Note through the door from another agent

Cuilean

So I know that ultimately, the only way to work out what's going on is to ring and find out, but I want to know whether this is normal, or allowed.

We're selling our house through Agent A. It's been on the market for just over 8 months now, 5 with Agent A, 3 with another. Agent A have been okay - they're the big boys of the local estate agency world, all posh suits and well spoken agents. A couple of offers, but nothing has tempted us.

This morning, while I was out, a letter was pushed through our door by another agent, Agent W, who are part of a national chain. The letter simply read "Please call me regarding an offer we have, quoting ref ***, thanks", a printout of our details from Rightmove, and a business card.

Is this normal? Are they just fishing for business? My cynical side says they are. What would our agent say if they found out? I feel horribly naïve.

Paully232000

Yes just phishing for business.
We had our house on with Agent A, and Agent B phoned to say the same 'we have a buyer wanting your house'.

I told agent B to get the buyer to phone agent A and they could come and view. He couldn't get off the phone quick enough with his mythical buyer ready to buy.

LEJC

Cuilean wrote: »

The letter simply read "Please call me regarding an offer we have, quoting ref ***, thanks", a printout of our details from Rightmove, and a business card.

Is this normal? Are they just fishing for business? My cynical side says they are. What would our agent say if they found out? I feel horribly naïve.

I take this to mean they dont have someone with an offer but would like to make you aware of their current marketing offers that may interest you to move to them as the selling agent.

G_M

If they mean they have an offer to buy(or morelikely a potential buyer), it all depends on your contract with current agent - you don't tell us what kind of contract you have, so we cannot comment on the consequences of selling via another agent!

Cuilean

G_M wrote: »

If they mean they have an offer to buy(or morelikely a potential buyer), it all depends on your contract with current agent - you don't tell us what kind of contract you have, so we cannot comment on the consequences of selling via another agent!

Based on the contracts I've seen, it's a fairly bog-standard, three month tie in, sole agency contract. I assume that if (Big if!) there is a buyer, there'd be nothing to stop us giving notice to Agent A. However, I have dealt with another branch of Agent W in the area we'd like to move to (About ten miles away) and not been impressed by them, so it would have to be an amazing offer, rock solid, to interest me.

ben_m_g

I have had agents ask me if there are properties on the market marketed by other agents before.

So there is potential that they have someone interested but has not seen your house / thinks their agent can get less money for it.

rosie383

We were on the market since May and are now sstc again. We have had phonecalls and letters constantly from the other agents in the area. ALL of them have buyers lined up. As others have stated though, once you ask them for specifics they can't get off the phone quick enough. I wouldn't worry about it though. Seems to be fairly normal.

Nick.Cheshire

I run my own Estate Agency and this is clear common touting...

99.999999% sure there will not be an offer, but once you call them, they then have all your details to hound you to use them and not agent A.

the best meathod i have found was a vendor signing a 4 week contract and working her way round each and every agent in the town, the agent will work ultra hard as they know they only have limited time on it. 5 months is far too long to be with an agent, sure there is natural loyalty that comes into it, but they havent sold your home.... so that loyalty has benefited you 0%.

agent W is clearly a bit sneaky, personally i door knock properties, i wont shove a note through the door as i want to vendor to meet me in person, i would to show honest and true advice not write it down its a waste of time, i will then leave a card, if that person feels that you were genuine they will call you. if they dont. thats the business i would say 8 out of 10 houses i knock on will call me for advice if not to put thier property on the market.

touting is too harsh now days, and methods like this, are not in my eyes fair as it puts you in a horrible position. once they have got your details, especially big chains, they will ring, and ring, and ring , and ring, and write and write until you give in and use them or sell...

Lunar_Eclipse

Whilst I think this is a common lead generating tactic to entice you to change agents (I've experienced it), we have actually just sold our house under similar circumstances!

Buyer had a personal issue with our estate agent and put an offer forward via another. It was a little bizarre, but aided by the fact I did know the other agent (& we worked out a fee with both agents.)

jc808

why have you been on the market 8 months

Agent W may do you a favour by actually telling you you need to drop the price.....

LandyAndy

jc808 wrote: »

why have you been on the market 8 months

Agent W may do you a favour by actually telling you you need to drop the price.....

This. It must be too expensive to not have sold.