Offer on house AND owners Change estate agents, what to do?

bttnhg

Dear all,
Looking for some advice. We made an offer on a house that was overpriced. Asking price 270k and offered 215, then 225 and the couple deferred to answer until we sold ours. within 2/3 days they withdrew from the market with the original estate agents and appeared again on the market with another one ever to an asking price of 250.we don't know why they changed after just 3 weeks. The first estate agents have told us that if we want to make a higher offer they will contact the vendors on our behalf as they introduced us, however we are worried that if they receive the same offer from the second company they will go for them and we will lose the house. The added problem is that using the first company means we don't know if there are any other offers or how high they are. Could we go and ring the second estate agents or contact the private owners without getting into trouble? Thanks!!

marliepanda

Regardless of how you go about it the first estate agent will have records of you introducing them, and will go after the sellers for their fee if YOU buy the house. They did their job if you go on to buy it and deserve their fee.

Depending on the contract they have with EA 2 may mean selling to you means two lots of fees, so you may need to go higher than offers with EA2.

It really depends how much you want this house. Have you sold yours?

Cakeguts

Why do you still want to buy a house that you say is overpriced by 25K based on your last offer?

hazyjo

Cakeguts wrote: »

Why do you still want to buy a house that you say is overpriced by 25K based on your last offer?

I wanted to buy a house that was IMO overpriced by £25k or so. After battling with the EAs for a month or two, they eventually agreed on £26k under the asking price.


I presume the OP is still wanting to offer under the asking price.


Not sure what's unusual about it...


Jx

brodawel

Speak to the new estate agent, they are selling it now. The Vendor has presumably sacked the first one and may not want to even deal with them. To change agents so soon suggests they've had some issue and perhaps a fall out. Regards the EA fees, I'd say it's not your problem, it's for the agents to sort out who gets paid, maybe they'll split it between them. I would make a second viewing and take it from there.

You won't get into trouble, you can contact either estate agent, you can contact the vendor, you can knock on their door if you wish. Just be polite and make it clear you don't expect to be let in, just chat on the doorstep and ask whatever it is you want to ask. If they like you they will be more than happy to talk and may arrange a day to let you view again, or they may ask you to go through the agent.

societys_child

Asking price 270k and offered 215

.....:rotfl:......

eddddy

Assuming the seller has signed 'typical' contracts with both EAs...

...you should continue to deal with EA1. That way the seller will only pay commission to EA1.

If instead you start negotiating via EA2, the seller would have to pay double commission - i.e. EA1's commission and EA2's commission.

Assuming the seller realises this. they will probably expect your offer to be higher to compensate for the double commission.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like if an offer was accepted, you'd automatically be walking into a difficult position with sellers with very different expectations to yours.

I'd find another house.

kazwookie

If you really want the house, then I would knock on the door of the vendor and ask if they will accept £x

jojo9239

Have you sold yours?

brodawel

eddddy wrote: »

Assuming the seller has signed 'typical' contracts with both EAs...

...you should continue to deal with EA1. That way the seller will only pay commission to EA1.

If instead you start negotiating via EA2, the seller would have to pay double commission - i.e. EA1's commission and EA2's commission.

Assuming the seller realises this. they will probably expect your offer to be higher to compensate for the double commission.

EA1 isn't selling it anymore. Why would a buyer even know about an issue with the sellers agents fees, it's nothing to do with the buyer. Surely the seller won't expect to effectively charge their buyer, it's the sellers problem surely? I once viewed a house with one agent, then viewed it again with another agent. We offered with the second agent, no problem, offer accepted.