should I swap agents?

Annabee

In the spring we had several local agents round to value. The ones I liked best were agent A who seemed keen, was offering a 1% deal as they were new in the area, and agent B, who seemed very professional but wanted 1.5%.

Some time went by while we prepared the house for sale. Then went back to agent A and asked if the 1% was still available they said no and now wanted 1.5% but I haggled them down to 1.25%. I know I should have gone back to agent B, who I preferred overall and played them off against each other!

Anyway, now the 12 week exclusive period is at an end with agent A. We have had around 20 viewings and have accepted an offer, but the buyer hasn't sold yet. Our buyers house is on the market at quite an optimistic price and goodness knows how long they will take to be proceedable. Our house is still being marketed, but viewings seem to have dried up.

We have seen a house we'd really like for ourselves and its on with agent B. Funnily enough, our buyers house is also on with agent B. We feel agent B is much more professional than agent A (who we have a few gripes with). Should we put our house on with agent B instead. As they know we want to buy one of their properties that would give them more incentive to either find a proceedable buyer for us, or to push our current buyer to sell faster. Either way would give them 2 lots of commision if you see what I mean.

Or are we being unfair to agent A?

PS I hope this makes sense!

Doozergirl

There really isn't that much difference between agents. The fact that you have 'accepted' an offer means that parhaps your agent has cooled off.

I would have a conversation, explain that you feel that the people buying have set an overoptimistic asking price and you are therefore worried, in the current market, about the likelyhood of them proceeding.

So please would they mind gearing up the marketing again?

You should never accept an offer, even in principle, from people who are simply window shopping until they get at least a firm offer on their property.

TBeckett100

just a tip, use rightmove to search for comparable properties in your area and use the sold function to show up what properties have sold and what agent sold them.

SquatNow

Give your buyer 2 weeks then find another. Make it their problem not yours.

Annabee

Thanks for your replies. Our 'buyers' have been told that we will continue to market until they've had an offer on their house. The agent advised this as well. If it wasn't for the slow market at the moment we probably wouldn't have taken much notice of the offer - but the way I look at it, they are the only people (after 12 weeks of trying to sell) who actually want to buy our house so we have to be a little bit accommodating, don't we? Of course if a cash buyer or first timer came along we would probably go with them, depending what they offered.

What do you think of my plan to swap to agent B? I know from viewing with them that they do a very professional brochure and photos and always collect feedback (unlike our present agent A). Then there is the factor of them being the agents for the house we want to buy, and also for our buyers.

Is it a cunning plan or ... not so cunning after all?