Estate agent saying I have to buy through them

Jackal005

FlyMeSomewhere79 said:

dannim12345 said:

I don’t think many buyers would even think to contact the original agent of the house they viewed if it was no longer listed with them.  I think agent B is in the wrong as you told them you saw it via agent A first which has lead to this issue.  I don’t think it’s your issue but imo just tell agent B and let them work it out and inform the seller. Nothing you can do to change what has happened 

The problem is the OP didn't check to see if it was still listed and it was, they assumed based on a missing sign board which as others have said could be argued as not enough of a basis to not put a phone call in because there's been high winds so often over the last 4 or 5 months and signs have blown down. Plus the OP didn't wait until they had the ability to actually buy, if they had, they wouldn't have had the first viewing which is the one that's going to probably cost the vendor a double commission.

I'm just a buyer, I can't really be expected to know the rules about this. I literally had no idea it even mattered who I called.

And I'm not really getting the complaints about people viewing houses when they're not ready to buy. If I am considering moving house but not 100% on it I am obviously going to check out the market before taking an offer on my house. If you put your house up for sale then you kind of have to accept that people are going to view it, and most of them won't buy it for a variety of reasons.

Jackal005

FlyMeSomewhere79 said:

Jackal005 said:

FlyMeSomewhere79 said:

propertyrental said:

if there is a likelihood (or even a possibility) of the vendor having to pay commission to both agents, he (seller) is likely to either withdraw from the sale, or increase the selling price to cover the extra EA fees (which you have been at least partly responsible for by switching EA).

Just because an EA's board has gone does not mean the EA is no longer marketing

* board may have blown down

* board may have been removed

* Seller may have switched EA but still have an ongoing relationship with EA A for buyers already introduced (eg you)

I agree, there's lessons to be learned on both sides here and additionally it's not really worth going to see any houses until in a position to proceed.

I had a couple view my house whose home wasn't yet on the market and I resented the time wasted for something that has at that stage no ability to come to anything - let alone a second viewing whilst still not putting house on the market. This has all contributed to the situation in all fairness.

I wasn't totally sure if wanted to move at all hence my house not being up for sale already. I was considering it and decided to look at a listed house out of curiosity. I liked the house and decided to proceed with moving after viewing it, so put my house up for sale. Second viewing was after my house went up for sale.

Not sure you can reasonably describe that as time wasting. Even if my house had been on the market you can't guarantee how long it would have taken for me to receive and accept an offer.

You'll understand why it's aggravating and feels a waste of time when you start having to deal with viewings, trying to juggle work with getting the house like a show home and keeping the lawns mowed. 

When you get the call from the agent to say you've got a viewing, you get all your hopes raised only to get told these people have no ability to buy or proceed even if they like it. Sorry but my partner and I weren't happy at putting ourselves out for it and that's why many estate agents don't even allow viewings to be booked by people that can't proceed 

And yes the fact that it could take god knows how many months to sell your home is exactly why it feels a waste of time - we don't get told what your house is like, where it is, is it in a poor state, are there things about the location that make it hard to sell. It might be a fact finding mission to you but it's pretty worthless to a vendor.

I have been dealing with viewings. I accept that if my house is on the market, people will view it. I do not expect them all to be ready to make an offer.

annetheman

I have just had this exact thing happen to me where I was the vendor. When Agent A bunged up my sales after 3 asking price offers (don't ask), I terminated and got a list of people who were introduced to my flat by them before I switched EAs. I sent that list to Agent B so they could exclude those people for this precise reason - headache. I do not want to pay commission to both agents.

The clause in the contract I signed with A does say that I would only be liable to paying them commission for any sale which is agreed via another agent (or myself/private) by someone they introduced, if exchange happens within 6 months of contract termination -- but I need to move before then so... You could check if there is a time limit on this with your vendor (they need to READ the contracts they sign)?

I had a person who put in an offer on my flat with A enquire with B and they were annoyed I wouldn't let them offer again (according to B, who handled it super professionally). But there was no way I was going to pay out £5k+ in agency fees for a £100k flat (it's shared ownership); I did say if the buyer really wants it that badly, they can offer to pay for the fees for A but even if they wanted to (they didn't, unsurprisingly), it's the hassle more than anything that made me say no!

I have had 3 more offers so not an issue for me, but if your vendor is limited on options, you may be able to find a compromise avenue...