EA not passing on feedback and *offer*

MadMonkey

Hi - House has been on market since July - started at 160. Reduced to 155 and then 150.

We had a couple view after the last price drop and they said they loved the house and were telling us where their furniture would go e.tc.

We never got any feedback off them despite me asking the EA to ring them.

Anyway today the EA rings to tell me about a viewing at the weekend and I asked if they had ever heard from these people.

She had a look on the computer and said that she loved the house but it was beyond her budget which had changed from 150 to 140 and she could only offer 140.

The EA told me she laughed at this and was really cross with the viewer for messing us about.

Now to me that sounds like an offer that we were not informed of.

Do they not have to tell you of all offers ?

I rang back to clarify this and the entry says :

"Lady loved the house and was thinking of putting an offer in but it would have to be low and would be 140".

The EA told me that she told them that 140 was just being silly.

So I have a few Q's

1) Should they have told us ?
2) Should we accept or is that just silly ? (we are already nearly the cheapest comparable in the area).
3) If we go to another EA do we need a HIPP ?

Thanks

Clare

Running_Horse

1) Yes.

2) That's up to you.

3) Don't know.

dolce_vita

1) Yes

2) Yes

3) No

Canucklehead

Good evening: According to the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, this is what you should expect from your estate agent (if he/she belongs to the OEA) http://www.oea.co.uk/consumer_guide_sales.htm#two

HTH
Canucklehead

Annabee

Your estate agent was legally obliged to pass all offers on. In today's market she should not be sending away potential buyers by laughing at their offers. I would complain to the agent.

You could consider the offer as you have trying to sell since July and if you really need to get moving, and also assuming the market is stagnant in your area as it seems to be most places (except London?) Nowadays £10k below asking is not a 'silly offer'.

If the agent had done her job properly she would have talked nicely to these people, maybe got them to see their mortgage broker, and seen if they could maybe up the offer a little bit but by her actions she may have scared them off unfortunately. She's an idiot!

Doozergirl

I'd go a bit nuts at the agent. If you are really considering accepting either that or something near, then I would speak to the sales manager and negotiate a big fat discount on their fee before you do accept the offer. And ask that the sales manager is the one that goes back to the potential buyer and gets you the best possible price. It's entirely likely that she could have been raised a few thousand from there.

And if they don't play ball, then you don't need a HIP - drop it to £140,500 and go with www.housenetwork.co.uk as an agent instead which will cost you less than £500 total - and they won't laugh at people when they make offers.

I actually would be livid if an agent had failed to pass on any offer. It's essential to know what people think even if it isn't what the agent thinks you want to hear.

BrandNewDay

Just the input/feedback/opinion would have been valuable.

How long ago did this couple hint at their possible offer?

Debt_Free_Chick

I'm not sure it was an offer, as such

It sounds like the potential buyer was sounding the EA out, or maybe just commenting along the lines of .... "Yes, lovely house, everything we need, right location blah, blah blah, but out of our price range as we can only go up to £140k"

Was that an offer?

The EA should still have discussed it with you, but it might not have been a clear cut offer to pay £140k for your house

no1gymbunny

The EA is legally obliged to put forward ANY offers, whether they be 'silly' or not, unless you - the client - have expressly requested them not to do so under a certain level. I feel this is not the the case here.

With regard to the HIP, you won't need one if you go to another agent as long as you can prove that the property was on the market prior to 1 August. A copy of your current agency agreement or a copy of the property being advertised with the date (ie copy of your local paper).

Discuss things with some at a senior level within the agency and let them know you are not happy with how things have been dealt with. If you're still not satisfied - try the Ombudsman for Estate Agents.

Good luck