Using same estate agent to buy as to sell ours?

rhijones

We have recently had our house valued ready to be put on the market by an estate agent, however, the house we want to buy is being sold by the same estate agent.

Is it a good idea to still go with this estate agent to sell our house or is it best to go with a different one to keep it unbiased?

The estate agent is trying to get the offer on the house higher than what I have offered and I'm thinking that if they know what my sale position is, they will use this to advise the seller of my situation?

Any help on this is much appreciated!

eddddy

It might be good to go with the same EA.

The EA might push your house especially hard, because when it sells, it will 'unlock' two lots of commission (for your house and the house you are buying).

Hoploz

If you are worried that the seller might not accept your offer because they will know your houses not yet on the market then yes that will affect their response. But you would have to tell any agent you are offering through the full true picture in any case.

As has already been said, it can be useful as they want to sell your house as then they will have both. It is also useful a once the chain is progressing they have a good overview of both sales.

rosie383

I think it helps. Well, it certainly doesn't hinder. We are buying and selling through the same EA and it definitely is in their interests to try to make it go as smoothly as possible as they want to two lots of commission.
I wouldn't go out of my way to do it though.

System

I have a good EA and we are buying through the same. It helped as we are encountering some problems now and he is coordinating very well with our seller and it seems so far that we are OK.