Estate agent unhappy about is not using their solicitors

Heisenberg87_2

We found our dream home and had an offer accepted last week. We did originally go with the Estate Agents solicitor as they were on the same panel as the sellers.

Trouble is we have now got the real quote and the solicitors have charged us a extra £400 of hidden fees. I said to them that we will not use them and use my friends mate, who can do everything for at least £600 cheaper.

The Estate Agents has now said because we are not using their solicitors they are unsure if he vendors will be happy with this as they want to move quickly. Is this just smoke and mirrors? I am a first time buyer, with a MIP and deposit all ready and set to transfer over. Surely the vendors wouldn't care about this?

cloo

Absolute nonsense, they're just being aggressive. I'd probably be happier to have buyers *not* using agents' solicitors TBH.

LateStarter

Ignore them totally - I'd like to see them tell the sellers that you're dropping out because you won't use their overpriced service.

Heisenberg87_2

cloo wrote: »

Absolute nonsense, they're just being aggressive. I'd probably be happier to have buyers *not* using agents' solicitors TBH.

I'm tempted to write a letter and post it to the vendors to explain how keen we are to do things quickly and that we have everything in place. Would this be a good idea? Can't believe that Agents are allowed to do things like this. It's putting a lot of stress on my partner.

AMILLIONDOLLARS

You can use whoever you want. Get your chosen Solicitors to exchange details with the vendors Solicitors. In fact I would contact the vendors direct, you know where they live!

If the Estate Agents are acting in this manner now, it does not bode well for them to quickly pass on the details for you. Make them aware that you will not be bullied into using their solicitors, they could be on some kind of commission, which could explain the extra £600.

AMD

LateStarter

The EA is required to pass your solicitor details along to theirs, and then get out of the way. But they can be a terribly pushy lot as they get hundreds of pounds from getting their own conveyencers involved. Just be firm and polite. The seller is probably as eager to sell as you are to buy, and you hold the money.

The only thing you need to aware of is that your conveyencer (or a member of their firm) must be acceptable to your mortgage lender. The lender may check (mine did) when going through the full application.

G_M

Write a polite note to the EA declining to use their solicitors and giving them the name /adress of your soliciotors.

Mention that you are ready to move fast, and have mortgage application in hand/solicitors arranged etc and trust that the vendors are similarly prepared.

SEND A COPY TO THE VENDORS DIRECT.

rosie383

As G_M says.
We had exactly the same situation. If you hunt through the bumph from the original solicitors, you will find some small print in there about how much of the fees they will get for doing all the work, and how much the EA gets for 'referring' you. In our case, the EA got £500 and the solicitor was due to get £250 (roughly). The EA was not happy when I kicked up a fuss and found a conveyancer who was recommended on here who were going to be cheaper and so far have been very good.

kingstreet

I don't remember where I got this, but isn't the maximum referral fee from a solicitor to an introducer £240 per case and doesn't it have to be spelled out in plain English in the solicitor's terms of engagement?

That's coming out of one person's pocket. The client's.

Thoes of us who introduce to solicitors usually forego any introducer fee so our clients get lower costs and better service. National EA firms' solicitors manage to combine high costs and lousy service.

Heisenberg87_2

Cheers for all your advice. I found at the vendors names and a quick social media search I was able to get in touch with them. They said they have no issue what so ever with you we use and that they are looking forward to a quick sale. So that's the first hurdle completed...

cloo

Just remember that whenever an agent reports to you that vendors 'won't be happy' or 'are furious' or whatever, they are always making it up to try to make things go their way!