HELP! Estate agent won't pass on our offer!

catt_2

HELP! Estate agent won't pass on our offer!

For months now I've been going through a self-disciplined daily routine of searching estate agents websites and other property finding websites for a small building plot in our area.

This morning I finally found a suitable property. I telephoned the estate agent to offer the full asking price.

Imagine my surprise when she said it went on their website yesterday (I hadn't seen it there) and was sold this morning!

I said that I didn't believe they had exchanged contracts so quickly because solicitors require the deposit money to be transfered before they will do that and would probably want to check the planning consent before committing their client. I got her to take down my name and telephone number, (rather reluctantly I thought) and asked her to contact me should the sale not proceed or progress too slowly for the seller. I told her I have the funds and a fast, efficient solicitor.

After I put down the phone, it occured to me that she may not have noted my name at all and so I fired off an email, expressing my interest and giving my contact details. That was a few hours ago and I have not had an acknowledgement.

I wonder whether the estate agents are acting properly? Aren't they under a duty to pass on all offers to their clients? I'm minded to send another email to the estate agents, or even a letter, setting out my offer. Or should I put my offer through their client's home letterbox?

Has anyone had experience of estate agents' unwillingness to pass on offers and where you I stand?

coal9011

Probably got a nice little "back-hander" lined up from some local property developer they know! :rolleyes:

Wig

Phone them up and ask "have you forwarded my offer to the vendor" They do have to do this - no matter what. Then if you like email your offer, and write your offer in a letter both of which deliver today.

Then if you know who the vendor is,,, wait until your offer is accepted or rejected, and ask the vendor if they recieved your offer.

Remember to write in the offer the details, cash on the table - waiting, fast solicitor.

supersavermum_2

the only thing you can do is contact the owner. Contact the land registry to find his name his address. Although it does sound like a nice little backhander job but doesnt do any harm to try.

dmg24

If the vendor has said they do not wish to receive any further offers, then the estate agent does not have to pass them on.

Wig

dmg24 wrote: »

If the vendor has said they do not wish to receive any further offers, then the estate agent does not have to pass them on.

This would be revealed when he phones them up and asks if they have passed on his offer. And at that point I would knock on the vendors door.

going2die_rich

Put the offer in a letter with contact details. Saying if the sale falls through you are interested. Then post in the house's letterbox.

littlejaffa

from searching online myself for properties i found thats often the last place they'd appear, houses have often gone by the time they appear online.

it also sounds like you saw the property online and made an offer without viewing. Maybe that's why they're not taking your offer seriously.

In honestly, if the vendors accepted an offer, and I was the person making that offer, i wouldn't be happy if they were considering new offers like yours after acceptance.

Bottom line is you weren't quick enough, you really need to be meeting and greeting the agents by phone if not in person and not rely on the internet.

Wig

Bottom line is business is business, and until the law is changed OP can offer whatever he wants up until exchange. And unless the the vendor has requested not to hear any more offers (which I would have thought is a rare thing) the EA should pass on the offer.

MissMotivation

Am probably going to get flamed for this, however........

As an EA, if someone rang me and made an offer on a property that was SSTC and that the caller had not even viewed, I would be very hesitant and would be unlikely to take the offer seriously.

If the OP is serious about buying, register with agents in the area and get them to inform you as soon as properties come onto the market. The internet is the last place properties show up on as many agents start marketing the property to purchasers already registered with them before an advert appears in the paper/details are ready/shows on internet.

If the property is already SSTC at a good price.....to a buyer in a good position and the vendor is happy then it is in neither the EA's or the Vendors interest to start messing about with further offers.

Wig

MissMotivation wrote: »

As an EA, if someone rang me and made an offer on a property that was SSTC and that the caller had not even viewed, I would be very hesitant and would be unlikely to take the offer seriously.

If the property is already SSTC at a good price.....to a buyer in a good position and the vendor is happy then it is in neither the EA's or the Vendors interest to start messing about with further offers.

But it's not upto you, it's upto your client to make the decision, you have to pass on the offer to your client and let them decide. (subject to the one exception mentioned above).