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Contact from rival estate agent
horsepills
Posts: 283 Forumite
Looking for some advice please!
We have had our house up for sale for a number of weeks with our estate agent, and it's been pretty quiet (a few viewings). We're now out of our contracted term with the EA and have to give 2 weeks notice if we want to move to another EA....
This morning we had a voicemail message by another Estate Agent in a nearby town (they seem like a smaller business owned by one person who has a couple of people working for him), who say they have someone interested in buying our property and they would be willing to pay our "estate agency fees" if they were to view and buy.....they've asked us to call them back.
I'm unsure as to what to do. As much as we're keen to find a buyer, this all seems a bit untoward/unethical, and I'm not sure what the implications would be if we let another estate agent arrange a viewing whilst we're selling with another. Any advice would be appreciated.
We have had our house up for sale for a number of weeks with our estate agent, and it's been pretty quiet (a few viewings). We're now out of our contracted term with the EA and have to give 2 weeks notice if we want to move to another EA....
This morning we had a voicemail message by another Estate Agent in a nearby town (they seem like a smaller business owned by one person who has a couple of people working for him), who say they have someone interested in buying our property and they would be willing to pay our "estate agency fees" if they were to view and buy.....they've asked us to call them back.
I'm unsure as to what to do. As much as we're keen to find a buyer, this all seems a bit untoward/unethical, and I'm not sure what the implications would be if we let another estate agent arrange a viewing whilst we're selling with another. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Comments
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If you fel the current EA will find you a buyer, do nothing.
If you feel they have not introduced any/many/enough viewers, call the other EA and see what you think of them and what they offer.0 -
Get it in writing that he is willing to pay any and all fees the current estate agent charges and also get in writing what fees he will charge you!Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0
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Is the offer to you from the EA in writing?
If not, get it in writing.
A verbal agreement from an estate agent is not the way forward.I am a LandLord,(under review) so there!:p0 -
Don't see anything unethical here go for it0
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An EA will often say they have someone ready to buy your house.
The trick is to get the viewing/contact/sale without tying yourself into a contract with the new EA (just in case they are 'exaggerating' - ie. telling porkies)0 -
Give your two week notice or you are still contractually with your old estate agent. Tell the 'new' agents they've got two weeks to drum up some viewings, but viewings will not occur until you are out of contract with the old estate agents.
If you show them around within the two week notice period, you may be liable to pay fees to the old agent.0 -
ok thanks for the replies everyone. It just seems odd to me that if there is a "buyer" looking at our property, why aren't they just approaching our current estate agent?0
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It does all sound odd, and somewhat suspicious to me.
How did the 'other' estate agent know your contact details/phone number etc??? They must have known this to enable them to leave you a voicemail message. How did they even know who you are? And yes, why isn't the 'interested party' approaching your estate agent?
What's in it for the estate agent who has contacted you? If they are going to pay your estate agent fees to your estate agent, what do they get out of it?
Not really making any sense at all to me.
Maybe I'm missing something?0 -
horsepills wrote: »ok thanks for the replies everyone. It just seems odd to me that if there is a "buyer" looking at our property, why aren't they just approaching our current estate agent?
Why not ask the new agent exactly that question?
This is why you should proceed cautiously and not sign up with the agent on the basis of this supposed buyer.0 -
It does all sound odd, and somewhat suspicious to me.
How did the 'other' estate agent know your contact details/phone number etc??? They must have known this to enable them to leave you a voicemail message. How did they even know who you are? And yes, why isn't the 'interested party' approaching your estate agent?
What's in it for the estate agent who has contacted you? If they are going to pay your estate agent fees to your estate agent, what do they get out of it?
Not really making any sense at all to me.
Maybe I'm missing something?
I sold my previous house straight away in a similar situation. As soon as I signed with the EA the buyer was in and house sold. I think it's often the case that new buyers to an area (ignorant of the locality) go to an EA without looking around but say that they want something in such and such area with certain amenities. A local agent may know of a property that is not currently on its books but which fits the criteria.
I've had direct letters from EAs in my current house recently saying they have a buyer, and I believe it as I'm in a sought after area.0
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