Estate Agents Fees

Becky

Can these be negotiated even after the contract has been signed?

My house has been on the market since December 2004 ( :mad: ) and in this time has had a sale fall through twice.

Even though I cannot prove anything, I think the estate agents are somewhat to blame for the 2 fall throughs.

Can I negotiate anything at this late stage? We are hoping to have the sell done-and-dusted in the next 2 weeks.

We are a young couple and this was our first time selling so we have been in the hands of these people (hoping they are doing their best for us! :rotfl: ).

bridiej

Dont think so, but have you thought about going with a different agent?

I've had friends emigrating who have negotiated the fee based on how long it takes to sell, e.g. normal fee is 1,5% so they've said 1.5% if you sell it within 4 weeks, for the remainder of the contract 1% (if that makes sense?) that way there's more incentive for them to sell ASAP.

Actually, not sure if I've read your post right, do you mean contract with estate agent or contract as in what you exchange with solicitors?

Becky

Sorry, I meant the estate agents contract that is signed when you first agree to sell the house with them.

It has taken so long, with so many additional expenses due to the falling through x 2. I am at my wits end with nerves!

I wish the next 2 weeks would go ASAP. We are so close to the house being sold.

bridiej

Might be worth asking your solicitor their opinion on this to see if somehow perhaps the agents have been negligent......

Becky

The reason I suspect there was some slightly dubious things going on:

Fall through 1 -> 2 days before fateful phonecall, I was asked by estate agent if buyer could move in within 1 1/2 weeks. 2 days on and buy, buy sell. The estate agents never told us that the person was visiting the house the next day to 'measure up'. It is very odd that somebody would go around and do this and then throw the whole thing in. I think it was more like another chance to see the house before finally packing the idea in.

Fall through 2 -> Buyer had mortgage in place, first time buyer, an "ideal buyer" as they wanted to move in quickly.

3 weeks was left to pass before the estate agent became suspicious that nothing had moved in the surveying department. They then tell me the buyer never had a mortgage in the first place.

I was then told a few days later that it wasn't this but a falling out with a relative had put house buying on hold.

In all I have lost 2 1/2 months of potential viewing time. I know it sounds a bit stupid to worry about (in view the house will hopefully be completed in the next 2 weeks) but the last 6 months of our lives has been an utter nightmare. It has completely taken me over and I am a bag of nerves from it.

I feel a bit better knowing there are forums likes this out there!

Doozergirl

It's a shame for you that things have taken so long, but with the law the way it is, these things can and do happen. You wouldn't be able to renegotiate on a signed contract and I don't think the agent sounds to blame for what's happened. If somebody did go back for a second viewing and changed their minds, they may well have told the agent they were measuring up. The other 'buyer' was just plain irresponsible, but unfortunately, it's only when nothing happens after a period of time that you realise they're a dud.

The fact is that people lie through their teeth and don't appreciate the heartache that goes into selling a house. When we were selling and I was 8 1/2 months pregnant, I had a couple spend nearly two hours in the house, running up and down, getting really exited and asking me if I wanted to take an offer there and then. Turns out when giving feedback they felt there wasn't enough storage space for them to want to buy it - !!!!!!?

I hope it's third time lucky for you and fingers crossed you'll be out of there in a couple of weeks.

cattie

It doesn't sound as though your estate agent is at fault here, you've just been unlucky with your potential buyers. It seems the first couple changed their minds after a 2nd viewing, which is fair enough as a house purchase is a big commitment & buyers need to be certain the house really is for them, but unfortnately for you they seemed to have had 2nd thoughts. The 2nd couple don't sound as if they were serious buyers anyway. House selling & buying is a stressful business & very seldom is straightforward alas.

By the sound of your post you have another interested buyer, so fingers crossed all goes well with the sale this time.