Sold house without estate agent

MJP43

Hello

After advice re legal (and moral) obligation re selling of my property.

Basically following a viewing I was making of a property I was potentially looking at buying, I mentioned to the selling agent that I was imminently myself selling a property and that I had a landlord potentially interested.

EA wanted to market, I told them that potential buyer was back in country in 2 weeks. EA said they were happy to market property in meantime. I did say to them that if this potential buyer makes acceptable offer I would have no obligation to them . They agreed.

In two weeks we had several viewings. 10.30 this morning a couple made an offer 2k less than asking price.

At 11.00 aforementioned landlord viewed and offered asking price. He is a cash buyer also.

in all fairness the selling agent have been very good and have altered my view of the profession following previous bad experience.

Should I make a goodwill gesture to cover their costs or would giving them nothing be fair game and par for the course.

agrinnall

What does your contract with the EA say? I would be surprised if they agreed to market your property without expecting you to pay their external costs such as Right Move and Zoopla entries, photographs, floor plans, signage, etc. But if the contract doesn't cover those costs then it's up to you whether you pay them, I might throw a small amount in their direction in case you decide to use them in the future.

eddddy

MJP43 wrote: »

...
Should I make a goodwill gesture to cover their costs or would giving them nothing be fair game and par for the course.

No - no need for a goodwill gesture. It's their business, it's what they do. (And to be fair, I doubt the EA makes goodwill gestures by giving money to people they don't owe money to.)

In fact, many would argue that you should now be asking the EA to go back to the couple and get them into a bidding war. But I suspect that's not your style!

[Deleted User]

I hope you had the agreement )that if you sold it through other means, you would be under no obligation to the EA) in writing.

They could disagree at this stage.

G_M

MJP43 wrote: »

Hello

I did say to them that if this potential buyer makes acceptable offer I would have no obligation to them . They agreed.

.

So a nice gentleman's agreement. Let's hope that a) the agent does not send you a bil and that b) the judge agrees with your version of the conversation if it gets that far.....

What did you sign and what does it say in writing?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I'd be surprised if they don't want their 1% or whatever, especially as they've given you viewers, the fact that your own man buys it won't matter.

Bart1

If your feeling charitable find a homeless person and give them a few quid. You owe the EA nowt.... They took a business risk

Annie1960

What does your contract with the EA say?

If it is a 'sole selling rights' contract, they will want to be paid, regardless of who introduced the buyer.

Shahni

I'd suggest popping into their office in person (having read your contract carefully) to give them the good news that you've had an offer at the asking price from the buyer you previously discussed with them and to give them a bottle of wine or box of chocolates for their trouble.

If alls well they won't be surprised to be missing out on their fee. If they do try and squabble over payment it'll at least put them on the back foot and make them feel like the bad guy. He he.

Simon354

You don't owe them a penny. I had a similar scenario it only becomes an issue is if they introduced a buyer who then you go and do a deal with later down the line behind the EA's back or simply with another EA.

rosie383

As others have said. Read the contract you signed. Verbal agreements mean nothing.