Frustrating experience with estate agent

1122abc

I’m selling my flat with a popular local estate agent. 

pinkshoes

The buyer could possibly be a friend of the EA?

The EA works for you, so tell them it's taking too long, you're not convinced this buyer is serious, so you'd like to put the flat back on the market at the £775k they originally suggested.

Or give a deadline for exchange before remarketing.

Why did you accept £724k if you felt it was too low?

1122abc

pinkshoes said:

The buyer could possibly be a friend of the EA?

The EA works for you, so tell them it's taking too long, you're not convinced this buyer is serious, so you'd like to put the flat back on the market at the £775k they originally suggested.

Or give a deadline for exchange before remarketing.

Why did you accept £724k if you felt it was too low?

We accepted the low offer because as we were getting ready to put the property on the market, we had an offer accepted on house so needed to proceed ASAP. The EA also told the buyer this during the viewing. The EA didn’t disclose this upfront, we had to go down a line of questions before they revealed this info to us.  

Thank you for the advice. Giving a deadline seems reasonable. 

Hoenir

1122abc said:

We accepted the low offer because as we were getting ready to put the property on the market, we had an offer accepted on house so needed to proceed ASAP. The EA also told the buyer this during the viewing. 

You can't have your own cake and eat it. You wanted a quick sale you got one. Did you negotiate the sale price at all ? If you wanted £750k. Why not allow some more viewings over the following week. Test the market.  EA's are there to bring parties together to compromise and strike a deal. They don't tell parties what to offer nor what to accept though. 

oz0707

Has the agent reccomend the conveyancer to the buyer. They get a referral fee from this and it changes the dynamic of who they are working for. I've had it before to the extent it caused a sale to fall through over an issue which was apparently insurmountable to buyers conveyancer. Sold to the next person in line for a higher price went through no problem. Ask agent if they have referred the buyer to a conveyancer. 
 

1122abc

Hoenir said:

1122abc said:

We accepted the low offer because as we were getting ready to put the property on the market, we had an offer accepted on house so needed to proceed ASAP. The EA also told the buyer this during the viewing. 

You can't have your own cake and eat it. You wanted a quick sale you got one. Did you negotiate the sale price at all ? If you wanted £750k. Why not allow some more viewings over the following week. Test the market.  EA's are there to bring parties together to compromise and strike a deal. They don't tell parties what to offer nor what to accept though. 

The offer that I accepted isn’t the point of my post. I don’t want my own cake and eat it. I’m absolutely not fussed about the price now. I am annoyed that the EA told the buyer about the reduced price before we discussed it formally. I mentioned this to provide context and to help explain why I feel the EA has always been on this buyer’s side. This was way back in September 2024.

My current issue, and the reason why I’m posting, is that through the entire sale, EA constantly advocates for the buyer and I’m made to feel as though I’m slowing the process down or causing issues for the buyer. 

1122abc

oz0707 said:

Has the agent reccomend the conveyancer to the buyer. They get a referral fee from this and it changes the dynamic of who they are working for. I've had it before to the extent it caused a sale to fall through over an issue which was apparently insurmountable to buyers conveyancer. Sold to the next person in line for a higher price went through no problem. Ask agent if they have referred the buyer to a conveyancer. 
 

This a conveyancer that the buyer chose. Whenever I make any sort of constructive criticism or suggest the buyer do XYZ, the EA becomes quite defensive of the buyer and lists excuses for them. It feels like I’m talking to a brick wall! 

Albermarle

1122abc said:

oz0707 said:

Has the agent reccomend the conveyancer to the buyer. They get a referral fee from this and it changes the dynamic of who they are working for. I've had it before to the extent it caused a sale to fall through over an issue which was apparently insurmountable to buyers conveyancer. Sold to the next person in line for a higher price went through no problem. Ask agent if they have referred the buyer to a conveyancer. 
 

This a conveyancer that the buyer chose. Whenever I make any sort of constructive criticism or suggest the buyer do XYZ, the EA becomes quite defensive of the buyer and lists excuses for them. It feels like I’m talking to a brick wall! 

As suggested - tell the EA ( who works for you supposedly) that due to the delays/lack of info, you want them to put the property back on the market. ( and sound like you mean it !)

Bigphil1474

I think the technical term is that it sounds well dodgy. Did you actually sign a contract with the EA given they haven't exactly marketed the property for you, no photos, no Right move listing etc? Exactly what would you be paying them for other than knowing someone who wanted the apartment?

I think your suspicions are probably right and the EA has some sort of existing relationship with the buyer. Presumably the buyer is a FTB or cash buyer, otherwise their selling EA would be involved. Either way, the best you can do is get through the process as soon as you can, get your money, and then give the EA the 1 star review they seemingly deserve. If it's any consolation, it's rare to find a quick and efficient conveyancing solicitor, so set your expectations low.

RHemmings

I can see how you would not trust your EA. I wouldn't trust the EA either. 

What I would watch out for is gazundering at some point in the process. 

If I were you (OP) I would say to the EA that I'm concerned about how this all looks, and that you need to know that the sale will proceed quickly and normally. Including giving a deadline for exchange of contracts and/or completion. 

But, if you do give such a deadline, it's accepted, but then missed... what will you do then? 

incus432

Based on what you have said I would not trust this EA. Can you move to another when your contrat expires?