say you are interested in house YY but you won't deal with estate agent X, could they help. Chances are they will approach the vendor and suss out if the vendor's have given sole selling rights to the first estate agent or whether there is an opening.

DRP

As a seller I would be a little suspicious of a buyer going through this rigmarole to avoid our EA. Either that or I wouldn't want to have the hassle of selling to the OP.

IMO taking this stance will be detrimental to the OPs chances of buying the property.

googler

playaz wrote: »

"The Estate Agents Act 1979 regulates your work as an estate agent. Its purpose is to make sure that you act in the best interests of your clients, and that both buyers and sellers are treated honestly, fairly and promptly."

I'd like to think that includes something which could potentially get me killed by any crazy mobs.. I understand that EA's tell lies.. but some lies are much bigger than others ;-)

Disclosing any 'history' of the seller that is likely to prejudice the buyer against the sale is hardly acting in the best interests of their client (the one who is paying them), though, is it?

And if the OP is this sensitive about buying this house, without any contact with the alleged criminal, will they really want to deal with the person directly...?

marlot

greatgimpo wrote: »

Absolute twaddle...

Such diplomacy! But I learned something new from the rest of your post.

Davesnave

googler wrote: »

And if the OP is this sensitive about buying this house, without any contact with the alleged criminal, will they really want to deal with the person directly...?

While serious sex offenders often don't remain at their former address, their families have little option. If the criminal is 'inside,' the family is likely to want to sell the house.

So there might well be no contact whatever, except through a solicitor.

flora48

The EA is only in your life for the duration of the sale/ purchase, not someone you are likely to see ever again. Whatever the ins and puts of his non disclosure previously why cut your nose off to spite your face, as the saying goes. Do you want this house, if so, go for it through the regular channel.

Davesnave

flora48 wrote: »

Whatever the ins and puts of his non disclosure previously why cut your nose off to spite your face, as the saying goes.

Can't you see, the OP wants to make a moral stand on this?

The really big problem they face is that no one will notice, and it probably won't make a scrap of difference.

penguingirl

greatgimpo wrote: »

If the estate agent did not introduce the buyer to the vendor, there is nothing to pay.

But surely the OP saw the house was up for sale because of the EA's marketing (for sale board, rightmove etc.) so the EA has introduced them.

I'd just buy it through the EA and suck it up. No EA wanting to make a sale (ie. do their job) would disclose the criminal past of a client despite what the OP thinks.

Annie1960

greatgimpo wrote: »

Absolute twaddle. This would only be the case if your contract is for sole selling rights, not sole agency. I should know, I sold my house myself while it was still being marketed by an estate agent. If the estate agent did not introduce the buyer to the vendor, there is nothing to pay.

It's not quite as simple as this. It all hinges on the definition of 'introduced'.

If the OP already knew the vendor, then then vendor may be able to avoid paying the EA fee. If, however, the OP discovered the property was on the market by seeing some of the EA's advertising (on a website or an EA board, for example), then the EA has 'introduced' the buyer to the sale, even if it is a sole agency contract. A 'sole selling rights' contract prevents the vendor from selling to someone they already know (e.g. a family member or friend).

As I have just put my own property on the market, I spent a couple of days reading through the EA Ombudsman's website, and checked my understanding with all 3 EAs who valued my property.

ilikewatch

playaz wrote: »

The agent never told me about this and after that I refused to have anything to do with them ever again.

Why would the EA have known anything about the vendors previous history? It's hardly as if the vendor would have approached the EA and said "Hi, I'm a convicted child molester and I'd like you to market my property"!